RvBOMally on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/rvbomally/art/Failed-in-the-Utmost-672864699RvBOMally

Deviation Actions

RvBOMally's avatar

Failed in the Utmost

By
Published:
7.8K Views

Description

Another really old idea, involving a catastrophic loss for the British alliance during the Seven Years' War. 
  • The PoD was in 1754, French and Indian war does not start until the war in Europe starts. This results in the British war effort in the Americas being more hampered, as the focus is on Europe from the get-go, and the French manage to secure several victories against the British in North America. The British in North America are forced into a defensive position from then on. 
  • No Miracle of the House of Brandenburg; Prussia is defeated and dismembered. Britain, fighting alone, throws in the towel. 
  • France manages to defeat Britain for its place as master of the seas. The French colony of Canada expands and becomes dominant over the dismembered and now-independent British colonies in North America. Canada eventually gains its own independence during the Canadian Revolutionary War, which was much like the American Revolution but much quicker as the French were not interested in fighting such a drawn-out war one generation after the last, and managed to negotiate a friendly relationship with Canada. Canada also served as an outlet for various malcontents in France, which along with a better financial situation in France averts the French Revolution. 
  • French India grows at the expense of France's wartime allies, the Mughals. The Mughal Empire is eventually subsumed into French India. 
  • France's colonial empire isn't as profitable or powerful as the British one was IOTL, and the British manage to become a top economic power thanks to the relatively plentiful coal reserves in their country. Britain becomes a technological and industrial powerhouse, but France maintains its political and military position at the top. 
  • The Franco-Austrian alliance sours in the 19th century, particularly as Austria defeats French-backed Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War and annexes it completely, and defeats Russia in a war over Poland. Austria becomes the dominant industrial power on the continent by the end of the 19th century. 
  • France begins the era of New Imperialism in Asia, competing with the upstart British and the Russians. Russia turns to Britain as part of an economic alliance and for technology, eventually turning against the French system. A later alliance of convenience with Austria arises in the 20th century. 
  • Things more or less stabilize in the early 20th century, with France and its alliance with Spain[1] and its former colonies remaining dominant over the world. Canada is not as powerful as the OTL United States, but is the head honcho in the New World, particularly as the former British colonies might as well be Canadian given how much control Canada has over them. 
  • Relations between the Entente and the Coalition go from on the brink of war to cordial in waves. The last crisis was over some stupid succession crisis in China in 1951, which both sides were eager to take advantage of, but ultimately both decided that it would be better to mediate a peaceful transition. Nuclear weapons have been invented, and strategic nuclear weapons are devastating enough that all European powers know that war would destroy them all. 
  • Politically, monarchies are far more popular, although they are constitutional monarchies mostly based on the French model[2]. In France, the king has become powerless, but the First and Second Estates still dominate politics. The Third Estate does have a lower house in the new French Parliament, but they can be vetoed by any of the other two. Republics are more popular in the Americas, with Canada[3] being the premier republican power. The Ottoman Empire and Mexico remain rather autocratic. Ideologically-motivated dictatorships are all but unheard of. 
[1] Avoided some of the catastrophes of the 19th century. Definitely second fiddle to France, but still a medium power. 
[2] Reforms were made after Louis XVI's death. 
[3] A unitary republic, not unlike OTL France. 
Image size
1204x946px 100.3 KB
© 2017 - 2024 RvBOMally
Comments18
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
BagelBagelBagel's avatar
How modern is China?

How stable are European colonial empires?