Which states had the most potential had they retained their independence?

Italy has not a strong track record at these things though, and the Papacy would likely support the Order's unmolested rule of Malta.
Just as they would support having their own territory back. The Savoys and Italian nationalists only went so far with the wishes of Popes.
 
Just as they would support having their own territory back. The Savoys and Italian nationalists only went so far with the wishes of Popes.
Right, but it would not just be the Papacy. The Order was frequently under French leadership, for example.
 
Right, but it would not just be the Papacy. The Order was frequently under French leadership, for example.
Ahhh. I suppose they might have some connections. Not as if the French would go against the possibility of getting a toehole there anyways. Well, perhaps they would. Might not want to upset the Ottomans y getting too close, even if the Sublime Porte didn't give much of a damn about the Barbary Corsairs.
 
Ahhh. I suppose they might have some connections. Not as if the French would go against the possibility of getting a toehole there anyways. Well, perhaps they would. Might not want to upset the Ottomans y getting too close, even if the Sublime Porte didn't give much of a damn about the Barbary Corsairs.
The historically French-aligned Ottomans? Are the Italians really preferable?
 
The historically French-aligned Ottomans? Are the Italians really preferable?
I meant that it would give the French certain obligations, such as dealing with Corsairs. And probably would get the Habsburgs in a tizzy. Not sure if the French had enough of a navy to spare for down there. Though of course it would be increasingly important if they kept their sway in Piedmont and other Italian areas. Might be centuries between those aligning, though. I can't say.
 
Don't forget the butterflies for the rest of the world, the UK will have a much harder time projecting power in the Mediterranean if its only "Mediterranean" port is Gibraltar. An independent Malta could lead to a TL where France gets Egypt.
Britain still would have had the Ionian Islands and Cyprus, and most definitely India, if you have India you will get Egypt (or die trying).
 
Britain still would have had the Ionian Islands and Cyprus,
The UK didn't get Cyprus until 1878, so certainly not a given with a PoD back in 1798. As for the Ionian Islands, true, I forgot about them, but the Port of Corfu is poor poor substitute for the Grand Harbour of Malta (in both size and position), and the UK's power projection in Mediterranean would suffer considerably as a result.

and most definitely India, if you have India you will get Egypt (or die trying).
I don't think this stands up to historical scrutiny. The UK's game in Egypt was neither desperate or even particularly aggressive by the standards of the time. They were even content to let the French become the primary backers of the Suez Canal, and for a period were willing to pursue joint suzerainty over Egypt with the French.
 

Deleted member 67076

Toucouleur Empire, Sokoto Emirate, and Omani Zanzibari coast eventually expanding into Omani East Africa come to mind.
 
I meant that it would give the French certain obligations, such as dealing with Corsairs. And probably would get the Habsburgs in a tizzy. Not sure if the French had enough of a navy to spare for down there. Though of course it would be increasingly important if they kept their sway in Piedmont and other Italian areas. Might be centuries between those aligning, though. I can't say.
It's not any random parcel control by any group of knights, but a strategically important island group held by a crusading order. Hell, even Napoleon was hesitant to have seized the islands.
 
It's not any random parcel control by any group of knights, but a strategically important island group held by a crusading order. Hell, even Napoleon was hesitant to have seized the islands.
Indeed, and I did think it unlikely the French would go down there. Though they did, and the French ransacked the area. As per usual when an army invaded somewhere.
 
I wonder if a Visigothic African Kingdom had a chance of survival and ultimately as a future polity with regional/continental influence?

The Mediterranean trade routes and Sahara trade routes give the area a lot of potential, but the rough terrain of the land plus the local Berbers could promote destructive regionalism.
 
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