On a basic level, could the duchy of Brittany ever reach a point where it becomes an outward-looking, benign nation on France's north-western border? Looking at it, Portugal and Brittany do share some similarities, such as:
- Cultures that are similar but district from their larger neighbors
- Long histories of autonomy from the nearby lords
- Large stretches of coastline
The main differences that I can find are a maritime tradition, a strong economy, and an incentive for France to leave Brittany independent. So, is there a way for Brittany to remain independent of France (probably with an averted War of Breton Succession or some way to stop Charles VIII's marriage to Anne of Brittany), develop a strong maritime tradition, and become explorers of the new world? I would think that they'd be much more like the Dutch than the Portuguese in their early days - trading the commodities of day-to-day life, like grain, salt, and timber, rather than becoming involved with the spice trade.
What effects could Breton colonies have? Could the northeastern US be colonized by the Bretons? Could they be a benign trading partner to the French, like the Portuguese were with the Spanish in the 15th century?
- Cultures that are similar but district from their larger neighbors
- Long histories of autonomy from the nearby lords
- Large stretches of coastline
The main differences that I can find are a maritime tradition, a strong economy, and an incentive for France to leave Brittany independent. So, is there a way for Brittany to remain independent of France (probably with an averted War of Breton Succession or some way to stop Charles VIII's marriage to Anne of Brittany), develop a strong maritime tradition, and become explorers of the new world? I would think that they'd be much more like the Dutch than the Portuguese in their early days - trading the commodities of day-to-day life, like grain, salt, and timber, rather than becoming involved with the spice trade.
What effects could Breton colonies have? Could the northeastern US be colonized by the Bretons? Could they be a benign trading partner to the French, like the Portuguese were with the Spanish in the 15th century?