Russian America (DME)

[Landshark]

Part 1

“The first steps toward Russian colonization of California were taken in 1578, when an outlaw band of Cossacks crossed the Ural Mountains and conquered the Tartars of central Russia. After that the lure of furs, riches, and glory continued to propel these early fur hunters and free spirits rapidly eastward.�

History of Russian North America (1939 edition)

These pioneering colonists were soon followed by pioneering tax collectors working for Tsar Ivan V. It was about this time that someone in the Russian court proposed the theory that as the east coast of North America obviously wasn’t the east coast of Asia then the new continent must have a west coast of it’s own and why shouldn’t Russia make the same sort of riches there as England, Spain and Portugal were making in their New World colonies and if they did it on this theoretical west coast they wouldn’t have any competition from the western European powers.

Tsar Ivan seized on this idea and as Russian monarchs have never been known for their high regard for the cost of human life decided to extend his empire to the coast of Siberia.

For the next decade the Russians laboured on the “American Endeavour�, linking European Russia with Siberia and founding the great port city of Vladivostok. Finally in the year 1590 a fleet of twelve ships left Vladivostok and sailed east to America.

[cow defender]

interesting. how strong were the spanish in califoria at this time? i just learned this in my history of california class dmnit. i don't remember

[Landshark]

A very quick check says the Spanish first sighted California in 1542 but didn't establish their first misson until 1769. Sounds about right, they'd be pretty busy on the east coast for quite a while I would think.

[Grey Wolf]

Interesting, just think what 350 years of Russian rule would have done to the area...

Grey Wolf

[Hendryk]

One problem for the Russian navy is they would have to build from scratch a harbor on the Pacific coast of Russia first. The Russians did not annex the territories upon which Vladivostok now stands until the 1860s; until then it was part of Chinese Manchuria. So if Russia wants a Pacific outlet in the late 1500s or early 1600s, they would either have to put it further North (at the cost of having it stuck in ice throughout the winter months), or try their luck at disloging the Manchus. But those guys, at that time, would have been a tough nut to crack: in OTL, Russia had to concede large amounts of Siberian territories to them with the 1689 treaty of Nerchinsk.

[Grey Wolf]

One problem for the Russian navy is they would have to build from scratch a harbor on the Pacific coast of Russia first. The Russians did not annex the territories upon which Vladivostok now stands until the 1860s; until then it was part of Chinese Manchuria. So if Russia wants a Pacific outlet in the late 1500s or early 1600s, they would either have to put it further North (at the cost of having it stuck in ice throughout the winter months), or try their luck at disloging the Manchus. But those guys, at that time, would have been a tough nut to crack: in OTL, Russia had to concede large amounts of Siberian territories to them with the 1689 treaty of Nerchinsk.

Ayan was a viable harbour on the West coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, North of the Amur estuary. I don't know when it was founded, however but it was in use during the Crimean War

Of course, the major port in the area before Vladivostock was Petropavlosk on the Kamchatka peninsular

Grey Wolf

[Landshark]

Any suggestions for a good spot for the Russians to set up their Pacific Jamestown? I was thinking they'd establish some small rest stops running from north to south and put the main colony about where OTL San Francisco is. Remember the Russians will be coming down from the north rather than up from the south like the Spanish.

[corourke]

Victoria island could be a good place for them to start. I agree with the main colony being in the San Francisco Bay area, though.

[DuQuense]

Coming from the North they would have several small colonies along the Coast but the First Biggy would ever be Seattle/Vancouver sound or the Columbia River area.

The Spainish didnt sent a colony to the San Franciso area till the early 1700's. 174? IIRC

[Landshark]

I've settled on Vancouver as the first major town/city (Alexandrovsk) with the capital being moved to San Fransisco (Zalivnograd) when the West Coast is amalgamated into a single colony around 1800.

I also need names for the naval bases at San Diago and Pearl Habor, some of the inland cities and names for the Amerikan provinces, and a name for Baja California, and California itself for that matter.

Babelfish doesn't work as it gives the answers in Cyrilic.

[Archangel Michael]

Alaskan natives called Alaska "Alyeska", so maybe the Russians call it Alyeska too. What sort of names od want to name California?

[Landshark]

Longer and slightly edited:


“The first steps toward Russian colonization of California were taken in 1578, when an outlaw band of Cossacks crossed the Ural Mountains and conquered the Tartars of central Russia. After that the lure of furs, riches, and glory continued to propel these early fur hunters and free spirits rapidly eastward.�

History of Russian North America (1939 edition)

These pioneering colonists were soon followed by pioneering tax collectors working for Tsar Ivan V. It was about this time that someone in the Russian court proposed the theory that as the east coast of North America obviously wasn’t the east coast of Asia then the new continent must have a west coast of it’s own and why shouldn’t Russia make the same sort of riches there as England, Spain and Portugal were making in their New World colonies and if they did it on this theoretical west coast they wouldn’t have any competition from the western European powers.

Tsar Ivan seized on this idea and as Russian monarchs have never been known for their high regard for the cost of human life decided to extend his empire to the coast of Siberia.

For the next decade the Russians laboured on the “American Endeavour�, linking European Russia with the far east and building naval bases from which to launch the next phase of Ivan‘s plan. Finally in the year 1590 a fleet of twelve ships left the coast of Asian Russia and sailed east to America.

The Russian fleet sails across the North Pacific using the Aleutian Islands as a guide. Reaching Alaska they proceed down the coast carefully logging all they see.

Finally after reaching (OTL) Baja California in 1591 the Russian fleet turns west and begins the long voyage home.

The admiral of the fleet reports to the Tsar in 1592. Ivan impressed tales of forests of giant trees teeming with wildlife decides to devote more effort to further exploration. The first stage of this increase effort is to develop better links to the far east and build up the port facilities there.

The Russians will spend thirty years on this, all the while sending further expeditions to North America. The records of these early voyages will eventually become the most complete and accurate chronicles of 17th century voyages of discovery in the world.

In 1617 Ivan V dies and is succeeded by his son Alexander I. Alexander I had been extensively tutored by foreign scholars brought to the Russian capital by his father in furtherance of Ivan V North American adventure. As a prince Alexander has also travelled throughout Europe, visiting Paris, Rome and London and is determined that one day Moscow will be the equal of these western cities in terms of culture and learning.

In June 1621 a fleet of fifty ships under the command of Captain General Feodor Bukarov sets sail to establish Alexandrovsk (OTL Vancouver), the first permanent Russian colony in the New World.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Russian colonisation of the West Coast of America mirrors English colonisation of the East Coast. Indians are fought, crops are planted, cities are built. The Russian efforts in North America also have effects in East Asia with Russia gaining power there at the expense of China. This has a knock on effect within China itself with the first efforts at reform coming in the early 1800’s.

In 1772 the tensions that have been building in England’s North American colonies since the end of the French and Indian Wars finally come to a head and the sixteen colonies revolt against King James IV.

Seven years later in 1779 following the Battle of Albany Britain finally renounces it’s claim on Colonial America and the Republic of America is declared.

All is not well for the new republic however. Three constitutional conventions are held in ten years each one ending more acrimoniously than the last. Three months after the delegates of the states of Kanawa and Augusta walk out of the third convention the states that compose New England secede from the Republic and request to rejoin the British Empire. Ten days later New York state follows suit.

The Republic of America is wracked by revolt and revolution. Lead by Kanawa and Augusta five western states and territories attempt to secede and form their own republic. Georgia declares itself neutral. Some areas try to secede from the states of which they are a part of.

With the civilian administration of the Republic seemingly incapable of keeping the country together and with contradictory orders being issued by the War Department and the Presidency General Thomas Kirkpatrick of the Continental Army seizes control of the government.

When the war finally ends in 1793 the map of Eastern North America has been redrawn. New England and New York are now once more part of British North America while the Republic’s political landscape has also been radically altered.

The Continental Army is now firmly in charge of the Republic of America which translates as General Thomas Kirkpatrick is now running the country. He begins by writing an American constitution.

From now on the positions of Head of State, Head of Government and Commander in Chief will be combined into one office, that of President General. As the army was responsible for securing first national independence and then (partial) national unity only general rank officers of that army are eligible for the office. The Continental Congress will be replaced by a single house senate. To be eligible to run for the Senate a candidate must either own land of a certain value or have served a minimum of twelve years in the army (or later the navy). Voters must also fulfil the same criteria. To ensure national loyalty the state governors will now be appointed by the Army Council. This body is made up of the army’s senior generals and is the real power in the new American Republic.

[Yossarian]

Once again the US is screwed over in AH, sigh

[Robert Sullivan]

If the Russians had conquered the Americas, then in 1917, when Lenin took control over Russia and turned it into the USSR, America would have been part of that. The only good thing is that their would have been no Cold War, but Russia would have gone virtually unopposed.

[Grey Wolf]

If the Russians had conquered the Americas, then in 1917, when Lenin took control over Russia and turned it into the USSR, America would have been part of that. The only good thing is that their would have been no Cold War, but Russia would have gone virtually unopposed.

Why on Earth are you going to have a Russian Revolution in this timeline, let alone one with Lenin ?

Peter's timeline is a fascinating and well worked-out alternate history, and comments about the US getting 'screwed' are just so... well, parochial

Grey Wolf

[Gladi]

Once again the US is screwed over in AH, sigh

Bright day
And why comment on this?

[cow defender]

Bright day
And why comment on this?

b/c well. it just seems so damn sad. ;)

[Landshark]

Was planning to take this part until the 20th century but I decided to post it now.


Meanwhile in France events across the Atlantic have been watched closely by those tired of the Ancient Regime and desperate for change.

Despite King Louis XVII efforts to introduce a limited and controllable democracy many in France are far from satisfied. In late May 1791 a riot breaks out in Paris large enough to necessitate the use of troops to contain it. Though this riot is brought under control it is only the harbinger of even greater violence with major riots occurring in cities throughout France

On June 29 a public meeting attended by an estimated 9,000 people is held in Paris’s largest park. Though the city has been quiet since the May riot the Parisian authorities are tense and believe it only a matter of time before a second even greater riot erupts in the French capital. Three companies of dragoons are placed on alert and dispatched to the meeting.

By the end of the day more than 800 men, women and children are dead.

Exactly what caused the dragoons to charge and how many died beneath their swords and how many were trampled to death in the ensuing panic is never really determined however the results of the June Massacre are apparent to all. By sunset Paris has fallen to the revolution without any knowing the revolution had actually started.

The royal government calls in troops but many of the regiments surrounding Paris mutiny and go over to the side of the rebels. This is a pattern soon repeated throughout the country.

In the early hours of the first day of July the Royal family flees the Palace of Versailles before the mob arrive.

By July 7 most of France is in chaos with various factions fighting each other. However one group is emerging as a possible national government. The Echarpes Rouges had made their first appearance during the 1780’s in the aftermath of the American revolution and were a congregation of various republican and radical groups and individuals. By 1791 their beliefs had been concentrated into a single radical anti-monarchist agenda. When a provisional assembly is finally organised in Paris in late July the Echarpes Rouges have overwhelming popular backing and form the largest party in the assembly. This pattern is repeated in other republican dominated areas.

The Royal Family has fled to Dunkirk where they are protected by a worryingly small body of loyalist troops.

[cow defender]

glad to see that youre still workin on this one.

oh and i just love the radicals in the french revolution!

[Landshark]

Thanks, hopefully I'll get a bit of the Empire of France done this week as well.

I'm trying to remember where this was going back in October. IIRC the French king ends up in exile in Britain, and the Echarpes Rouges go the way of Robespierre and the Jacobins and end up being replaced by American inspired militarists.

Which of course leads into this ATL's Napoleonic Wars.

[Fabilius]

To bad this idea hasn´t continiued... I´m gonna bump it and see what happens.:p