WI: Successful Thornton expedition (Tuscany in Guyana)

In 1608 Captain Robert Thornton was sent by Ferdinand I de' Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany to explore Northern Brazil, the Amazon and nowadays' French Guyana.
The ambitious Grand Duke wanted Thornton to explore in particular Guyana in order to find supplies of rosewood, balsam and cotton that the Captain later actually found in the region reporting also the presence of wild sugar canes, white pepper, cotton and many other kinds of merchandise.
Unfortunately, as he went back the next year he found out that Ferdinand was dead and his son, Cosimo II, wasn't interested in colonization.

Here we go: what if Ferdinand lived longer?
Are another PoD(s) necessary to have this colony remaining Tuscan 'till Italian Unification? And after?
 
In 1608 Captain Robert Thornton was sent by Ferdinand I de' Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany to explore Northern Brazil, the Amazon and nowadays' French Guyana.
The ambitious Grand Duke wanted Thornton to explore in particular Guyana in order to find supplies of rosewood, balsam and cotton that the Captain later actually found in the region reporting also the presence of wild sugar canes, white pepper, cotton and many other kinds of merchandise.
Unfortunately, as he went back the next year he found out that Ferdinand was dead and his son, Cosimo II, wasn't interested in colonization.

Here we go: what if Ferdinand lived longer?
Are another PoD(s) necessary to have this colony remaining Tuscan 'till Italian Unification? And after?

I definitely like this idea. However, Spain might have an issue with the Medici setting up shop in what Spain sees as her private jungle. Not to mention they can seize any Tuscan ships passing through Gibraltar. So, if we can get around that problem, you should be good. I'd love to see an Italian colony in the New World. Not to mention what trade in the commodities such as cotton or rosewood or pepper might do to the private fortunes of the Medici, which started going downhill in the 17th century IIRC
 
I definitely like this idea. However, Spain might have an issue with the Medici setting up shop in what Spain sees as her private jungle. Not to mention they can seize any Tuscan ships passing through Gibraltar. So, if we can get around that problem, you should be good. I'd love to see an Italian colony in the New World. Not to mention what trade in the commodities such as cotton or rosewood or pepper might do to the private fortunes of the Medici, which started going downhill in the 17th century IIRC
Actually Ferdinand I had some troubles with Spain (He had been an ally of Henry IV of France, after helping to convert him to Catholiciscm, for a short period of his reign.), but nothing very big: he knew that Spain was the biggest player in XVII century Italy and so he kept a policy of economic and militar collaboration with Spain.
I think the big problems for New Tuscany would be France (The first attempt of colonizing Guyana was a French one in 1503.), Holland (That showed some interest in the area, but mainly 'cause didn't want the French to settle there.) and Portugal (That gave its consent to the Tuscan colony and was in a good relationship with the Medici.).
 
Actually Ferdinand I had some troubles with Spain (He had been an ally of Henry IV of France, after helping to convert him to Catholiciscm, for a short period of his reign.), but nothing very big: he knew that Spain was the biggest player in XVII century Italy and so he kept a policy of economic and militar collaboration with Spain.
I think the big problems for New Tuscany would be France (The first attempt of colonizing Guyana was a French one in 1503.), Holland (That showed some interest in the area, but mainly 'cause didn't want the French to settle there.) and Portugal (That gave its consent to the Tuscan colony and was in a good relationship with the Medici.).

Guessing that under a Medici regency France might be less objectionable for a while. Although its a big jungle and they could colonize different areas. Portugal's under Spain at this point (and will be for a while) so not likely to cause problems. That leaves the Dutch. And if the French/Italians are there already, it might put them off. Besides, they've got Brasil...
 
Okay now let's try to figure out some consequences:
1• Leghorn would have a bigger port.
2• Tuscany could rely on a better navy.
3• Richer Tuscany.
That bring some questions too:
1/2• Sea expansionism?
- Interest in Corsica during 1729 rebellion?
- Colonization of other places (Small archipelagos in the Indian/Pacific Ocean?)?
3• Military stronger Tuscany?
- Different Italian Unification?
- Italian Unification?
1/2/3• Other Italian states trying to imitate Tuscany?

If I have to try to predict anything I'd bet on Tuscan Corsica (An international compromise solution.), stronger Tuscany hit and sacked by Napoleon enough to have pre-Unification balance of power not changing, therefore Savoy still unifies Italy.
Now:
- Would they keep New Tuscany?
- Would New Tuscan wealth mean less violent taxation (Therefore less troubles in the South.) for Italy?
 
With a POD before 1608 I'm not sure you can count on the Corsican Revolution still popping up 120 years later. Given the Republic's policies on the island some sort of uprising is certainly plausible but much depends on the fortunes of Genoa and Spain (upon whose economy Genoa was dependent) in those intervening years.

My question is how successful this colony actually would have been. Thornton apparently wasn't troubled by disease but French Guiana was notorious for killing Europeans. Tropical diseases, particularly yellow fever, wreaked havoc on European colonists, and the natives weren't very friendly either. Would 17th century Tuscany have the manpower, resources, and political will to carry out this project and maintain it for generations?

A random thought: Tuscany had its own maritime military order, the Order of St. Stephen, which was very much a going concern in the early 17th century. One wonders whether they would become involved in the administration or protection of an overseas Tuscan "empire" and survive their historical decline into oblivion.
 
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f I have to try to predict anything I'd bet on Tuscan Corsica (An international compromise solution.), stronger Tuscany hit and sacked by Napoleon enough to have pre-Unification balance of power not changing, therefore Savoy still unifies Italy.
Now:
- Would they keep New Tuscany?
- Would New Tuscan wealth mean less violent taxation (Therefore less troubles in the South.) for Italy?

1) If the Medici still go extinct as OTL (not necessarily likely. Ferdinando I and Cosimo II both had several sons), the colony could end up in the hands of whomever gets Tuscany. If it's a Spanish infante, I could half see Spain simply annexing "New Tuscany", same goes for an Austrian archduke or French prince inheriting. Even if Tuscany were to regain it's independence (à la Leopold II), it doesn't mean that it's not going to lose it's colonies (since I'm guessing that a New Tuscan success will prompt other (although not necessarily successful) colonial ventures elsewhere).

2) Well, if Tuscany is wealthier because of this, I could see the balance of power in the peninsula shifting. I'm not sure what Savoy's GDP was, but if the Medici manage their colony with a degree of financial acumen (not sure of this one, Ferdinando I was IIRC, the last Medici duke to have anything to do with the family bank), it's a good chance Florence will be richer than Turin. As a result of being wealthier, Tuscany can afford a stronger army and a stronger navy (not saying they will, just saying they can). Hell, maybe they would even do a Swiss/Hessian thing and rent their troops out to foreign powers. Which means that the balance of power in the peninsula will probably change.

Now, whether Guiana/New Tuscnay is still generating wealth by the time of Italian Unification depends both on when Italy is united - if Isabel Farnese marries the duke of Modena (as was planned) and only has a daughter, and said girl marries the grand prince of Tuscany, that's already a massive block in north-central Italy under Tuscan rule - as well as the management of the colony. Do the administrators adapt to changing markets? For instance, once it becomes cheaper to get cotton from London (in the 18th century), do the Tuscans knuckle down and look to industrializing - as François Étienne of Lorraine started them doing? - or do the Florentine guilds cling to their privileges and block it. Likewise, do they adapt their crops? Okay, everyone else can get cotton cheaper from London, and pepper from the Dutch, so they stopped buying from us. What are we gonna do about it?. What about coffee as a cash-crop? Or tobacco? Do either grow in Guiana? Or do they just carry on plugging away at the cotton/pepper pairing because that's all they know?
 
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