Great Powers in a still-dominant alternate Europe

What it says on the tin, if a bit complex. In an alternate Europe (say, 18th/19th century) that is still globally dominant, but altogether different than OTL, what are some plausible powers? I know Hungary growing into an early Balkans bulwark is popular, and that could work. Would they eventually go into Greece?

Have a go at it people. I figure this is a very open AHC
 
A bit late here.

Italy could have a chance to shine in here. Say, if the peninsula is unified early by some ambitious duke (perhaps Cesare Borgia, someone with a more extensive knowledge of Italian history could find someone in a better position). That, of course, will require extensive PODs on the Italian principalities' relation with the Pope, HRE and France. Italy could become a big naval power if it has enough room to expand which could result in Italy establishing some settler colonies in America. A strong Italy could also control the Western Balkans if the Ottoman expansion is somehow checked.
 
Last edited:
Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and perhaps unified Scandinavia could be good alternate great powers.
 
Grand Duche D'Occident.

(aka Burgundy on steroids - covering the North West of France, the lowlands (OTL north France, Belgium, netherlands), Rhinelands and Switzerland.)

PoD: Birth of Louis XI
 
How alternate are we talking? An ATL-Kingdom of the Two Sicilies that has a foothold in North Africa might be an interesting position. The surviving ERE is an obvious mention, but possible expies involving the Serbian or Bulgarian empires might serve as more flavorful examples. Lastly, the Kievan Rus might be a cool idea with the Mongols averted.
 
Bulgaria, First or Second Empires. They had the big potential to dominate the Balkans and at one point could have taken over the Byzantine Empire.

Serbia, if it had better rulers post-Dusan, then they could have avoided being occupied by the Ottomans but at the same time there's the Hungarian kingdom.

Bosnia, if it managed to conquer both the Serb and Croat states and if Tvrtko I had better successors.

Lithuania, if it did not unite with Poland and remained the Grand Duchy controlling OTL Byelorussia and Ukraine.
 
Bulgaria is interesting - I have to wonder if it would eventually be Greek-ified after a certain point where the Bulgarian roots are nearly unrecognizable.
 
Lithuania, if it did not unite with Poland and remained the Grand Duchy controlling OTL Byelorussia and Ukraine.

or:

Lithuania, if it did not unite with Poland and remained the Grand Duchy, became Orthodox instead of Catholic and expanded into Muscovy. After the defeat of the Teuton Order, Cleupeda becomes its "window to the West". On one hand, an European power long before OTL Peter the Great, on the other hand never in posession of the Crimean, Astrakhan, Kazan nor Sibir khanates.
 
Bulgaria is interesting - I have to wonder if it would eventually be Greek-ified after a certain point where the Bulgarian roots are nearly unrecognizable.

The earlier the better for a Hellenized Bulgaria, actually, not later. Bulgaria had a strong native scholastic and theological tradition that would resist Greek influence.
 
If Europe is to remain globally dominant then there must be states in Western Europe that drive that global dominance. Said states would then be 'balanced' against by equally powerful states in Central and Eastern Europe.

The North/South divide in Europe is also quite powerful (esp. after Reformation, which I think was pretty inevitable), so you'll need a North/South balance as well.

So my suggestions:

1. Burgundy, Denmark-Scandinavia and a Venetian-Greek Confederation vs. Italy, Hungary-Balkans and Novgorod-Russia. Competition would take place in Germany, Iberia and the British Isles.

2. Anglo-French Union (100 Years War), Naples-Balkans and Morocco-Cordoba vs. Leon-Asturias-Aragon, a Swiss-Alpine Confederacy stretching from the Rhone to the Po Valley, and the Jagellonian Union. Competition takes place in Germany, the Balkans and North Africa.
 
Great North Sea Empire or an equivalent to an Anglo-Scandinavian Empire if the British Isles remained in the Nordic cultural orbit.
 
Could a Pyrenesian Aragon-Aquitaine do the trick, or is that too implausible? I feel like they'd have the power projection capabilities to at least have substantive settlements in the new world.
 
Top