This led me to read up on the annexation of Savoy into France and...well. Its not pretty.
A vote was held to decide whether Savoy should join France or not and 99.8% of people said viva la france....it was of course typical dictatorship rigging. It soon became known there was this mess and in Britain a bit of outrage about it all.
But what could be done. No one was going to start a war with France over a small territory such as this IOTL.
However...
How could we make it so Savoy is independant today?
Perhaps it could even join Switzerland. Either way is fine.
Perhaps there is more international response to this rigging? The UK, Austria and Prussia all begin bitching at France and they relent?
Perhaps Savoy regains its independance later?
This map even just shows Savoy itself in Switzerland...the Duchy extended right down to the coast...