Netherlands (Chaos)

In the 13th century, the later Netherlands were still split into many smaller states, of which Holland was the most important one. One ruler of them, Wilhelm of Holland, who died in 1256, made it Roman king.
In the year 1287, a great flood swallowed lots of lands in the Netherlands, creating the Zuider Zee, which made it possible for to become an important harbor later.
In 1331, (the strong man in ) married countess Margarethe of Holland, Zeeland and Hennegau (part of Wallonia).
Later in the century, the Netherlands had to suffer under various famines. In 1391, a group of radical Begines (a religious movement) toppled the bishop of in the Eastern Netherlands, working together with his peasants. Although they were relatively peaceful, and probably couldn't have lasted in a war, the stupid bishop managed to anger all his potential allies in the area (the Netherlands were divided between -Holland-Hennegau, -Limburg, Brabant, Geldern and the (quasi-)republics of and at this time). So the new republic continued for a while, until in 1401 Holy Roman Emperor of Holstein crushed it, adding it to his empire.
== Rise to kingdom ==
In 1414, Holland (important for its trade) got the eighth electoral vote in the . In the same year, under king made alliances with and the Netherlands, to attack again. A bit later, in 1419 Roman king was crowned emperor and also appointed himself king of the Netherlands, with the pope's OK. 1421, France made a separate peace with the Netherlands, giving emperor Gerhard , which was incorporated into the Netherlands too.
1430, emperor Gerhard died. His lands were divided: His older son became king of the Netherlands and Roman king, Heinrich became king . This lead to some trouble in Atlantis. The also saw more internal competition: The cities in Holstein competed with the Dutch and Flemish cities, and the cities in the Baltic (and also those in OTL Hanover) stood aside a bit. After the Twenty-Year War, this would become even more apparent.
In 1435, the new king Gerhard was defeated by the Frisians under chief (yes, they had chiefs) Enno of the Cirksena family when he tried to conquer their lands.
A primitive kind of printing was developed in 1442, which was center of cloth printing. It had no movable letters yet, but used wood blocks instead. Thanks to government contracts, the new technology soon spread through the Netherlands.
== Colonies in the New World ==
Since ~1400, Europeans had taken up more or less regular trade contact with . While they only imported first (which wasn't smoked ITTL first, but burned and inhaled instead, and mostly used as a medicine), the Europeans soon discovered the value of beaver and raccoon pelts. At the beginning, the trade was in the hands of the Hanseatic League, which helped the lords of Holstein-Holland-Hennegau to become pretty rich.
1438, The kings of Denmark and the Netherlands finally agreed for a compromise in the New World, negotiated by the pope: Denmark kept the northern colonies (, , ), which were extended with time over the whole OTL Canadian Maritimes and the Hudson valley. The Netherlands got the Southern colony of , which had been founded by the brothers , and were allowed to colonize the lands further South. Since 1450, the Dutch sailed down the coast of Atlantis and founded settlements (i.e. trading places) in OTL Carolina, Georgia. Soon after, they were pushed aside by the stronger France; but on the other hand, they could conquer from Denmark in the 1509-12. In 1543, they made a treaty with , ruling the border between their colonies in Atlantis, and promising to respect them.
In 1531, Dutch founded colonies on OTL Guadeloupe, Dominica. And in 1543, with Scandinavia in Civil War / unrest, the Dutch (as other powers) used the opportunity and took , the capital of .
1594, with Scandinavia in trouble, the Dutch used the opportunity and occupied Swedish . But in 1600, the revolt of the "" (Scandinavians in Australia) against Dutch started, and in the "" 1615/16 Sweden defeated the Dutch, took back the colony.
== Under the dynasty ==
1454, king Gerhard II of the Netherlands died without heir, so his lands fell to his old brother-in-arms Reinald of Geldern, who married Gerhard's daughter (although she was 30 years younger than him... but well, this is royalty) and also became king . During the , the Netherlands had to fight the , which cost them a part of Flanders. tried to challenge as Roman king, but couldn't succeed.
Since 1550, the trade of the Netherlands with Atlantis was painfully reduced; while they did most of the Atlantean trade before, even that of other nations, the didn't need them anymore after the end of the . An economical crisis broke out.
1560-66, the Netherlands made war against the , but were defeated.
During the 1560s, the so-called Puritan movements started in the Netherlands. They were radically against any kind of luxury, especially in the church. Many were expelled too, had to go to the colonies in North Atlantis.
== The French threat ==
1568, unpopular king was toppled, his younger brother became king instead. Under him, Frisia was conquered by the Dutch 1592-97.
After his death, his younger sons received small shares too (Namur and Frisia respectively). Namur seceded soon and was subsequently swallowed by France. And when the Triple Monarchy fell apart, the French danger became greater: 1630-35, France and Denmark- fought the Netherlands in the . In the , the Dutch chose to keep their Caribbean colonies, giving Denmark-Braunschweig instead. France got a good part of Flanders and all of Hennegau / Hainaut. As the Dutch said, now their Silver Age had also ended.
It was clear that things had to go on differently now. In 1638, reforms in the Netherlands after the lost war gave more power to the parliament, which was now democratically elected by all adult men who owned a house above a certain value.
Prince and later king had married later queen in 1669. The anti-French coalition was forged. 1682, the war broke out.
During the , the Dutch fought in many battles, like the or the . In the , the country received the lands lost to France once.
The time after 1700 was considered the Bronze Age of the Netherlands. After the won war against France, the country could rebuild its former strength - although other powers, like , France, and were now active in trade too. Fortunately, at least Sweden with its colony (South Africa) and the Indian trade was Dutch-friendly.
After the death of king (and Holy Roman emperor) Eduard IV 1722, the Netherlands were united in personal union with Sweden-Norway-Mecklenburg. France objected the unification, found an ally in 1724; the (also called Dutch War of Unification; first war in Europe since the end of the Great War) began. In 1729, it was resolved. France took Hainaut and parts of Flanders (again...), Luxemburg got Namur.
The Dutch also fought 1736-42 in the , to prevent France from gaining power.
== The end as a state ==
The Dutch joined the at the monarchist side, despite their developed democracy, for fear of France. But in the (March 1770), the French defeated the Dutch, who complained that the Brits didn't support them. In the (April 1772), the last German-Dutch army was defeated.
In the , the Dutch had to cede all the lands south of the Rhine to France. After the , the full country was annexed.
The Netherlands stayed longer under French oppression than the rest of Germany. Even after the Rhenish War, most of them stayed occupied. However, France had to give Western and Eastern Frisia independence. Frisia became a part of and a refugium for Dutch nationalists fleeing from the French.