Well, in my case, it actually depended on the definition of Friesland itself, particularly if it included the County of Holland and even Utrecht.
Fav small nation in history that had a chance for greatness but didnt
- Thread starter Napoleonrules
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BossaNova
Banned
The Netherlands. Think about it - for centuries some upstart, merchant-republic managed to punch way, WAY above its weight, fighting the great powers of Europe to a standstill and managed to create the most advanced economy out of nothing. It could have been even better if the country was just a tad bigger or had a larger population.
The Frisian kings used to rule over an area that went from coastal Holland to coastal Hanover, and after the era of Charlemagne Frisia turned to republicanism centuries earlier than the Netherlands themselves; if the Frisians had been luckier, they could've established a federal republic that would've stretched as far north as Jutland by the end of the Viking age.
Hanseatic League cities such as Lubeck and Hamburg. Could've been so much stronger.
Already there fam on CKii merged it with France leaving out Aquitaine minus a few bits to even it out. Now ruling a Greater lotharingia from the Alps to the English Channel
Lucius Verus
Banned
The Illustrious Duchy of Courland.
Ruled by the last masters of the Order of Livonia the Duchy of Courland become a region hub of industry and commerce despite being nestled between the Swedish, Russian, and Commonwealth giants. This duchy of 500,000 souls had trade treaties with all the major nations and its own extensive colonial empire in Tobago and Gambia. Wealthy and glorious, the future is limitless for the miracle duchy.
Ruled by the last masters of the Order of Livonia the Duchy of Courland become a region hub of industry and commerce despite being nestled between the Swedish, Russian, and Commonwealth giants. This duchy of 500,000 souls had trade treaties with all the major nations and its own extensive colonial empire in Tobago and Gambia. Wealthy and glorious, the future is limitless for the miracle duchy.
Lost the game
Banned
In 1115 Alphose-Jordan of Toulous dies of a fever. William X of Aquitaine thus has uncontested control of the County of Toulouse. He has a son when Eleanor of Aquitaine is born who managed to get ahold of Provence and Narbonne. Another heir takes Barcelona through marriage and force, the same for Valencia. A war by the King of France to regain influence over his unruly vassal ends in failure. Meanwhile in Italy, a noble family in Pavia seizes control and establishes themselves as Lords of the city, and eventually another family wrests control of them and raises themselves to the level of Dukedom. These Alt-Viscontis eventually conquer most of northern Italy and unify the region at Pavia. Al Eleanor of Aquitaine analogue emerges in Aquitaine and marries the scion of the Duke of Pavia who conquered most of Northern Itay. An alt-great Schism occurs and in return for favoring a claimant other than the one the King of France supports, that Pope elevates their grandson to the level of a King, establishing the Kingdom of [Insert name here]
Boom. The wealthiest region of Western Europe during the High Middle Ages is now all under one roof.
Boom. The wealthiest region of Western Europe during the High Middle Ages is now all under one roof.
I know OTL the duke that did all of the expansion actually had designs on trying to get an actually important colony in Australia, but a war with Sweden crushed this dream. If the Courlanders can get out of Polish domination, and have another great leader, they could conceivably become a Netherlands-esque nation.
A Repentant Heretic
Banned
Thessaly under Jason of Pherae, Pontus, and possibly the Antigonid Macedon.
Muhammad Ali's Egypt really feels like it should have been a contender-even if it's position and the sudden feasibility of a Suez canal probably meant some sort of European domination was inevitable, cannier/more competent rulers might have managed to hold the state together and create a modernized power.
On a different note-give Matilda of Tuscany a son and change the results of a few battles, and a unified central/northern Italy centered on Firenze could be a major player through the middle ages, and eventually unify the peninsula (or at least north of rome) centuries early.
On a different note-give Matilda of Tuscany a son and change the results of a few battles, and a unified central/northern Italy centered on Firenze could be a major player through the middle ages, and eventually unify the peninsula (or at least north of rome) centuries early.
Sneek is and always has been inland. The largest port in Friesland is Harlingen.
Napoleonrules
Banned
Ports can be inland. Estuaries, fjords, rivers, and canals exist. The Port of Albany, NY is 130 miles up the Hudson RIVER from NYC but has a larger harbor crane than any at the Port of NY-NJ. I believe Vienna and Budapest both have ports.
Is Monaco passable enough for this thread?
I have a feeling that the Grimaldis should include the whole County of Nice as part of its territory.
I have a feeling that the Grimaldis should include the whole County of Nice as part of its territory.
I've always enjoyed the idea of a mighty northern European low saxony state stretching from Memel to calais, like a super Prussia that spoke low saxon.
Give it jutland and silesia as well so it may be a giant fish of country.