German Unification without a Hanover independent from the UK

[alfred russel]

Sort of an alt history thread unfortunately....But more about how different dynamics interplayed in the mid 19th century. Inspired by the royal pregnancy thread.

Hanover had been in personal union with the UK since George I, and through the end of the Congress of Vienna, the UK worked to protect the interests of the crown in Hanover.

At the beginning of the reign of Victoria in 1837, the personal union not only ended, but the individual who took the crown was quite unpopular in the UK. The effect was a sharp political divorce between the UK and Hanover.

But how would German unification have looked had Victoria been superceded in the line of succession by a male? In 1848 there was a strong push to create a German state--obviously that wasn't successful, but I have a hard time seeing the UK assenting to the National Assembly formed in Frankfurt--and Hanover would have been a large territory to omit. I also don't see Prussia being able to militarily dominate north Germany has it did, and quite possibly the UK would have actively worked to thwart that.

Any informed thoughts on how this might have played out?

[jimmy olsen]

There would probably be a local uprising in Hannover.

Would Hannoverian soldiers obey orders to crush it, or would they go over to the revolutionaries? If they did obey, might they be beaten by the mob anyway?

Would the British parliament be enthusiastic about holding on Hannover by force and getting involved in revolutionary conflict?

[Josquius]

Big boon to British republicanism

[Richard Hakluyt]

My understanding is that, by the 1830s, Hanover was regarded as an "entanglement" by the British establishment rather than an asset. So I don't think that Britain would mind losing Hanover but it would have to be done without loss of prestige, some face-saving gestures would be needed.

Lord Russell was PM back in 1848, but with a weak minority government. Palmerston was the leading Tory of the time. The political situation was pretty fluid which might make a British intervention more likely. On the other hand, jingoism was nowhere near as strong a force as it became later 

[Viking]

If the French and Austrian armies aren't enough to stop the Prussians then I'm sure the British wouldn't have been enough either.

Status of entanglement aside, Britain has no means of defending Hannover without a continental ally or three. 

[Faeelin]

There would probably be a local uprising in Hannover.

Would Hannoverian soldiers obey orders to crush it, or would they go over to the revolutionaries? If they did obey, might they be beaten by the mob anyway?

Would the British parliament be enthusiastic about holding on Hannover by force and getting involved in revolutionary conflict?

What uprising are you talking about? In 1866 there was no uprising in Bavaria, etc. in support of Prussia, was there?

[jimmy olsen]

Alfred was talking more of 1848 than 1866-70 wasn't he?

[Martim Silva]

Alfred was talking more of 1848 than 1866-70 wasn't he?

That was also my impression. Hannover would have been a delicate problem for the UK immediately in 1848 and would probably be let go at the time, years before Prussia did anything in the area.

[Sheilbh]

Lord Russell was PM back in 1848, but with a weak minority government. Palmerston was the leading Tory of the time. The political situation was pretty fluid which might make a British intervention more likely. On the other hand, jingoism was nowhere near as strong a force as it became later 

Old Pam was liberal Foreign Secretary at this time.  He gave British support for most uprisings - normally without telling Victoria or his Prime Minister

[Richard Hakluyt]

 

Didn't realise that Pam was in charge of the FO back then....oh well, in that case the British fleet would almost certainly bombard Hamburg to teach the Germans a lesson