What other unifications could've happened?

In 1870 Prussia formed the unified German state, but what other states could've happened?

Italy also unified, without a prior Italian identity but was maintained from then to even now.

So, what other unifications could've occurred?
 
In 1870 Prussia formed the unified German state, but what other states could've happened?

Italy also unified, without a prior Italian identity but was maintained from then to even now.

So, what other unifications could've occurred?
A prior Italian identity, however weak, existed before the unification, which obviously would not have occurred in its total absence. While Italian unification may be described as "Piedmont conquered the peninsula and styled itself Italy" this would be such an oversimplification that it ends up being inaccurate. Urban elites, and even parts of the rural elites, at least in the North, tended to support Piedmontese "conquest", which would never have been successful without such support. Also, a democratic component of the national unification movement existed and operated from the bottom-up. While they were mostly sidelined by the winning Savoy establishement, the presence of this component was key to the success of the whole enterprise (much more so than it was the case in Germany, where it existed as well) and its adherents certainly felt "Italians" enough.
It's hard to see what other unifications were plausible in the same timeframe, the most likely candidate is probably Scandinavia (say, if Sweden/Norway supports Denmark in the Schleswig-Holstein matter, though it's hard). Belgium may unify with France in some circumstances (though Britain being dead set against it makes that difficult) if such a thing counts.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
In 1870 Prussia formed the unified German state, but what other states could've happened?

Italy also unified, without a prior Italian identity but was maintained from then to even now.

So, what other unifications could've occurred?

Austria had a chance to unify Greater Germany.

I can see a greater Scandinavia.

With the right support, I could see a Western Slav or Southern Slav unification happening. Same with a Greater Greece. Same with a Greater Armenia. Italy did not happen without some odd outside events. Prussia unification took unwitting French help. You would need the same in these areas say Russia loses Polish and Ruthenian areas, then maybe you could get the GreaterWesternSlav nation. No idea what it would be called.
 
(Re)-unifications in Latin America. Central America is probably the most likely, but with the right PODs maybe Peru-Bolivia or Gran Colombia could be pulled back together.
 
In 1870 Prussia formed the unified German state, but what other states could've happened?

Italy also unified, without a prior Italian identity but was maintained from then to even now.

So, what other unifications could've occurred?
A united Poland in the 1800es would be hard but managerable ? Other Pan-Slavic unifications like South Slavs would be the question.
 
I once suggested a way for the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg to unify again with a POD during WWI. If the germans decided to attack through both the Netherlands as well as Belgium and still lose, both countries (and Luxemburg) could become a lot closer after the war, forming an early Benelux, including a militairy alliance. This organisation starts to cooperate more and more closely, especialy after the second world war. If for some reason there is no EU, finaly the 3 form some sort of confederation. Actualy it could even solve the problems between the Flemish and Walloons. Simply split up and become two seperate countries within the Benelux Confederation.

If we use a pre-1800 POD I could even see a Flemish-Netherlands unification. Actualy I could even see it with a later POD. I think many Flemish nationalists in the late 19th and early 20th century would have prefered to join the Netherlands than remain part of Belgium (or join France).
 
Scandinavian unification feels like it can only happen prior to German unification. Otherwise I don't see it happening. Even then, there would be hurdles to overcome.
Iberian nationalism was also a thing. Spanish liberals wanted to establish a single Iberian country under the Braganza dynasty.
Liberals have a tendency to be overly idealistic sometimes. Iberian Unity would require either Spain or Portugal to lose their overseas empires. Or Both. In fact the likely hood is far better if both were to lose their empires.
 
Liberals have a tendency to be overly idealistic sometimes. Iberian Unity would require either Spain or Portugal to lose their overseas empires. Or Both. In fact the likely hood is far better if both were to lose their empires.
Both had already lost their overseas empires though. That’s partially why Iberian nationalism existed - the nationalists perceived that Portugal and Spain were in decline and could only hope to match the other European powers through their union.
 
Both had already lost their overseas empires though. That’s partially why Iberian nationalism existed - the nationalists perceived that Portugal and Spain were in decline and could only hope to match the other European powers through their union.
They still had enough colonies left that they could occupy themselves with those things instead of each other. Basically their colonial national idendity was more important to them than any common idendity the two shared. Portugal needs to lose its colonies in Africa and Indonesia before it would reconcile with Spain and the rest of the continent. Spain needs to lose the Philippines and perhaps Cuba too before it would agree to Portuguese monarch.

They had declined. But they hadn't declined enough it would force them to think about unification.

Even then it would turn into a Sweden/Denmark issue of mending chasms. Which would be its own hurdle.
 
Ehm... a Yugoslav unification is really likely but different as OTL. I mean a less agressive Serbs with regards to religion of other South Slavs. Bosniaks, Montenegrins and in lesser extent Bulgarians and Croats can do this as well. All it takes is a Federal Secular state without promotion of one religion (although influencing it) or language. Non-South Slavs like Albanians can be included as well due to their low numbers and no connection with whomever around.

Iberia is also optional as a it did happen in the Renaissance minus Portugal (later happened). If Spain is in a better position in the early 19th century post-Napoleon AND pan-Iberian ideas are popular then Spain can absorb Portugal.

Turkey, Northern Iraq, Northern Syria and Azerbaijan are also optional. Between 1919 and 1991.

Arabic states led by Egypt are also possible with Mehmed Ali Pasha onward from 1805.
 
Does the US count? It's assimilation of Texas and California was pretty much a unification by any other name, except that it was a much larger region unifying with a much smaller.

Of course, if you want a US unification of two regions of at least on some level similar size, the end if the civil war, with North and South not just being good neighbors again, but becoming one big happy family within 10 years would count as a unification in my play book.
 
You could unify Austria with Bavaria

Or the Rhineland with the Netherlands

or of course keep Napoleon's greater France
 
Does the US count? It's assimilation of Texas and California was pretty much a unification by any other name, except that it was a much larger region unifying with a much smaller.

Of course, if you want a US unification of two regions of at least on some level similar size, the end if the civil war, with North and South not just being good neighbors again, but becoming one big happy family within 10 years would count as a unification in my play book.
United States and Canada.
 

Deleted member 67076

If the Sultanate of Zanzibar got a better 19th century, its possible to have them control everything from Tanzania to Kivu to Uganda in a large Swahili dominated empire.

Similarly, greater Somalia
 
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