PC: Flanders remains part of France

[SavoyTruffle]

The Treaty of Verdun assigned Flanders to West Francia, which over time became the Kingdom of France. By contrast, the area known to us as Wallonia was first assigned to Middle Francia, then the Holy Roman Empire. Due to dynastic wrangling, however, the two polities were united first in the Burgundian Valois realms, which were then inherited by the Habsburgs and the rest is history.

Is it possible that Flanders remains part of the French realm instead of becoming part of a Dutch or German polity? Early enough PODs could remove the nationalist dimension, of course.

 

[pompejus]

Early enough PODs could remove the nationalist dimension, of course.

You need a pretty early POD. Flanders was during the Middle Ages not the most loyal French subject. They supported the English during the 100 hundred year wars. They fought several battles against the French (like the guldensporenslag).

 

[The Professor]

Uniting Flanders to Normandy might help.
Count Thierry was considered a potential suitor for Matilda/Maud until William Adelin's death. Delay that death until the marriage and we get a Flanders dynasty on the throne of England and Flanders closely part of France. Of course this could lead to the detachment of the whole northern coast rather than just Flanders.

Another possibility is blocking the Counts of Hainaut from the succession as this gave them a focus outside France that wasn't typically connected to France.

 

[MiniaAr]

Mary of Burgundy being male and the Burgundian Valois inheriting the French crown when Louis XII dies would do the job.