Hey all,
So, as we all know, the 19th century German Confederation is remembered as being largely dominated by the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Pan-German nationalism emerged as a popular movement during the 19th century as well, and after 1871, the German Empire was formed under Prussian leadership.
There are plenty of timelines which explore Germany never unifying; Germany unifying under Austria; or Germany unifying under Prussia but taking a different path. However, the Prussia and Austria were not the only two important states in the German Confederation. What if Germany was united under a dynasty other than the Hohenzollerns or the Habsburgs?
The Austrian Habsburgs held the highest feudal rank, using the title of emperor; the Hohenzollerns were kings. Aside from Prussia, there were four other states which held the rank of kingdom: Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, and Wurttemberg. Of these, Bavaria was the most powerful Catholic state in Germany aside from Austria. The Wittelsbachs had long-lasting dynastic ties to the Habsburgs, and a Bavarian prince ruled the Kingdom of Greece. If the Wittelsbachs led German Unification with Habsburg support, then the Habsburgs would have a strong permanent ally in Germany and in the Balkans.
Saxony was led by the House of Wettin, cadet branches of which ruled in Belgium, and would eventually come to rule in Britain; therefore, it held prestige and some international sway. Geographically, Saxony was situated in between Prussia and Austria, and though its monarchy was Catholic, its population was largely Lutheran; I can imagine a scenario in which Saxony emerges as an intermediary between Austrian and Prussian ambitions, and Dresden emerges as the capital of a unified Germany after a series of compromises.
Finally, there was a self-proclaimed German Empire established at Frankfurt, which emerged during the Revolutions of 1848-1849. The Frankfurt Parliament sought a liberal parliamentary government headed by a hereditary emperor. However, there were radical factions within the Frankfurt Parliament as well. Some of these were what we might recognise today as "Leftists" (though at this point, the Radical factions all called themselves Leftists, since they sat on the left side of the assembly); these were largely inspired by the egalitarian, populist, republican ideals of the French Revolution, and would go on to inspire early socialists. Others were more bourgeois in their interests, seeking to establish a liberal republic which protected the interests of the emerging bourgeoisie from the hereditary aristocracy, taking the United States as their inspiration. And of course there were centrists and moderates, as well as a reactionary faction which desired greater unification of Germany, but under the leadership of the feudal aristocracy. Regardless, this motley collection of interests led popular revolutions across the German states for a couple years, and though they failed to create a new regime, they did force many states to create or expand constitutional protections for the common citizen as well as spread German nationalism as a populist ideal.
So, what if Germany was unified by any of these states, instead of Prussia or Austria? How would this come about? What would be different about German political culture?
So, as we all know, the 19th century German Confederation is remembered as being largely dominated by the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Pan-German nationalism emerged as a popular movement during the 19th century as well, and after 1871, the German Empire was formed under Prussian leadership.
There are plenty of timelines which explore Germany never unifying; Germany unifying under Austria; or Germany unifying under Prussia but taking a different path. However, the Prussia and Austria were not the only two important states in the German Confederation. What if Germany was united under a dynasty other than the Hohenzollerns or the Habsburgs?
The Austrian Habsburgs held the highest feudal rank, using the title of emperor; the Hohenzollerns were kings. Aside from Prussia, there were four other states which held the rank of kingdom: Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, and Wurttemberg. Of these, Bavaria was the most powerful Catholic state in Germany aside from Austria. The Wittelsbachs had long-lasting dynastic ties to the Habsburgs, and a Bavarian prince ruled the Kingdom of Greece. If the Wittelsbachs led German Unification with Habsburg support, then the Habsburgs would have a strong permanent ally in Germany and in the Balkans.
Saxony was led by the House of Wettin, cadet branches of which ruled in Belgium, and would eventually come to rule in Britain; therefore, it held prestige and some international sway. Geographically, Saxony was situated in between Prussia and Austria, and though its monarchy was Catholic, its population was largely Lutheran; I can imagine a scenario in which Saxony emerges as an intermediary between Austrian and Prussian ambitions, and Dresden emerges as the capital of a unified Germany after a series of compromises.
Finally, there was a self-proclaimed German Empire established at Frankfurt, which emerged during the Revolutions of 1848-1849. The Frankfurt Parliament sought a liberal parliamentary government headed by a hereditary emperor. However, there were radical factions within the Frankfurt Parliament as well. Some of these were what we might recognise today as "Leftists" (though at this point, the Radical factions all called themselves Leftists, since they sat on the left side of the assembly); these were largely inspired by the egalitarian, populist, republican ideals of the French Revolution, and would go on to inspire early socialists. Others were more bourgeois in their interests, seeking to establish a liberal republic which protected the interests of the emerging bourgeoisie from the hereditary aristocracy, taking the United States as their inspiration. And of course there were centrists and moderates, as well as a reactionary faction which desired greater unification of Germany, but under the leadership of the feudal aristocracy. Regardless, this motley collection of interests led popular revolutions across the German states for a couple years, and though they failed to create a new regime, they did force many states to create or expand constitutional protections for the common citizen as well as spread German nationalism as a populist ideal.
So, what if Germany was unified by any of these states, instead of Prussia or Austria? How would this come about? What would be different about German political culture?
