German Belgian Luxembourg

[pompejus]

After the Belgian revolution Luxembourg was split. The western, more French speaking part became part of Belgium, the other, more German speaking part remained in personal union with the Netherlands. Before the Belgian revolution all of Luxembourg was part of the German confederation, after it only the 'Dutch' part. The confederation was compensated for the loss of Belgian Luxembourg when Dutch Limburg was added to the confederation.
What if Belgian Luxembourg had stayed part of the confederation (and thus Limburg wasn't). What would have been the effect on the German unification? Would Bismarck attacked Belgium to add Luxembourg to Germany, like it had done with Denmark for Schleswig-Holstein? Would some sinister plot arise in which Prussia, the Netherlands and France split up Belgium? Or would nothing important change, the German unification goes exactly like OTL (because Prussia is too afraid of England getting involved) and the most important change is the addition of Belgian Luxembourg to a large Germany on alternate history maps instead of limburg?

 

[Max Sinister]

Maybe the German-French conflict can be avoided if they agree to divide Luxembourg among them?

 

[Susano]

A bigger Luxemburg would take the exactly same route as the small Luxemburg. Itw oudl remain in personal union with the NL and part of the German Confederation until 1866, when said Confederation ends. Then Bismarck would go on to form the North German Confederation, and unite it 1871 with Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg and teh southern part of Hesse-Darmstadt to form the German Empire.

I really cants ee how Luxemburgs size would change anything. The Grand Duchy left the German political scene 1866 anyways. Even the smaller variant, which as said was Germanophone (even though they nowadays try to sell their dialect as language... ehem) did not become part of the unification process after all, so why should the bigger variant?

 

[pompejus]

A bigger Luxemburg would take the exactly same route as the small Luxemburg. Itw oudl remain in personal union with the NL and part of the German Confederation until 1866, when said Confederation ends. Then Bismarck would go on to form the North German Confederation, and unite it 1871 with Baden, Bavaria, Württemberg and teh southern part of Hesse-Darmstadt to form the German Empire.

I really cants ee how Luxemburgs size would change anything. The Grand Duchy left the German political scene 1866 anyways. Even the smaller variant, which as said was Germanophone (even though they nowadays try to sell their dialect as language... ehem) did not become part of the unification process after all, so why should the bigger variant?

Actually i meant that Luxembourg was still split up like OTL, but that the Belgian part would still be part of the German confederation. But you are probably right that history wouldn't change dramaticly, it was just an idea i got when i was bored doing the dishes. Anyway, i liked my sinister plot and it could lead to interesting butterflies.

 

[Wendell]

New idea: Belgium sides with Prussia in the war against Napoleon III. As a result, OTL's Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg will go to Germany (or Prussia directly), while the rest of it will be fully Belgian, along with, perhaps, bits of northern France.

 

[Susano]

New idea: Belgium sides with Prussia in the war against Napoleon III. As a result, OTL's Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg will go to Germany (or Prussia directly), while the rest of it will be fully Belgian, along with, perhaps, bits of northern France.

This works especially if war breaks out not over (indirectly) the Spanish throne, but the Luxembourg Crisis of 1867... I wouldnt put it past Napoleon III. to manage to also insult Belgium in his political manouverings.

 

[pompejus]

This works especially if war breaks out not over (indirectly) the Spanish throne, but the Luxembourg Crisis of 1867... I wouldnt put it past Napoleon III. to manage to also insult Belgium in his political manouverings.

Interresting idea. The Belgians may want French Flanders and Hainaught back and maybe Artois. But it would end of Belgian neutrality. That could have interresting concequences later.

 

[arctic warrior]

This works especially if war breaks out not over (indirectly) the Spanish throne, but the Luxembourg Crisis of 1867... I wouldnt put it past Napoleon III. to manage to also insult Belgium in his political manouverings.

Interresting idea. The Belgians may want French Flanders and Hainaught back and maybe Artois. But it would end of Belgian neutrality. That could have interresting concequences later.

Quite an interesting scenario - Napoleon III should manage to do just that in his attemt to redeem France after the Mexican adventure.

A Prussian-Belgian alliance against France could perhaps help to topple Napoleon III? If the war goes BAD for Frence...

 

[Susano]

Quite an interesting scenario - Napoleon III should manage to do just that in his attemt to redeem France after the Mexican adventure.

A Prussian-Belgian alliance against France could perhaps help to topple Napoleon III? If the war goes BAD for Frence...

Uh, well, that IS what happened 1871, so, yeah, likely.

 

[Wendell]

Bump. This gives us interesting butterflies down the line, and leads one to wonder about the administration of A-L ITTL.