WI: 1796, Sister Republic of Ireland

Tanc49

Hi all,

The 1796 expedition of Ireland by the French failed among other things because of a serie of freak storm which wrecked the invasion fleet.

So what if that hadn't happened? I understand those were not great soldiers coming in but that would still have been a massive thorn for GB. Could this be used as a diversion for the invasion of the UK? How would that impact the other wars and the future of the UK?
 
DracoLazarus

DracoLazarus

It would certainly please the Irish. Until a certain general decides to make it a kingdom for one of his brother.
A Republic of England would be hilarious. If it can convince the European powers not to piss off France...
 

Alt History Buff

I was thinking that Ireland would summon back the Jacobite pretender from the House of Sardinia, namely Maria (Mary) II sometime around 1808 (I assume Ireland wouldn't utilize Salic Law and exclude women). Marry her off to Prince Eugene Beauhanase.

The Irish were initially heavily against the Revolution at first due to the French assault on the Catholic Church. If the Revolution had gone differently, perhaps Ireland would have been more ripe for general rebellion.
 

Faeelin

Banned
Alt History Buff said:
I was thinking that Ireland would summon back the Jacobite pretender from the House of Sardinia, namely Maria (Mary) II sometime around 1808 (I assume Ireland wouldn't utilize Salic Law and exclude women). Marry her off to Prince Eugene Beauhanase.
Click to expand...

A successful Irish Republic (or more likely, a protracted bloody guerrilla war where Britain wins after getting very grim) will have huge effects. You are likely to not see Napoleon as emperor.
 
Alcsentre Calanice

Alcsentre Calanice

Gone Fishin'
DracoLazarus said:
It would certainly please the Irish. Until a certain general decides to make it a kingdom for one of his brother.
A Republic of England would be hilarious. If it can convince the European powers not to piss off France...
Click to expand...

As long as this brother is good catholic and hates the British...
 

Tanc49

Any idea how that would impact the rest of the wars?

If Ireland is in shambles, the Brits obviously can't commit as many resources, financial, foodstuff and militaries as in OTL. Especially true for the RN who'd have to watch the Irish Sea more closely.

Would it be good for France or would it get bogged down propping it up?
 
Alcsentre Calanice

Alcsentre Calanice

Gone Fishin'
Tanc49 said:
Any idea how that would impact the rest of the wars?

If Ireland is in shambles, the Brits obviously can't commit as many resources, financial, foodstuff and militaries as in OTL. Especially true for the RN who'd have to watch the Irish Sea more closely.

Would it be good for France or would it get bogged down propping it up?
Click to expand...

France can beat every power on the continent, Napoleon will throw the Austrian out of Italy in 1797. If Britain is forced to make a peace in 1800, France will dominate Europe.
 

Dathi THorfinnsson

How many men can the French land?

How long will it take for the Brits to suppress the uprising?

My guess is 'not many' and 'not long', respectively.

What it DOES do is smash the rights of the Irish (if many joined the uprising) for a few more generations.

This could be the worst thing that happened to the Irish in centuries. IMO.
 

Dathi THorfinnsson

Tanc49 said:
I imagine the plan was to live off the land? They would have come as support of an insurrection of Fenians so that would be one problem solved

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expédition_d'Irlande
Click to expand...

1) thank you for the link
2) according to that, the reason the French fleet was able to get to Ireland was largely because of the horrible weather, which kept most of the RN either in port or out at sea. However, that same winter weather kept them from landing ANY troops. If the weather had been better, they would have been dispersed by the RN, and still landed few troops. IMO.
3) living off the land is fine - if all you want is food. Replacing gunpowder and even shot is rather harder. Living off the land is also a great way to turn the locals against you, turning allies into enemies, as the French discovered in Spain.
 

Faeelin

Banned
Dathi THorfinnsson said:
1) thank you for the link
2) according to that, the reason the French fleet was able to get to Ireland was largely because of the horrible weather, which kept most of the RN either in port or out at sea. However, that same winter weather kept them from landing ANY troops. If the weather had been better, they would have been dispersed by the RN, and still landed few troops. IMO.
Click to expand...

Eh. I'd check out the Napoleon Options (which ironically, since Napoleon isn't involved) goes into a lot of detail about the landing. It's not as hard as you're making it out to be to get the forces onshore. But picturing the British fleet as being capable of catching all French ships is not, IMO, accurate; look at how Napoleon managed to escape and reach Egypt!

As to replacing gunpowder and shot? That's an interesting question, but running a blockade to get that aboard is easier than it seems, and if you seize Dublin, IMO it's possible to make additional gunpowder.
 
Last edited:

Tanc49

Faelin said:
As to replacing gunpowder and shot? That's an interesting question, but running a blockade to get that aboard is easier than it seems, and if you seize Dublin, IMO it's possible to make additional gunpowder.
Click to expand...

And they would have landed in/near Cork so that's another center of industry. I'm afraid I don't know the number of British troups kept in garnison there, could we imagine they get overrun?

We have to remember this expedition was in coordination with local independantists
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top