Swiss Savoy?

Apparently during negotiations for the Treaty of Turin (that saw Savoy and Nice annexed to France), the idea was floated of having the northern portions (or even all of Savoy in the extreme case) join Switzerland, following the example set forth by Carouge, which was annexed to Switzerland in the Congress of Vienna.

Great Britain apparently very much favored this solution (not hard to imagine why...). While the French weren't in favor, apparently a lot of Italians liked it because it was a way to screw the French in such a way that they couldn't complain openly, and some portion of the locals apparently took the idea seriously enough that a tariff- and duty- free zone was established over roughly the area that is the modern department of Haute-Savoie.

Does it seem at all plausible that such a thing would actually happen? Does anyone know how the Swiss might feel at such an act? While Swiss borders had been somewhat static for a while, a number of minor adjustments had been made at Vienna, and it was only in 1863 that Switzerland fixed their southeastern border with Lombardy, so this feels plausible.

And let's say this did happen, are there any major ramifications? France now has no part of Mont Blanc (maybe), but otherwise all it loses are some nice ski resorts and hiking trails (assuming the whole territory isn't Swiss, which seems very unlikely, considering that adding most of Savoy would basically turn the Helvetic Confederation into the Confederation of Savoy and Friends).
 
Apparently during negotiations for the Treaty of Turin (that saw Savoy and Nice annexed to France), the idea was floated of having the northern portions (or even all of Savoy in the extreme case) join Switzerland, following the example set forth by Carouge, which was annexed to Switzerland in the Congress of Vienna.

Great Britain apparently very much favored this solution (not hard to imagine why...). While the French weren't in favor, apparently a lot of Italians liked it because it was a way to screw the French in such a way that they couldn't complain openly, and some portion of the locals apparently took the idea seriously enough that a tariff- and duty- free zone was established over roughly the area that is the modern department of Haute-Savoie.

Does it seem at all plausible that such a thing would actually happen? Does anyone know how the Swiss might feel at such an act? While Swiss borders had been somewhat static for a while, a number of minor adjustments had been made at Vienna, and it was only in 1863 that Switzerland fixed their southeastern border with Lombardy, so this feels plausible.

And let's say this did happen, are there any major ramifications? France now has no part of Mont Blanc (maybe), but otherwise all it loses are some nice ski resorts and hiking trails (assuming the whole territory isn't Swiss, which seems very unlikely, considering that adding most of Savoy would basically turn the Helvetic Confederation into the Confederation of Savoy and Friends).

swizerland grow BIGGER.


(Other My Dream come ture, War-Swiss)
 
Maybe Haute-Savoie excluding Annency could be transferred to Switzerland... It's the biggest of that department's arrondissements, which of course would be better for Switzerland and a nice compromise.
 
I personally think of a consensus where Savoy would be divided between Switzerland and either France or Italy, although the possibility that the whole Savoyard region would be under the former.

Well, for skiing and related activities, the French government should consider the development of the towns within the Provençal Alps region
 
Switzerland maybe gains a seaport?:eek:

The might Swiss Navy expanding its neutrality patrols in the Mediterranean? :cool:
 
I know a guy who used to be in the "Swiss navy"....

But yes. It is very feasible. The trouble is the timing; all those events unfolded in Italy at the same time as Napoleon III was in charge in France.
Had there been a less imperialist, more democratic and UK friendly government in France then maybe there would have been a honest referendum- which probably would have went the Swiss way.

I don't think the Swiss would complain much. The Germans aren't as paranoid about there being more french in the way the French worry about more Germans
 
I know a guy who used to be in the "Swiss navy"....

But yes. It is very feasible. The trouble is the timing; all those events unfolded in Italy at the same time as Napoleon III was in charge in France.
Had there been a less imperialist, more democratic and UK friendly government in France then maybe there would have been a honest referendum- which probably would have went the Swiss way.

I don't think the Swiss would complain much. The Germans aren't as paranoid about there being more french in the way the French worry about more Germans
Had there been a democratic referendum France would have gained very little. At the very least Nice would probably have stayed Italian.

I don't think a more democratic president/emperor would have changed that, necessarily. Ideals matter far less than interests in international relations....
 
Totally grant my tease of a Swiss Navy is ASB.

With an increased Switzerland how might this effect later conflicts in Central Europe? Is there a chance more territories might be added?
 
I can see it happening- the conflicts of the Sonderbundskrieg have finished and it's not going to fundamentally alter Switzerland in the way which other areas might, plus it makes Lake Geneva a completely Swiss body of water.

In fact the pays de Chablis were actually asked for at Vienna, so it's certainly not without precedent.
 
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