France objects to "Waterloo" coin?

[Minimalist]

And in the case of England, which was a bit more liberal than the others, it was about trade routes and global interests.

Britain always opposed whatever the top continental power might have been as a matter of policy.  When they knocked off France they found themselves facing a resurgent Germany.

[Anomalocaris]

And in the case of England, which was a bit more liberal than the others, it was about trade routes and global interests.

Britain always opposed whatever the top continental power might have been as a matter of policy.  When they knocked off France they found themselves facing a resurgent Germany.

Britain herself might have been a little bit more liberal than the others.   But prior to WWI Britain far more often than not allied her self with the least liberal fractions available in any continental power struggle.   Unlike Napoleon, who brought liberal ideal and practices to the countries he subjugated, Britain fought to replace more liberal and progressives french domination that championed the ideals of enlightenment, with more backwards and repressive local hereditary monarchy that looked back wistfully at the middle ages.

[Minimalist]

I don't know if the British gave a particular shit for any of that stuff.  When Spain was ascendant, they allied with France and/or Austria and/or the Dutch rebels.  When France was the main threat they aligned with Spain and as many Germans as they could reach.  When Germany was on top, they made up with the French and when the Russians were on top it was all of the rest of Europe.

I think they latched on to whatever was available.

[abaris]

Britain always opposed whatever the top continental power might have been as a matter of policy.  When they knocked off France they found themselves facing a resurgent Germany.

But not for another century. Even more so since Germany had another 56 years to go to actually be Germany and didn't have colonial ambitions until 1884.

[Minimalist]

WWI doesn't count?

The treaties with various allies directed against Germany do not count?


The Brits knew exactly what they were doing.

[Thumpalumpacus]

WWI doesn't count?

The treaties with various allies directed against Germany do not count?


The Brits knew exactly what they were doing.

He's counting from the Congress of Vienna, not the creation of Greater Germany in 1871.

What you're saying is right vis British policy; they didn't care who they allied with so long as they maintained a balance in European relations, because such favored trade. Additionally, as both of you know, as a peripheral maritime power, their army was not very significant compared to that of most Continental powers, and as such, the most efficient means for projecting power was through close, and later distant, blockade, couple with dispersed landings to spread out any defending force.

[abaris]

WWI doesn't count?

The treaties with various allies directed against Germany do not count?


The Brits knew exactly what they were doing.

As Parker pointed out - counting from Waterloo/Congress of Vienna. Their ruling houses interbred wildly within the 19th century and never fought a war against each other until 1914. The opposition started when the Germans wanted a piece of the colonial cake and Willhelm II started to build a fleet to rival the british one. But none of this happened till 1884 with Lüderitz landing in what was later called Lüderitz Bay.