Is it possible, with a POD set after Napoleon's defeat in 1815, for France to get most, if not all, of modern day Belgium? Or was the 1830 Talleyrand partition plan the best they could hope for?
So an early German unification plus a Habsburg collapse in 1848 (so this uber-Germany gets not only the OTL German Empire territories, but Austria and Bohemia as well) could do the trick?Basically you need to curb down British geopolitical power down enough to allow France getting a free rein in Low Countries OR having early enough an unified Germany on steroids to the point even London would rather see a strong France.
Wouldn't that weaken a bit the militaro-industrial potential of Germany, while extending a bit too much its geopolitical sphere? I was thinking more to a semi-Big Germany with Bohemia and Austria, and with an even more militaristic drive institutionally-wise.So an early German unification plus a Habsburg collapse in 1848 (so this uber-Germany gets not only the OTL German Empire territories, but Austria and Bohemia as well) could do the trick?
This hypothetical German Empire would get Austria (the area around Vienna, Tyrol, and the like) and Bohemia, not the whole Habsburg Empire. Hungary would be an independent state, Lombardy-Venetia would go to Sardinia, and Galicia to the Russian Empire. This Germany would be big enough to scare a lot of people, but not big to the point of overextension.Wouldn't that weaken a bit the militaro-industrial potential of Germany, while extending a bit too much its geopolitical sphere? I was thinking more to a semi-Big Germany with Bohemia and Austria, and with an even more militaristic drive institutionally-wise.
I'm not sure how or if it can be done, tough.
I don't think Britain and the international community would allow the Netherlands to suppress the revolt. That would need you to figure out the first POD to be why the international community, and the UK in particular, to allow the Dutch to do what they need to do to keep the Southern Provinces.Here's a very rough TL idea:
1830: Belgian revolt is suppressed by force.
1848: Belgium revolts once again, and said revolt is much larger and bloddier than the first one. At the same time, Uber-Germany is unified, causing a war with France, who somehow occupies Belgium.
Post 1848: Franco-German war is a stalemate (German unification is recognized, but they can't defeat the french). The resulting treaty gives Belgium to the French Republic/Second Empire, as a counterbalance to Uber-Germany.
Is this possible, or too far-fetched?
Why would they not allow the Netherlands to suppress it, though? Did they (the Dutch) lose control of the situation, or woud such repression be too brutal/damaging to the balance of power in Europe?I don't think Britain and the international community would allow the Netherlands to suppress the revolt. That would need you to figure out the first POD to be why the international community, and the UK in particular, to allow the Dutch to do what they need to do to keep the Southern Provinces.
Mostly I would say it is because France saw that they would have more influence over Belgium as an independent nation; and Britain in return saw that if the situation continued it would drag France in. In fact France did get involved when Netherlands ignored the London Conference that recognized Belgium as independent. In OTL the son of the French King was first offered the crown of Belgium, but the British protested and it ended up going to Queen Victoria's uncle (who had recently been offered the Greek throne, but turned it down because of a dispute on what his powers and monetary compensation would be).Why would they not allow the Netherlands to suppress it, though? Did they (the Dutch) lose control of the situation, or woud such repression be too brutal/damaging to the balance of power in Europe?
So, say that the Dutch nip the Belgian revolt in the bud before it grows too large. Is that a possibility?Mostly I would say it is because France saw that they would have more influence over Belgium as an independent nation; and Britain in return saw that if the situation continued it would drag France in. In fact France did get involved when Netherlands ignored the London Conference that recognized Belgium as independent. In OTL the son of the French King was first offered the crown of Belgium, but the British protested and it ended up going to Queen Victoria's uncle (who had recently been offered the Greek throne, but turned it down because of a dispute on what his powers and monetary compensation would be).
The answer to your question surpasses my knowledge on the subject. But if I can find time to do some research I'll let you know my thoughts. Hope someone here knows more.So, say that the Dutch nip the Belgian revolt in the bud before it grows too large. Is that a possibility?
Wouldn't that weaken a bit the militaro-industrial potential of Germany, while extending a bit too much its geopolitical sphere? I was thinking more to a semi-Big Germany with Bohemia and Austria, and with an even more militaristic drive institutionally-wise.
I'm not sure how or if it can be done, tough.