WI King Constantine I of Greece had become King of Finland in 1918?

Independent Finland had initially, like the Baltic provinces, close ties with the German Empire. Germany was the only Power that had supported the preparations for independence, not the least by the training of voluntary Finnish Jager Troops. Germany had also intervened in the Finnish Civil War, despite her own precarious situation. Finland's position vis-à-vis Germany was already evolving towards that of a protectorate by spring 1918, and the election of Prince Frederick, brother-in-law of William II German Emperor in 1918, was rather thought of as a confirmation of the close relations.
William II though intended to nominate his other brother in law Constantine I former King of Greece (he was married to his sister Sophia and was exiled by the Entente Powers since 1917). But Constantine declined the nomination because he wanted to regain his throne in Greece...
WI Constantine became Constantine I of Finland in 1918? How is this altering History? Could Finnish Monarchy had survived? Any thoughts?
 

yourworstnightmare

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As long as Germnay lose WW1 the Finnish monarchy has no chance, the idea was to ensure good relations with the winning side. If Constantine become king of Finland he would not have any chances to become Greek king again, and the Finns would rather have a king who lack strong claims on foreign thrones. Also Finland wanted the monarch to have a Finnish name, wonder what kind of name Constantien would be given? Kalevi??
 
As long as Germnay lose WW1 the Finnish monarchy has no chance, the idea was to ensure good relations with the winning side. If Constantine become king of Finland he would not have any chances to become Greek king again, and the Finns would rather have a king who lack strong claims on foreign thrones. Also Finland wanted the monarch to have a Finnish name, wonder what kind of name Constantien would be given? Kalevi??

Constantine I was linked to the Germans through his wife Sophia... If Germany still looses WWI He could abdicate in favour of his son the former Crown Prince of Greece George (Constantine I had abdicated in 1917 along with the Crown Prince his other son Paul declined the Greek Crown which fell to his youngest son Alexander)
So with a (almost) neutral King Finnish Monarchy could have had a chance in surviving...
 

yourworstnightmare

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Donor
Constantine I was linked to the Germans through his wife Sophia... If Germany still looses WWI He could abdicate in favour of his son the former Crown Prince of Greece George (Constantine I had abdicated in 1917 along with the Crown Prince his other son Paul declined the Greek Crown which fell to his youngest son Alexander)
So with a (almost) neutral King Finnish Monarchy could have had a chance in surviving...

Not really, the whole idea with a monarchy was to establish good relations with a strong nation. Now that idea would be gone.
 

yourworstnightmare

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... and the Finns would demand he drop all his claims on the Greek throne if he want the Finnish one. He also has to become Lutheran.
 
Hmmm... a personal union of Greece and Finland. Haven't seen that one done before! (OK, so he's ousted from Greece, still...)

Actually if George succeeds his father and becomes King of Finland (since Constantine I was considered pro-German he could have abdicated in favour of his son... if Germany loses WWI) There would be no personal union between Greece and Finland since Greek Constitution forbids the Union of Crowns... George could become King of Finland and Greek throne stays with Alexander (Constantine's third son).
The problem in such a scenario would be succession... In OTL George was childless and Alexander had contacted a morganatic marriage and his offspring would be barred from succession... That leaves Paul (Constantine's second son) as heir to both Kingdoms... Succession crisis rise in both countries then...
 
... and the Finns would demand he drop all his claims on the Greek throne if he want the Finnish one. He also has to become Lutheran.

IIRC the Finnish Orthodox Church is an established church alongside the state Lutheran one, so Konstantinus (I had to look up that one) wouldn't have any problems regarding Orthodoxy.

Then comes the next question - if Konstantinus's German links were through Sofia, could it be possible for him to divorce Sofia and marry a Finn instead, or would that be too much?
 

yourworstnightmare

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IIRC the Finnish Orthodox Church is an established church alongside the state Lutheran one, so Konstantinus (I had to look up that one) wouldn't have any problems regarding Orthodoxy.

Then comes the next question - if Konstantinus's German links were through Sofia, could it be possible for him to divorce Sofia and marry a Finn instead, or would that be too much?

He wouldn't have to marry a Finn, but he would have to change to a Finnish name. Also most of the Finnish monarchists were Lutherans, and the Lutheran Church was deeply involved in the monarchist movement. Not even an Orthodox king would be sufficient.
 
Umm didn't the Finns want Friedrich Karl of Hesse? If memory serves he was all set to take the throne and his younger son to become Crown Prince and marry a Finn. And then Germany lost and Friedrich Karl of Hesse abdicated.
 

yourworstnightmare

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Umm didn't the Finns want Friedrich Karl of Hesse? If memory serves he was all set to take the throne and his younger son to become Crown Prince and marry a Finn. And then Germany lost and Friedrich Karl of Hesse abdicated.

Yuo, he would have become Väinö I of Finland if Germany had won WW1.
 
Yuo, he would have become Väinö I of Finland if Germany had won WW1.

AFAIK this "Väinö I" stuff is based on a joke by a newspaper columnist at the time. I believe he would have just had his name Finnicized to become "Fredrik Kaarle".

I am, BTW, a bit sceptical about the inevitability of Finland becoming a monarchy had Germany won. F.K. was invited by Finnish royalists, not imposed by Germany: as long as Finland, while officially independent, becomes their de facto protectorate , I believe it would have been all the same to Germany whether the Finns choose a president or a king.

The question of governance was up to the Parliament, which had a Republican majority. If the royalists are not able to sell the idea that German king is necessary to gain the support of Germany, it is still possible that a Republican form of government would carry the day in Finland.
 
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