Which one is the most favourable to the German Empire, and which one the least? Which one do you think is the most plausible/interesting?
These are the options, listed qua POD's:
1. The Greater Germanowank Empire. Based on the 'Germany unifies in 1848' thread, but this one has a twist. When Italy is in chaos, German Emperor Friedrich Wilhelm I decides to support the second strongest Italian nation, the Kingdom of Both Sicilies. With German help, Italy does unify, but into two states: the southern half, consisting of Naples and Sicily plus the Papal States minus Latium, and the northern half, consisting of the rest of Italy under Sardinian command, minus Venice, which is made German in the chaos. Later, you'd see a Franco-German war in which France is completely defeated and has to give up all of Lorraine plus Algeria. Germany later fights Russia in WWI, defeats it and ends up becoming the sole dominant power on the continent.
2. Friedrich Wilhelm IV survives longer than 1861. It would be interesting if he does not hire Bismarck, however, by 1861, there was already a regency. If the situation that makes this regency possible were avoided, the conservative Friedrich, who might not have contested Austrian leadership, might start the road to a really different Germany. It would be interesting if he survives up until January, 1888, making the year of the Three Emperors be the year of the Four Emperors (or Kings).
3. Wilhelm I is murdered by a liberal in early 1861, shortly after gaining the throne. With Friedrich III coming to power before Bismarck gains the post of prime minister, we once again might see a really different, and possibly surviving Imperial Germany/Prussia arise. Especially if his concerns with state affairs make him unable to smoke much and therefore, he doesn't get throat cancer, or at least, not at early as IOTL, and therefore lives longer.
4. Wilhelm II is murdered this time around, in, say, September 1888. Six-year-old prince Wilhelm becomes Wilhelm III of Germany and Prussia in another version of 'the year of the Four Emperors'. Most likely, Bismarck would regain power, although Wilhelm's grandmother Victoria, or his mother, princess Augusta Viktoria, might get some influence as well. What would be really interesting is the future of Germany after William's majority on May 6, 1900... would he act different as his father? Or not?
So, the question is, which one of these four situations is the most interesting?
These are the options, listed qua POD's:
1. The Greater Germanowank Empire. Based on the 'Germany unifies in 1848' thread, but this one has a twist. When Italy is in chaos, German Emperor Friedrich Wilhelm I decides to support the second strongest Italian nation, the Kingdom of Both Sicilies. With German help, Italy does unify, but into two states: the southern half, consisting of Naples and Sicily plus the Papal States minus Latium, and the northern half, consisting of the rest of Italy under Sardinian command, minus Venice, which is made German in the chaos. Later, you'd see a Franco-German war in which France is completely defeated and has to give up all of Lorraine plus Algeria. Germany later fights Russia in WWI, defeats it and ends up becoming the sole dominant power on the continent.
2. Friedrich Wilhelm IV survives longer than 1861. It would be interesting if he does not hire Bismarck, however, by 1861, there was already a regency. If the situation that makes this regency possible were avoided, the conservative Friedrich, who might not have contested Austrian leadership, might start the road to a really different Germany. It would be interesting if he survives up until January, 1888, making the year of the Three Emperors be the year of the Four Emperors (or Kings).
3. Wilhelm I is murdered by a liberal in early 1861, shortly after gaining the throne. With Friedrich III coming to power before Bismarck gains the post of prime minister, we once again might see a really different, and possibly surviving Imperial Germany/Prussia arise. Especially if his concerns with state affairs make him unable to smoke much and therefore, he doesn't get throat cancer, or at least, not at early as IOTL, and therefore lives longer.
4. Wilhelm II is murdered this time around, in, say, September 1888. Six-year-old prince Wilhelm becomes Wilhelm III of Germany and Prussia in another version of 'the year of the Four Emperors'. Most likely, Bismarck would regain power, although Wilhelm's grandmother Victoria, or his mother, princess Augusta Viktoria, might get some influence as well. What would be really interesting is the future of Germany after William's majority on May 6, 1900... would he act different as his father? Or not?
So, the question is, which one of these four situations is the most interesting?