Fifty Shades of Savoy

Cosmedian

Banned
459px-Greater_coat_of_arms_of_the_Kingdom_of_Italy_%25281929-1944%2529_svg.png


Prologue

As Charles II, King of Spain, began the slow descent into death, the issue of succession became a household (or castlehold) topic of the nobility of Europe. Kings and Queens with as so much as a tiny relation to Charles thought it was their time to be thrust into the spotlight. Spain was, even in it's current decline, a powerful Kingdom. The two most powerful claims to the throne came from the Bourbon family of France, and the Habsburg family of Austria (of which Charles was a part of). In the eyes of the world, no one else stood a chance in gaining the prize that was Spain, and instead the smaller dynasties aimed for smaller territories of the Spanish Crown.

One of the potential claimants was Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy. Charles supported the Italian and appointed him as his heir [1]; the Habsburgs and the Bourbons who sought to partition his lands before he even died. This did not stop the war that would come afterwards. Called the War of the Spanish Succession, the fight was waged across Europe. France and Bavaria fought against Austria, England, Savoy and the Holy Roman Empire for dominance of Spain [2], along with their vassals and smaller allies. The main battle grounds were Spain itself, the Rhineland, and the Italian peninsula; The war continued for years, until Robert Harley gained power in England, and decided to put the war to an end. In 1716 [3] a ceasefire is called, and peace talks begin. When the dust settled, everything had changed.

The War of Spanish Succession ended with Victor Amadeus II upon the throne in Madrid, as proposed by the British delegation in Turin. [4] London was pleased with an independent dynasty on the throne; the Hapsburg rule of Spain was always a thorn in her side, while a Bourbon ruler would strengthen their chief rival too much by far. Vienna and Paris were both furious - and vengeful. The two, while being forced to recognize that Spain was lost to them both, decided to snatch up anything they could take from the Spanish inheritance as well as all Savoyard lands they could fit into their hands. France annexed Alsace and Lorraine, and occupied Savoy and Nice. Austria took Milan, Sicily and Naples - as well as Bavaria, which they'd occupied during the war. In compensation, the Wittelsbach family was given the leftovers of the Spanish Netherlands, under the Duchy of Brabant. Savoy, in a twist of luck, managed to get the biggest prize: Spain, as well as Sardinia. Gibaltor was occupied by the British, giving them full access to the Mediterranean, further ensuring their naval supremacy. One war had done so much to change the landscape of Europe. The Savoys had lost their ancestral homeland, and instead, gained the world and royal status. The Bourbons no longer feared being surrounded by Habsburgs - but had lost so much to gain so little. The Habsburgs had to give up claims on a land that was rightfully theirs, and in the process, was set on a path to dominate all of Germany.​

[1] The POD. This gives Victor Amadeus actual basis for ruling, and makes it an obvious-ish choice for a ceasefire.
[2] Victor sticks with the Austrians this time, and doesn't switch sides several times. This gives him more of a basis to rule as well, as he's not seen as a snake, and is put in a better light.
[3] The war lasts slightly longer ITTL, because the armies are slightly more matched.
[4] The Treaty of Turin is actually several treaties, all of which close the war. It's an analog to the ITTL treaties, which were signed in the Dutch Republic.
 
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Oh Sweet Habsburg God in heaven they got their hands on Bavaria :eek::cool::cool::D You sir have my interest keep it up with a Savoyard Spain this should be most fun
 
Wow very different but very cool! Will Definitely be following this with interest. Out of Curiosity, has France gained Piedmont as well or is it just to her modern borders?
 

Cosmedian

Banned
Wow very different but very cool! Will Definitely be following this with interest. Out of Curiosity, has France gained Piedmont as well or is it just to her modern borders?

Thanks, man! France has Piedmont (I was counting it in with Savoy, but i'll clarify in the post!)
 
In 1916 [3] a ceasefire is called, and peace talks begin. When the dust settled, everything had changed..[/CENTER]

[1] The POD. This gives Victor Amadeus actual basis for ruling, and makes it an obvious-ish choice for a ceasefire.


Well, I imagine after a 215 year war, they'd need a bit of a rest XD. Except the Savoyard's, who've discovered the fountain of youth in Turin I'd wager.

But interesting outcome none the less, and to see how it goes further on. What happened in the Americas, Africa and Asia then as well?
 
Very Nice.

Also, this upset has some interesting implications concerning the Franco-Austrian Rivalry, and also a possible War of Austrian Succession.
 

Cosmedian

Banned
Well, I imagine after a 215 year war, they'd need a bit of a rest XD. Except the Savoyard's, who've discovered the fountain of youth in Turin I'd wager.

But interesting outcome none the less, and to see how it goes further on. What happened in the Americas, Africa and Asia then as well?

Haha, oops! Fixed it :p

The colonial situation will be discussed in the next update.
 
Looking at the armoury on the first page...

If they ever have a coup there, they can take over Switzerland....

(Gules, cross argent : Savoy
Gules, a cross couped argent : Switzerland)
 
Is Anne still alive? If not, did anything happen with the succession? The Savoyards seem to have incurred the enmity of every major power in Europe except the Brits, what are they doing redrawing diplomacy/alliances? Good start, very interesting!
 

Deleted member 67076

Looks like France is the big victor here. They've wanted Northern Italy ever since the late 1400s, and its a pretty good piece of real estate. Still pretty fertile and wealthy at this point in time if I remember correctly.

That said, Im very interested to see how the Savoyards will deal with the Spanish colonies- hopefully reforming them so we don't get Latin America's mess.
 
I'm actually kinda wondering whether they'd be willing to give it up in the peace treaty. More to the point, when did they lose it? would they have amassed enough power by then to have conducted a successful invasion of Spain? I don't know much about the era, and I'm not critiquing the OP, I just would like to see the explanation.
 
Where'd the Dutch Republic go?

As in, it's stunningly absent from your discussion. Would the Dutch want some Wittelsbachs on their borders, and would the Bavarians really exchange their homeland for becoming a Dutch protectorate? (as in, the Spanish Netherlands were militarily controlled by the Dutch barrier forts after the treaty of Rijswijk/Ryswick).

I do admit it sounds like a pretty good compromise, but, why's anyone even fighting this war? Passing Spain off to Savoy seems like the perfect way to defuse the conflict... Sure, the French and Austrians might want their inheritance, but I'd almost think everyone else would breath a sigh of relief and go home, or fight alonside Spain to defend them from France-Austrian predation.
 

Cosmedian

Banned
I'm actually kinda wondering whether they'd be willing to give it up in the peace treaty. More to the point, when did they lose it? would they have amassed enough power by then to have conducted a successful invasion of Spain? I don't know much about the era, and I'm not critiquing the OP, I just would like to see the explanation.

They did not invade Spain; the war was more of a balanced act against the French since the Savoys didn't double-deal the Austrians. The British got tired of the fight, realized 'Hey, Charles clearly said what needs to be done!' and basically forced the peace down their throats.

Yeah, the Habsburgs and Bourbons are more than a little pissed at Britain, but they're exhausted.

Where'd the Dutch Republic go?

As in, it's stunningly absent from your discussion. Would the Dutch want some Wittelsbachs on their borders, and would the Bavarians really exchange their homeland for becoming a Dutch protectorate? (as in, the Spanish Netherlands were militarily controlled by the Dutch barrier forts after the treaty of Rijswijk/Ryswick).

I do admit it sounds like a pretty good compromise, but, why's anyone even fighting this war? Passing Spain off to Savoy seems like the perfect way to defuse the conflict... Sure, the French and Austrians might want their inheritance, but I'd almost think everyone else would breath a sigh of relief and go home, or fight alonside Spain to defend them from France-Austrian predation.

At this point, the Dutch are minor fish, they gained a useful, non-Habsburg buffer with France and that's good enough for them (although, it won't stay that way for long). The Dutch/Wittelsbach feud is something that will be featured heavily in this timeline. Not the main point, of course, but heavily featured. The Bavarians have no choice, their land is literally fully occupied by Austrian military and at the moment, are just lucky they ended up not being fully ousted from power.

Looks like France is the big victor here. They've wanted Northern Italy ever since the late 1400s, and its a pretty good piece of real estate. Still pretty fertile and wealthy at this point in time if I remember correctly.

That said, Im very interested to see how the Savoyards will deal with the Spanish colonies- hopefully reforming them so we don't get Latin America's mess.

France is heavily pleased, and Northern Italy has just made the French beast stronger.

The colonies are something that'll be a main focus point of the TL - I really wanted to improve them.
 
At this point, the Dutch are minor fish, they gained a useful, non-Habsburg buffer with France and that's good enough for them (although, it won't stay that way for long). The Dutch/Wittelsbach feud is something that will be featured heavily in this timeline. Not the main point, of course, but heavily featured. The Bavarians have no choice, their land is literally fully occupied by Austrian military and at the moment, are just lucky they ended up not being fully ousted from power.

Minor fish?

How so? I mean, the historical end of the war of Spanish Succession was indeed a major snub, caused by the English bailing just right, and immediately afterwards the republic did decline... but during the war, the Dutch provided more troops and about 2/3rds the fleet of the English.

Also, the buffer really isn't different, or so it seems to me.

But of course, my main critique is actually 'why fight at all?'. I am sure you can make a scenario, but I don't understand why there's a war at this point.
 

Cosmedian

Banned
Minor fish is a bit of an exaggeration.

The question would be why wouldn't there be a war? When powerful dynasties want what belongs to them so desperately?
 
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