btw, what delayed teh Crimean war?
I handwaved it so that California would haved time to get the nessacary gold.
Russia has had two Focuses of expansion, South around the Black Sea, & east across Siberia. When ever they had troubles with one, they would turn to the other.
Following their defeat in the Crimea, Russia turned to the Pacific, [those Black Sea forces had to be sent somewhere] expanding their push into Salihakin island. In the 1870's there was almost a war between Russia and Japan over the island. Wiser head prevailed, Japan was just starting to Moderize, and was unable to compete with the Russian Military. Japan agreed to a Co-Dominium with Russia.
In the 1890's Russia managed to push Japan out Completly. This was one of the Causes of the War in 1905, during which Japan regained the South half of the Island.
So lets go with this;
1845 American settlers in Califonia raise the Bear Flag , & declare Independence.
1846 POD Arguements anomg the Settlers delay the request for anexxation by the US. By the time the dust settles, The Republic of California has been established [ there was a remain Independent faction, here they won, Handwave the details,]
1853 A series of irregular Border clashes begin between Turkey & Russia.
oct 1853 Turkey DoWs Russia
Nov 1853 Russian Navy destroys the Turkish Fleet
Jan 1854 Britian & France DoW Russia
april 1854 Russia invests the Fortress of Silistria, [Bulgarian Coast]
june 1854 The Tsar learns that the 50,000 Austrian troops in Transvania are about to enter the war. The Tsar orders a withdraw.
August 1854 Russian troops finish their withdraw, the Austrians Occupy the Coastal areas vacated by the Russians.
Sept 1854 British, French, & Turkish troops begin invasion of the Crimea Peninsula. [March on Sevastopol]
Having decided to make a stand in the Crimea Nickolas II approches the Republic of California, about buying Alaska.
Nov 1854 California buys Alaska, Siege.of Sevastopol begins
Nov 1854 The Tsar uses the Gold from Calif. To purchase supplies from Prussia. [The Prussians agree to this to spite the Austrians] Inculded in the Purchase is an agreement for the Prussians to construct a RR from Keiv to Odessa. The prussians also start a RR from Berlin to St Petersburg, from Berlin to Keiv, & St. Pete to Keiv, thro neither of these have the priority of the Odessa line.
June 1855 The British and French assualt the Redan IOTL due to the lack of supplies and reinforcements this was a British/French victory, with several of the top commanders of the Russians being killed. In ATL due to the supplies arriving from Prussia, over the new RR, the Russians manage to hold.
july 1855 Under pressure from Home the British/French try again. IOTL The Storming of the Malakoff and the British capturing of The Redan ended the Seige. and in Feb 1856 the War ended. IATL The Russians throw the assualt back with heavy loses for the attackers.
Aug 1855 Dispite a almost continueing bombarment by allied seige guns, Due to the Prussian Supplies and the almost completed RR, the Fortifacations at Sevastopol, are actually being improved and extented.
Nov 1855 The Idea of another Winter of Seige is not making for happy campers back in Britian/France
March 1856 A Last Assault attemp by the allies is another diasater.
April 1856 A Cease Fire is Arranged and in
June 1856 the Treaty of Berlin ends the War. Basically everyone returns to the Status Quo of 1853. Except Austria maintains its troops in the Occupied territories.
While it looks like only Austria got any thing out of the War, in Effect Russia Gets a closer relation with Prussia, and a RR south From Russia to the Black Sea. also there is a expanded Russian Military presence, in the Black Sea area.
1860 The RR's from Berlin to Russia, and inside Russia are Completed, this helps pull Russia closer to Europe.
1866 US & Japan sign a friendship Treaty
1869 Butterflies from the defeat in the Crimea, and Russian/Prussian closeness aborts the Franco/Prussian War
1870's Japan continues with it's Colonization of Sahalkin Island, While Russia objects, it is more focused on Europe, and Modernizing it's Black Sea Forces.
1882 Russian Austrian War with it's mordenized Black Sea force Russia manages to dislodge Austria from the Black Sea Coast. Russia occupies The Coastal parts of Romainia, & Bulguria.
1894 Russian-Turkish war
1895 Japanese-Sino War Japan gets Korea, Formosa, Hainadao Island. Due to Russia being occupied with Turkey, There is no Pressure to give up those parts of China, gotten with Korea.
1898 USS Maine sinks in Havana Harbor. US declares war on Spain. Japan uses the freindship treaty, as a excuse to attack, & Occupy the Phillipines.
1905 Austrian-Hungurian War Morphs into the Great War I