What would be the effects of the medieval County of Flanders remaining a semi-autonomous entity within the Kingdom of France, instead of being absorbed into a burgeoning Burgundian para-state?
WI: Flanders remains under French suzerainty
- Thread starter GauchoBadger
- Start date
England them Britain:
Antwerp was not a part of medieval Flanders.
I do concede that French control over the county would cause some conflict with England, though, wool trade and all. But would England have any power to do more than lift a finger at this time?
Depending the date but again the HRE could stop france easily as OTLAntwerp was not a part of medieval Flanders.
I do concede that French control over the county would cause some conflict with England, though, wool trade and all. But would England have any power to do more than lift a finger at this time?
Assuming Philip IV is not so hostile to Boniface VIII and a compromise akin to the Papal-Anglo Agreement of 1296 (asserted Papal dominance of revenues, yet agreed to a shared ‘pool’ of revenue in England by the royalty and the Papacy) , there would be no breaking away of Flanders. France would remain more integral in its holdings. Flanders was only a revolting realm due to the Papal Interdiction over France, which permitted any lord to legally take up arms against their royalty.
Assuming Papal-French relations remain strong and friendly as the prior century, French prospects are much better. France with Papal alliance, is essentially the dominant force in Europe, quite assuredly. France had already proved itself able with Papal interdict and writ, the ability to take the Empire and England to task. With such an alliance, I would argue that the sky is the limit for the French royalty. In otl, the weakening of the Papacy and its fear of France, ultimately led to a weakening of French power in the continent. In this atl, the French royalty remains the darling of the Papacy and with an enterprising Papacy such as Boniface VIII, a French Royal may well be able to ‘steal’ the Imperial title.
Assuming Papal-French relations remain strong and friendly as the prior century, French prospects are much better. France with Papal alliance, is essentially the dominant force in Europe, quite assuredly. France had already proved itself able with Papal interdict and writ, the ability to take the Empire and England to task. With such an alliance, I would argue that the sky is the limit for the French royalty. In otl, the weakening of the Papacy and its fear of France, ultimately led to a weakening of French power in the continent. In this atl, the French royalty remains the darling of the Papacy and with an enterprising Papacy such as Boniface VIII, a French Royal may well be able to ‘steal’ the Imperial title.