Impacts of a Protestant France?

Well, you'll never know how much of that was because of the descendants of Huguenot refugees to English territories and their impact on the English navies XD The entire system could be reversed. After all, if French Huguenot colonies become valuable sources of wood and ships, France could end up the premier naval power.

Probably not going to happen, but . . .

It bears at least consideration.

I think the main problem is that France is drawn to land war in Europe, with colonies as secondary, and that's not changing with Huguenots.

A given king or ministers, sure, but not something along the lines of "Hugenots mean seapower".
 
Probably not going to happen, but . . .

It bears at least consideration.

I think the main problem is that France is drawn to land war in Europe, with colonies as secondary, and that's not changing with Huguenots.

A given king or ministers, sure, but not something along the lines of "Hugenots mean seapower".


Well, IOTL the few Huguenot settlements that were founded were founded with the intent to either find places of religious freedom for their worship (Florida) or to engage in providing lumber to France for the purpose of using said lumber to build ships (Brazil). We'll never know what impact could have resulted from successful conversion of France to Protestantism. But, it could, at least moderately, lead to a better French naval position.
 
Well, IOTL the few Huguenot settlements that were founded were founded with the intent to either find places of religious freedom for their worship (Florida) or to engage in providing lumber to France for the purpose of using said lumber to build ships (Brazil). We'll never know what impact could have resulted from successful conversion of France to Protestantism. But, it could, at least moderately, lead to a better French naval position.

I agree there's nothing pre-ordained about Britain taking and maintaining the naval lead. It could have gone sour for them as late as the Coalition wars.

If France has stronger colonies AND Britain has no big stake in the Baltic stores trade, the cost of maintaining their giant navy could well be prohibitive to them.
 
Wasn't the Avingonese Papacy sufficient? Perhaps having that survive would be good enough.

The only problem I see with that is that's its more a case of "I'm the true leader of the catholic church ! no, I'M the true leader !" and less of theological differences. It could *potentialy* lead to a schism but unless they also make some changes to the way they do things (clergy, indulgences, etc...) it wouldn't drive them any closer to the protestants side and its unlikely the anvignon pope do those things if he wants to be considered the legitimate one.
 
I just thought of another effect that this might have. With one less Catholic county to intermarry with, the Habsburgs are going to possibly become even more inbred.
 
Ironically, maybe.... In face of a protestant france, a rise of nationalism, could Britain have remained catholic to be 'not france', specially a France allied then with the dutches and others? and weirdly, Britain allying with.. Spain?
 
Ironically, maybe.... In face of a protestant france, a rise of nationalism, could Britain have remained catholic to be 'not france', specially a France allied then with the dutches and others? and weirdly, Britain allying with.. Spain?

Not sure why. Being Protestant is too broad a term for "France is Protestant" to matter.
 
Not sure why. Being Protestant is too broad a term for "France is Protestant" to matter.

No offence, but at times, even back then, british-english nationalism always seemed to be much as well to be 'not France!'. Like defending the crown and royalism in face of Revolution and after in France...


So oddly, maybe the rise later of a 'british popery'?
 
No offence, but at times, even back then, british-english nationalism always seemed to be much as well to be 'not France!'. Like defending the crown and royalism in face of Revolution and after in France...


So oddly, maybe the rise later of a 'british popery'?

Again. Protestantism is too broad for "France is Protestant" to mean much here.

Anglicanism is not Calvinism is not . . .
 
No offence, but at times, even back then, british-english nationalism always seemed to be much as well to be 'not France!'. Like defending the crown and royalism in face of Revolution and after in France...

I'm not sure that's right. The British largely supported the revolution until it started radicalising. They didn't turn against it because they wanted to be "not France", they turned against it because parliament was full of middle class land owners that didn't want to lose their property or be slaughtered by the mob.
 
Would be interesting to see the crown defend the pope against the protestant heresy.
If most of western europe and some eastern turn protestat, there is a possibility paradoxaly of this, I say. Realpolitiks to keep maybe some 'different option' appeal, the threat of protestant radicalism, etc...
 
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