France of the Seas ?

I was wondering if a France surviving through Diplomacy and becoming stronger with overseas expansion could happen with a PoD during the 100 Years War, with France trying to block England sending armies, Jacques Coeur raising the funds for a fleet and everything, having France on a more naval tradition (and even maybe creating a merchant republic under French authority)
 
Thing is, France will always have to focus on land due to geography. So if you want a France that also rules the seas, they have to be seriously wanked to have funds for both. Good thing that it's entirely possible with the right POD.
 
Well, I think we can do something with the Crusades against the Cathars (like the King instauring some kind of merchant vassal republic on the Mediterannean sea, that would be the only place for cathars in the kingdom, that might be an interseting France on the Mediteranean Sea thing. Then, you have the Burgundy and all it's small personal unions in the HRE, if Marie de bourgogne goes French, there is also something to do, plus Britanny of course ... hell that's a mess ! They steal exploration from Portugal, matrimonial wank from Habsburgs and Rule the Seas from Britain ... that' the ultimate wank ... but if they have a good fleet, they can't fight both Spain when it's united and HRE ... they need to berfiend one of them
 
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