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Post by Otto Kretschmer on Jan 21, 2022 10:17:34 GMT
Make Britain unify Germany by expanding it's German lands
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stevep
Fleet admiral
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Post by stevep on Jan 21, 2022 18:23:20 GMT
Make Britain unify Germany by expanding it's German lands
If you mean Hanover its very difficult as that connection isn't until 1714 and by that time Britain's focus on maritime trade and a small military are well in place. The fact the king also ruled Hanover during the dynasty was often seen as a burden by the British parliament due to issue of defending it. A large continental commitment simply wasn't on the cards. Plus since the monarchy had a lot more power in Hanover some expansion of that, especially if it came near to uniting much of Germany would be seen as a serious threat to parliamentary power in Britain. There would be the fear of a powerful monarch bringing a large German army to re-impose autocratic monarchy in Britain.
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Post by halferking on Jan 28, 2022 21:34:10 GMT
Great Britain had no German lands. The personal union of Hanover and Great Britain was born out of necessity - the desire to deprive James Francis Edward Stuart, son of James VII & II and Mary of Modena, of the Throne.
Hanover was governed by Salic Law which prevented female inheritance so when Princess Victoria, the sole surviving legitimate heir to the Throne, became Queen the territory went to her uncle Ernest Augustus.
I wonder though had the personal union persisted with Victoria whether that would somehow have an impact of German unification. Would Prussia the driving force behind unification want to try and absorb Hanover and risk the British wrath?
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Post by raharris1973 on Jun 23, 2022 3:24:43 GMT
I wonder though had the personal union persisted with Victoria whether that would somehow have an impact of German unification. Would Prussia the driving force behind unification want to try and absorb Hanover and risk the British wrath? German national sentiment, inside Hanover and outside Hanover, would likely still demand unification and not abide tiptoe'ing around Hanover or bypassing it or excluding it from a united Germany. It would be incorporated as a constituent state and its rule a constituent Prince of the German Empire, or it's ruler would be deposed to popular acclaim, including the populace of indigenous Hanoverian troops. Also British parliament would refuse to fund a British Army to hold Hanover apart from the rest of Germany. |
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Post by halferking on Jun 25, 2022 18:14:54 GMT
I wonder though had the personal union persisted with Victoria whether that would somehow have an impact of German unification. Would Prussia the driving force behind unification want to try and absorb Hanover and risk the British wrath? German national sentiment, inside Hanover and outside Hanover, would likely still demand unification and not abide tiptoe'ing around Hanover or bypassing it or excluding it from a united Germany. It would be incorporated as a constituent state and its rule a constituent Prince of the German Empire, or it's ruler would be deposed to popular acclaim, including the populace of indigenous Hanoverian troops. Also British parliament would refuse to fund a British Army to hold Hanover apart from the rest of Germany.
George V of Hanover allied himself with Austria and he refused Wilhelm I of Prussia's request to unarmed neutrality. In response to this defiance Prussia invaded and occupied Hanover eventually absorbing it into the German Empire. George fled to Paris. Great Britain had no economic or political interests to defend in the Austro-Prussian War so would not have intervene on George's behalf.
If Victoria had inherited the Hanoverian title the outcome may have been slightly different. I doubt Great Britain would interfere, militarily speaking, in what London would consider a 'brotherly squabble', but they may entertain an agreement with Wilhelm I - he recognises Hanoverian sovereignty and in return Great Britain would ensure neutrality.
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