Frederick William IV accepts a crown, the Great War happens earlier?

I've drawn up a map showing what Europe might look like after the unification of Germany under Frederick William IV of Prussia and that of Italy under Charles Albert of Sardinia. Does it seem reasonable?

Also, how might these unifications progress in this timeline? How can I get Frederick William to take the crown from the gutter and accept the constitution? How might Italian unification progress?

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Hungary would do well as an independent republic. Either way, they'd be perfect for the liberal mold should the Hapsburgs collapse. A Grand Duchy of Austria could be established inside the German Empire dominated by Prussia.

But considering Hungary was under the thumb of the aristocrats at the time, it'd need a revolution against them first.
 
But considering Hungary was under the thumb of the aristocrats at the time, it'd need a revolution against them first.

If not a republic, could Hungary get a constitutional monarchy? It'd be interesting to have a chain of liberal European states menacing a reactionary Russia and possibly the Ottoman Empire.
 
I've drawn up a map showing what Europe might look like after the unification of Germany under Frederick William IV of Prussia and that of Italy under Charles Albert of Sardinia. Does it seem reasonable?

Also, how might these unifications progress in this timeline? How can I get Frederick William to take the crown from the gutter and accept the constitution? How might Italian unification progress?
I think that both Liechtenstein and Luxemburg should be part of Germany. Both of them did only become really independent after the Treaty that ended the German War.
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Agreed, both states were a part of the German Confederation, though it's more likely for Lichestein than Luxembourg considering that Luxembourg was in personal union with the Netherlands.
 
But Luxemburg is not the only member of the German Confederation in personal union with another kingdom. Both Schleswig and Holstein were in personal union with Denmark until the Second Schleswig War (1864). Hannover was in personal union with the United Kingdom until 1837 (but that does not matter here).

So, if Luxemburg is not part of the Empire then Schleswig and Holstein should also not part of it.
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Perhaps so, though I was thinking that Germany could do unto the Netherlands what it did unto Denmark in such a scenario.
 
No, because the Second Schleswig War started because Denmark wanted to replace the personal union with a real union and changed the constitutions of Schleswig and Holstein.
But in any TL with a earlier foundation of the German Empire Schleswig and Holstein become part of the Empire long before the Danish king has the idea of annexing this principalities.
 
IOTL - Lombardia and Venice were still under Habsburg rule in 1848. Piemont was defeated twice in 1848 by Habsburg troops, so even a sucessful German unification would not have changed this - especially if Hungary is still pacified by russia (as it seems)

In any case Venetia should be Austrian as it only was lost in 1866.

Concerning Egypt - I would color it differently - it was de facto independent - though de jure a part of the Ottoman empire.
 
Eurofed said:
Napoleon III takes over, and he picks a fight with Germany and Italy over Luxemburg, Nice-Savoy, the Pope, and/or for an ironic butterfly, a pro-German nationalist rebellion in Elsass-Lothringen. In the course of things, it looks like France may threaten Belgium, pissing off Britain. France loses, cedes A-L and Corsica, goes revanchist as usual, reactionary Bourbons (backed by the Church) take over in an unholy marriage with populist-revanchist militarists.
Hmm, I rather like this idea...

Germany: Morocco, Congo, Cameroon, Central Africa, western Southern Africa.
Italy: Tunisia, Libya, Ethiopia, East Africa.
Both (possibly as a joint enterprise): Indochina, Siam, pieces of Indonesia, New Guinea.
What would a colonial joint enterprise look like?

Since this is a world where 1848 is partially successful, I propose that it happens: Germany wins the war, but lets Denmark keep North Schleswig, making it content. Sweden gives some support to Denmark, fueling Scandinavian sentiment. There is a liberal revolution in Denmak, and Scandinavia forms. It stays neutral for a while, then it allies with the liberal bloc to get Finland.

Portugal and more so Spain more or less spent the century tearing themselves apart in domestic fights between liberals and reactionaries. They may align with either side depending on which faction gets on the top (an authoritarian France may help the reactionaries win) or stay neutral if they are too exhausted from the civil wars and something like the Spanish-American War, if it still happens.
I'm thinking a liberal Scandinavia and a reactionary/neutral Spain and Portugal could work.


How might the unification of Italy under Charles Albert progress ITTL?

And how can I get Frederick William to accept the crown and constitution?
 
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So if Bismarck was a reactionary, then who is going to convince Frederick William IV to take the crown? It's not like he has any incentives in forming Germany twenty three years earlier.
 
So if Bismarck was a reactionary, then who is going to convince Frederick William IV to take the crown? It's not like he has any incentives in forming Germany twenty three years earlier.
I dunno... the liberal revolution in Germany gets completely out of hand, and Frederick William IV is forced to agree to the Frankfurt Parliament's demands.

Or perhaps I could even have Frederick William deposed or killed, and replaced by a monarch under the control of the liberals...

Any ideas on the best way to create a liberal Kleindeutchland in 1848?
 
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No, because the Second Schleswig War started because Denmark wanted to replace the personal union with a real union and changed the constitutions of Schleswig and Holstein.
But in any TL with a earlier foundation of the German Empire Schleswig and Holstein become part of the Empire long before the Danish king has the idea of annexing this principalities.

The first Schleswig War made quite clear that the Duchies could not be taken from the Danish Crown by force and that no major power had any interest in undoing the Danish King`s rights as Duke of the twin Duchies in personal union with his Kingdom. Thus in all likelyhood you will either get the same compromise as OTL with the German Confederation or given that you have the Empire form in 1848/49 then its likely you will finally have the impetus to separate the two duchies. Schleswig, a historic fief of the Danish Crown, not the HRE to the Danish King in exchange for abdicating his title in Hostein to an heir not in direct succession to the Danish Crown. This will haveto be done over the objections of the Holsteiners of course. But the Germanisation of Schleswig then stands a chance of being arrested at that point. No Danish Sovereign has an interest in being subject to a German Emporer if he/she can avoid it.
 
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