WI: Renaissance Nationalism

So this might be borderline ASB, but still a scenario worth discussing in my opinion.

During the Renaissance, there were numerous instances of major thinkers slowly, but visibly developing the idea of nation-states and a national identity - not much compared to the 19th century, but certainly greater than the Middle Ages before it. Nicolo Machiavelli in The Prince had several mentions and appeals to Italian patriotism, for instance, and quite a few revolts before and during that time, most notably the Hussites, had a nationalist tint to their reasoning and actions. The Reformation, what with it's support of liturgy in national languages, can also play a part.

And, at least from my perspective, it's not hard to develop something glorifying a national identity from humanism ("being an individual is a virtue, so the things that separate us from other living beings, like language, history and ethnicity, are also a virtue").

So what would have happened if the ideology of nationalism developed and spread across Europe during the Renaissance? How would a Renaissance Spring of Nations develop, then, and where would it be the most influential?
 
I think you might see this elaborated as my TL progresses; I'm struggling with this, too. One avenue for it could be a mixture with Religion and a populist policy. Such things are most likely (apart from Hussite Bohemia) in the Balkans, I would think. Rus (anti-Tatar) and Germany's Eastern fringe (Slavs) might work, too.
Or you could have Ottomans attack and conquer parts of Italy - and weld together the rest.
Had the Iberian peninsula different political structures, it might work, too, before the Empire takes off.
Also, maybe France/England in their war against each other (see Joan of Arc...)
 
Didn't they have nationalism?

I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm; to which rather than any dishonour shall grow by me, I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.

I know already, for your forwardness you have deserved rewards and crowns; and We do assure you on a word of a prince, they shall be duly paid. In the mean time, my lieutenant general shall be in my stead, than whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy subject; not doubting but by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valour in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over these enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.
 
The general idea, maybe. A strong idea of national identity and having it be widespread, not really.

Wasn't at this point a strong sense of being English, and identifying it with the Kingdom of England, of being French and being a subject to the king of France, and of course, being German, even in the mess that is the Holy Roman Empire?
 

Zagan

Donor
My TL is based on an earlier nationalism premise. And, as @Salvador79 said, it is in "the Balkans".
It happens a little later than the Renaissance but way sooner than in OTL.
The result is an Europe of around a dozen Nation States around 1650.
 
I feel like the presence of large empires somewhat dampens nationalism, especially when they try to keep areas like Germany or Italy disunited. And the Dutch Rennaissance did coincide with a nationalist revolt as well...
 
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