Larger kingdom of the low countries a sketch

United Provinces after forming of the Province Cleves.
The Count of Bentheim, requested a huge loan, to fund his way of living, from the Counsel of States, whit the county as mortgage.

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The second halve of the 18th century was one of economical decline and stagnation in trade. It saw also a polarization and radicalization of the factions of the Counsel of States, between Republicans (rich merchant oligarchs), Royalist(nobles and low class citizens), and Patriots (middle class, nobles, nationalist)
After the death of Willem Friso, followed shortly by his son Willem IV the royalist faction lost their man point of focus. Willem V, elected Prince of the Netherlands did not had the capacity of his father and not at all of his grand father.

American revolution.
During the Seven years war, French and Indian war, the Province Nieuw Nederland and Nieuw Amsterdam had a confusing time, the trade was booming, with large profits on goods sold to both parties. The damage from the war was large as well. Nieuw Amsterdam blockade several times both by the French and the English. The county two times raided by both sides.


As in the home land in Nieuw Amsterdam was also touched by the idea of the Enlightment. The whole Province Nieuw Netherland was almost a century a self governing colony, with out much interference from Europe. It dealt with its own taxes and rules and only in exchange from a contribution to the counsel of States it enjoyed a vote in the Counsel of States and could ask for support in case of crises. The whole climate was much more liberal than in the English colonies North and South of it.
The discontent in the English colonies against the taxation and the lack of representation in parliament as the Dutch colony had grew to an uprising in the 1770ties.
The colonist of Nieuw Netherlands, were from the start supportive to the Americans. When the conflict escalated in to military conflict the British accused the Dutch colonist of active support and were complete infuriated when the representative of Nieuw Netherland in the Counsel of States plead for diplomatic recognition of the United States of America. In 1775 the fouth Anglo-Dutch war broke out when British troops invade the Nieuw Netherlands. Only having an army voluntary conscripts supported by a small professional guard the Dutch colony was soon overrun. The city of Nieuw Amsterdam became the British main port during the war of the American independence.

The conflict grew rapidly global, with naval and army encounters world wide.
The cards however were different than in the 17th century. since the United Provinces was forced to dived their resources between the Army and the fleet the State fleet was only 60% of that of the English. Only one sea battle took place in the North sea, which was a draw but since the English retreaded it was celebrated in the Netherlands as a victory. The blockade of the Dutch ports how ever was prevented. Trade however declined since many merchant ships were confiscated and fishing vessels were attacked.
Dutch Brasil was only attacked in the North at the Suriname river, but the colonial guards and the small navy could repell more attacks. The cape colony how ever was occupied after a short but fierce battle of the Pearlberg. The VOC possessions in Asia were as well attacked.
 
The world in 1789 after the American independence and revolutions looming in Europe.
The fourth Anglo-Dutch war ended with the return of all dutch posessions except the VOC trading post on the Indian mainland.

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I really like your timeline, but maybe you could use or the Dutch names or the English names of the provinces because now some are in English and some are in Dutch :p
It's not really a problem though..
 
During and after the last Anglo-Dutch conflict the United Provinces drove more and more toward the side of the camp of the French.
A movement much rejoiced by the Patriots but discussed by the Republicans who thought an alliance with the UK could only be beneficial. How ever the mood in the homeland of the United Provinces was one of anti English sentiments. The economical decline of the Republic vs the prosperity of the UK was well exploited by the Patriots.

How ever things did not went well in France and by 1789 the civil unrest and hunger escalated in a full revolution.
The revolution ended in a bloody regime of terror which in its turn ended in a dictature, later called Empire under the Corsican officer Napoleone Buonaparte or Napoleon Bonaparte as he called himself later.
By this time the United Provinces declined to a vassal of the French Revolutionary Republic and later even become annexed by the French Empire.

By this time the last Prince of the Netherlands had left the county and lived in exile. First in England and later as Prince of Nassau in Nassau.
Were he and his sons would live if the self crowned Emperor of France did not burned him self on his own ambitions.

By this time the Nieuw Netherlands and Nieuw Amsterdam, afraid of being occupied again by Great Britain, joined the United States of America. With this providing this new State one of the largest and fasted growing cities of the Western hemisphere.

Nieuw Holland or better called Dutch Brasil kept loyal to the Old Republic, so de-facto called it self independent. The same option chose the Cape colony and the Stavenisse colony in South Africa. The Brazilian possession was to large, too populated and too much an national entity for the British to be attacked or even occupied.
The two South African possessions how ever were thin populated and too much of strategic value to be left alone.
Only this time the colonist and the Dutch officers learned their lessons. Were they soundly defeated when confronted in the open with a European stile battle, like during the last Anglo-Dutch war. This time the approach was different.
Instead of facing the British in open battle the British soldiers were facing an enemy which hit them and then run, and this from the first landing on the beaches.
The highest officer Jan Willem Janssens mobilized his marines and largely supported by the Afrikaners in to what he called commando's. Essentially horse back soldiers, attacking the enemy in ambushes or short unsuspected assaults and retreating to the open and vast land of the Karroo.
During the whole period from 1806 until 1814 this would go on while the British despite some minor victories never could get grip on these South African possessions.
It made it such an unpleasant belonging that when Napoleon was defeated it was handed over to the new created Kingdom of the Netherlands as one of the first things. Of course with solid guaranties that any British vessel of what kind could enter any of the ports unrestricted. For them selves the kept the formally Portuguese Delagoa Bay, a bit unhealthy for the average European, but whiteout difficult and nasty colonist.
 
1815 Restoration

After the defeat of Napoleon, the idea came to create a big buffer state against the aggressive France. Napoleon wasn’t the first French ruler who liked to fight a war.
So at the Congress of Vienna the United Republic and, after Napoleon hundred days return, also the Austrian Netherlands were united under one ruler.
The man for this job was thought to be William I, Prince of Nassau son of the last Prince of the Netherlands William V. He was just declared Sovereign of the Netherlands by 3 influential Dutch men who wanted to create a more central state in stead of the divided old federal Republic.

Agreed was that the new Kingdom provided the all the territories of the old United Provinces including the lands which were in personal union, Bentheim and the region around the river Eems and Upper Lingen. The County of Nassau would go to the King of Prussia. The county of Julich would be dived, most of it would be part of the Prussian Rhine Province.
This and the Austrian Netherlands with the county of Arras would form the new Kingdom.

The overseas teritories were agreed by the British, who gave back laa former prossessionand trade post exept the one on Ceylon and the Indian main land.

The Cape colony and the Stavenisse colony were also given back, they prefered the Delagoa bay as naval Station instead of the stubborn and hard to rule Africaners.
Nieuw Amsterdam and Nieuw Netherlands had joined the United States of America during the Napoleonic age and preferred to stay a part of this Union.
Dutch Brasil how ever, recognized William as sovereign and joined the new kingdom on terms which mean a large in dependency.

All together a considerable new State in Europe was created which was one of the largest colonial powers.
It must be said that most trading post in East Asia were neglected and Dutch authority had to be established from the ground of. The West African trading post were in even more deplorable state.
 
Schematic map of the New Kingdom of the Netherlands and other Kingdoms in Germany after the congress of Vienna

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First of all I really like your TL.

A small tip for the mapmaking:

Use the transparacy button to not get those white blocks of text around the names.

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thanks for the tip, how ever this map was not the prefered one. I worked long time on an other map, and later discovering that it was to large to upload.
Thanks for the response, I am used to much more comments
 
The Catholic clergy in the South was hostile from the beginning, the Cardinal even forbid any cooperation of Catholics with the heretic Protestant King.
Most of the higher clerics and nobles in the south liked to see a restoration under the Austrians, not that they liked them so mush but it would mean a restoration of their power and privileges.
After some ‘Dutch’ calculation the constitution was accepted, any opposition with religious motives were neglected, and William I was King of the United Netherlands.

The problems started soon, and this was merely the fault of the King. He turned out to be a very autocratic man, not able to delegate. He was how ever a hard working man desperately trying to make his kingdom prosperous and modern. Dozens of canals were diged (Canal Gent –Terneuzen), paved roads were build, trading companies established and industrial entrepreneurs attracted (Cockerill).
How ever Van Hoogendorp, the man who wrote the constitution and even made William King, experienced more and more opposition and even insults of the king in the meeting of the State General.
In the South which rapidly industrialized, the voice for more freedom of press, less tight language rules for the French. The King how ever turned to be more a protectionist for the protection of the emerging industry of the South.
The Catholic church elite, who spoke French like the elite in Flanders, opposed more and more the king, out of fear to lose the control over the population and with that, there power and privileges. The Church even organized a petition were in it demand the restoration of the French language in Flemish parts. The poor Flemish population signed en-masse for it; even most of them couldn’t read or write French. The Catholic clergy in the South was hostile from the beginning, the Cardinal even forbid any cooperation of Catholics with the heretic Protestant King.
Most of the higher clerics and nobles in the south liked to see a restoration under the Austrians, not that they liked them so mush but it would mean a restoration of their power and privileges.
After some ‘Dutch’ calculation the constitution was accepted, any opposition with religious motives were neglected, and William I was King of the United Netherlands.

The problems started soon, and this was merely the fault of the King. He turned out to be a very autocratic man, not able to delegate. He was how ever a hard working man desperately trying to make his kingdom prosperous and modern. Dozens of canals were diged (Canal Gent –Terneuzen), paved roads were build, trading companies established and industrial entrepreneurs attracted (Cockerill).
How ever Van Hoogendorp, the man who wrote the constitution and even made William King, experienced more and more opposition and even insults of the king in the meeting of the State General.
In the South which rapidly industrialized, the voice for more freedom of press, less tight language rules for the French. The King how ever turned to be more a protectionist for the protection of the emerging industry of the South.
The Catholic church elite, who spoke French like the elite in Flanders, opposed more and more the king, out of fear to lose the control over the population and with that, there power and privileges. The Church even organized a petition were in it demand the restoration of the French language in Flemish parts. The poor Flemish population signed en-masse for it; even most of them couldn’t read or write French.


1820

Willem Frederik first son of Willem I King of the Netherlands made not his last but certainly his most define mistake. After a already difficult relation with his father and some scandalous affairs and rumors, some referring to sodomy and other very inappropriate behavior.
After the defeat of the Bonapartist regime, Brussels was the refugee spot for a lot of revolutionaries, Jacobites and Bonapartists from France. The Son of King William I hang out a lot with these types. He was also a big admirer of Napoleon. They even once tried to make a deal with him, a conspiracy which was discovered by Tsar Alexander informed Willem I of the plans of his eldest son. After that he still surrounded himself with a lot of revolutionaries and other French speaking persons of dubious origin. His behavior and attitude collided with the policies of his dad. All very plans were ambitious, king of France etc. Most of them were insinuated by his so called ‘friends’.
The British including Wellington in witch army the prince fought against Napoleon, didn’t had a high attitude of him. It was well known that the man was eager and easily influenced.

In 1820 the French government discovered an other revolutionair plot to over trow King Louis XVIII of France, this was the second time the Dutch crown prince was linked with revolutonair conspirators in France. This time how ever British newspapers get their hands on it and a diplomatic drama evolve. The end of the whole drama was that King Willem I had to chose his second son Frederick Willem as throne pretender. Willem Frederick was denied the right on the throne and had to withdraw from all his official duties. He and his wife, Anna Paulowna, daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and their children left the country.

Prince Willem Frederik Karel second son of King William I grow up at the Prussian court. He gets his military training from Von Clausewitz. After this he takes service in the Prussian army. He takes part in the battle of Leipzig when he is16 years. After the house of Orange came back in the Netherlands he became Colonel in the Dutch army. From 1815 he takes part of the meetings of the State General.
In 1821 he became the heir of the throne after his brother was denied of his rights.
He marries in 1825 with Louise Augusta von Hohenzollern. Daughter of the Prussian King.
In 1826 he establish the Royal military academy in Breda, which was erected by his great grand father Prince Willem Friso, in his function of Commisaris-Generaal, secretary of defense.
He works hard for the reformation of the army and promotion by exams rather than birth or class.
In 1820 he becomes the second in line of the throne of the Netherlands, after his older brother has abdicated this right.
 
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In July 1830 a revolution brake out in Paris. A month later French speaking upper and middle class, agitated by French refugees in Brussels are inspired by it after a theatre play and start making trouble.
The council of Brussels asked for support of the army to stop the trouble makers. The army was in Vilvoorde just out side of Brussels. The army commanded by the king’s second son Prince Fredrik Karel and Luitenand-General Chasee marches into the city.

Rebels fire from cellars and out of windows of houses, heavy fire fights erupt. At the end of the day the king’s army retreads to the royal park or Warande.
The Prince want to retreat out of the city but General Chasee decide to storm the barricades during the night. To the surprise of the soldiers most of the barricades are deserted, the mob is getting pissed in the taverns.
All taverns and drinking holes are raided by soldiers, arresting every one inside, or killing them who resist, not many since most of the mob isn’t sober any more.
By day brake most of the barricades are taken and the mob is arrested . The remaining barricades are cleaned up at the end of the day. The revolt in Brussels last only two day and the riots were over before you could call it a revolt.
Most the French revolutionaries and agitators had left the city even before the army entered it.
The French revolutionaries Alexandre Gendebien and Edouard Ducpétiaux one of the main agitators how ever were caught and after a fast trial sent to Suriname for the rest of their lives, together with dozens of others who were arrested.
General Van Geen, a man from Ghent, commander of the citadel next to the city of Namen had to stop some riots, also inflicted by agitators. And after that he left with a large body of troops to Liege. In that city he rounded up as well rioters and preventing that the revolutionaries left Luik to support the revolutionaries in Brussels.
General Wilmars commander in Luxemburg mobilized his troops in case some revolution army from France would cross the border. His troop’s arrested Mr. Rogier several months later when he tried to come back. After a short trial the man was expelled to Suriname for the rest of his life.
In Liille riots were put down very fast and were only caused by hungry and unemployed mob. By contrast Arras was quit during the whole month.


The Liberal from the north Van Hoogendorp, the man who put Willem I on the throne, organised swiftly a union of liberals and asked for a special meeting of the State General.
The meeting had as main purpose to settle the grieves of the South.
They implemented reforms and tied down the King to follow the rules written down in the constitution. Almost all the grieves of the Liberals of the South are met, how ever there will be no division of the Kingdom.

The King can not rule any more by Royal Decreed.
There will be freedom of press and a King who will let the country ruled by his ministers instead of himself. These ministers are responsible for their policy and have to report to the parliament.

The division of seats in the State General and Parliament will be according to population so the denser populated Flanders will receive the most seats. The members of the senate, will be chosen by the provinces so that most of the French aristocracy from the South is bypassed.
They were demanding the institution of the senate, like the House of Lords in the United Kingdom.
Voting right is only for men and depend on the amount of tax you contribute, like all early democracies in Europe.
The South doesn’t have to pay for the enormous State debt, which was a legislation of the old Republic.
To dismay of the French speaking upper and middle class, only Dutch, Flemish-speaking clerks will populate the burocratic institutes of the government and Dutch will be language of the the schools. The exception is in the French parts of the country, parts of Henegouwen and the Ardennes.
The Catholic church is allowed to establish schools on their own, how ever without State funding.
The elite of Flanders remain Francophone.

After some negotiations and threats to the King, he agrees in the new constitution.

The residence of the Parliament and King will now be in Brussels for permanent and not any more every 6 months in The Hague and 6 months in Brussels. How ever the members of the royal family will take residence in one of the many palaces and estates throughout the kingdom.

Essential the August riots, marked the beginning of the domination of the South over the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Thanks to swift action of man as Van Hoogendorp the Liberals took the lead and he made an end between the union of Catholics and Liberals. Thanks to his effort some of the language rules were again implemented, which means that Dutch would become the main language of the common people.
 
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mats

Banned
nice, keep it going! if you are looking for some more action, maybe conquer oldenburg and then hannover (maybe splitting hannover with prussia).
 
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