France as part of the Holy Roman Empire

Okay, so would there have been any way for Western Francia to be considered part of the HRE until the eventual dissolution of the Empire? Has anyone asked this before?
 
That's pretty difficult. Earliest possibility I see is with Hugo Capet seeking security under the Emperor's umbrella for one reason or another. The problem is holding unto it.
 

Susano

Banned
Of course the crown could also simply go to the West. Let Capetians and the Popes bludgeon each other silly, for a change.
 
Okay, so would there have been any way for Western Francia to be considered part of the HRE until the eventual dissolution of the Empire? Has anyone asked this before?

I guess never have the Carolingian Empire split up? Make it so that there is one clear successor after Louis, instead of three squabbling sons. Or there is a strong tradition of primogeniture in the Frankish Empire, again avoiding the post-Louis division. Of course, the HRE might not be recognized as the HRE in this scenario, so...
 
This is exactly where my timeline got bogged down. I have the Capets secure a stunted realm which ends up being called Neustria. Then I get utterly flummoxed trying to decide what happens to the rest of the empire. The Carolingians are still in charge in theory, but I'm not sure what German house is going to supplant them.
 

Susano

Banned
This is exactly where my timeline got bogged down. I have the Capets secure a stunted realm which ends up being called Neustria. Then I get utterly flummoxed trying to decide what happens to the rest of the empire. The Carolingians are still in charge in theory, but I'm not sure what German house is going to supplant them.

Since I dont think there was any Frankish House coming near in status to the Carolingians Id say that, as IOTL, the most likely choice would be whatever Saxon House is the foremost at that time...
 
It would be difficult to just butterfly away the lack of primogeniture within Frankish culture without totally altering the course of Frankish history.

I suppose that you could instead see a brief civil war to unite the Empire in a way akin to Constantine, though that is a big ask and it would more than likely just destroy the Holy Roman Empire before it even gets going.
 
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