WI Divided France?

In its cradle, it was far from certain whether France would become a single, centralized state. It was in a rag-tag pile of states, although they eventually managed to develop into a single strong nation and shaped the world around it.

But what if it didn't? What if France followed the same path Germany and Italy followed, and became a collection of small states that were more interested in the furthering of their own personal power base rather than for the good of France? How could this come about, and what would the most obvious effects be?
 
What time frame are you thinking? It really didn't happen in Germany until the 13th century. Italy was different. There was the Normans in the south, but up until the 13th century northern Italy was effectively one state under the Holy Roman Empire. By that time France is on its way to centralization, so the POD would have to be earlier.

Say the Carolingians survive longer. In the late 9th and early 10th century, Aquitaine was basically independent from West Francia, and so was Brittany, Gascony, and much of the south (although IIRC Aquitaine declared itself fully independent). IMO if the Carolingians continued ruling, they would be unable to unify France, and it would eventually collapse.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I guess if the french crown remained as weak as the Imperial one became. There would still be a Kingdom of France, as much as there were a Holy Roman Empire, but in reality the small duchies and counties would be independent and only subjects to the French throne theoretically.
 
Top