WI: Joseph II tries to swap Belgium for Silesia

Say Joseph II Hapsburg, instead of trying to swap Belgium for Bavaria, tries to get the Prussians to agree to the swap of Belgium for Silesia. Is there a snowball's chance in hell of the Prussians agreeing under either Frederick the Great or Frederick William II?

Now, personally I think Joseph's rather high-handed nature will mean that he will annoy the Prussians too much for the deal to be likely to go through. I am curious if the Prussians would be tempted though. They already had a few small possessions on that side of Germany and I know they wanted to obtain Belgium at the end of the Napoleonic wars. Certainly Belgium at this point was much richer than Silesia, so it makes alot of financial sense. It would also, due to the deal favoring Prussia, help weaken Austria. On the other hand, the Prussians have just spent the last 30-40 years integrating Silesia into the realm and where Belgium is across Germany, Silesia is right there next to Brandenburg. Also, the Prussians will know very well that they are likely to have to defend the lands from the French.

So what do people think? Would the Prussians be tempted, or would their first reaction be to laugh at the Emperor's silliness.

fasquardon
 
Well I see no reason for prussia to want to have belgium because that is far away and borders France. But the reaction of Frederick the great would be like haha nope if I want I take it. But they change it could be interesting with a future german empire owning Belgium and surrounding the Netherlands
 
Well I see no reason for prussia to want to have belgium because that is far away and borders France. But the reaction of Frederick the great would be like haha nope if I want I take it. But they change it could be interesting with a future german empire owning Belgium and surrounding the Netherlands

Yeah, the whole bordering France thing occurred to me as well. After the Napoleonic war France had been knocked down a peg or three, and I did wonder if the Prussian desire for Belgium at that point might have had something to do with that. That would mean that pre-beatdown, bordering France would appeal to Prussia less.

I have read that Prussia was given the Rhineland as a consolation prize for not getting Belgium, so I don't think the distance would really weigh against the exchange.

And I agree that Frederick the great is unlikely to want to swap - if only because Herzberg was such a committed anti-Austrian. Interestingly, Frederick himself, does not seem to be committed to opposing Austria for the sake of it.

fasquardon
 
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