Revolution, yes, but only initially similar. The French situation of a centralised kingdom with a revolution in the administrative centre can't be replicated in the HRE. Too many stakeholders. I would assume that it would end in endless legal wrangling and possibly - depending on which state(s) it affected and what threat it posed to outside entities - military intervention.
Napoleon, not a chance. Where would he get the army?
Prussia maybe? They seemed to be able to build large armies
Best Regards
Grey Wolf
Don't overestimate 18th century Prussia. It might have been the second strongest state in the HRE (after Austria), but it was far weaker than its 19th century counterpart. 18th century revolutionairy Prussia would not been able to conquer the HRE and probably would be relatively easily be defeated by surrounding states, like Saxony, Sweden, Russia, Austria, etc. Prussia would need good allies and I don't think there are any closeby. At best there would be Patriot Netherlands.Yes, I was mostly thinking about a Revolution that starts in Prussia and a sort of Prussian version of Napoleon imposes it to other weaker German states. Of course, HRE is abolished by the way.
I'll try to develop this scenario with more detail.
Thanks.
Don't overestimate 18th century Prussia. It might have been the second strongest state in the HRE (after Austria), but it was far weaker than its 19th century counterpart. 18th century revolutionairy Prussia would not been able to conquer the HRE and probably would be relatively easily be defeated by surrounding states, like Saxony, Sweden, Russia, Austria, etc. Prussia would need good allies and I don't think there are any closeby. At best there would be Patriot Netherlands.
I do think that a "French" revolution in Austria is more likely than in Prussia, but a revolution in Austria would have its own problems, specifically the large amount of minorities. If a revolution in Austria was succesful, it is likely the Hungarians, Czech, Slowakians, Poles, Italians, Croats, etc would revolt to and secceed. Rump Austria would still be relatively strong, but certainly not capable of doing what France did. It probably would have trouble enough to fight of neighbouring countries who want to restore the monarchy, including France, whose queen was Austrian.Well, then could we assume that the Revolution could start in Austria instead of Prussia?
I do think that a "French" revolution in Austria is more likely than in Prussia, but a revolution in Austria would have its own problems, specifically the large amount of minorities. If a revolution in Austria was succesful, it is likely the Hungarians, Czech, Slowakians, Poles, Italians, Croats, etc would revolt to and secceed. Rump Austria would still be relatively strong, but certainly not capable of doing what France did. It probably would have trouble enough to fight of neighbouring countries who want to restore the monarchy, including France, whose queen was Austrian.
Is it possible that a revolution similar to the French Revolution of 1789 would have broken out in the German states of that time? And it would have led to a German version of Napoleon afterwards?
If a revolution in Austria was succesful, it is likely the Hungarians, Czech, Slowakians, Poles, Italians, Croats, etc would revolt to and secceed