I would like to know if it is possible for the British Empire to have been decisively crushed in a war with a grand coalition of powers while at its height so as to cede a large portion of its international power projection to another great power, likely to be France. This could happen at any real period for me, whether the Seven Years' War, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, or anytime in the Victorian era and beyond.
Personally my favorite concept could be the Patriots being more successful in the ARW, managing to capture Canada and Nova Scotia as well as Florida and the Bahamas, while the French manage to retake Senegal, parts of India, and the Lesser Antilles, as the Spanish take Jamaica, Belize, Menorca, Gibraltar, and the Mosquito Coast. If this were to happen, the British economy would be shattered by the loss of the Caribbean, which would also effectively end the Industrial Revolution. In return, all of that lucrative sugar income would be going into King Louis' coffers, who would likely be able to circumvent the French Revolution as he now actually has more than a penny in the bank.
I feel this is the most likely candidate for the fall of the British Empire as this POD takes place when the French and Spanish still have rather substantial navies with which to inflict some defeats on the Royal Navy, as it precedes the effective end of Franco-Spanish naval power at the hands of Nelson.
I would also pair up this resurgent France with a conquest of Egypt (yes, Napoleon, I know), since to my knowledge of the period the French were well aware of the Ottoman's being the leper of Europe and most likely planned to take their own share of the pie (Egypt for the Nile revenue and the Holy Land for the prestige) before it all fell to Catherine.
Also, I wonder what would occur with the Americas in this period. What would happen with Louisiana? Would it be given to France? Would America somehow come into possession of it? And what about the Spanish American Wars of Independence? Would they still occur if the Spanish Empire is still relatively successful on the international stage?
Anyway, even though I invariably put a lot of focus on my idea with all of that text I wrote, I do also hope for discussion of other potential PODs that could see the same general result: the fall of the British Empire.
Thoughts?
Personally my favorite concept could be the Patriots being more successful in the ARW, managing to capture Canada and Nova Scotia as well as Florida and the Bahamas, while the French manage to retake Senegal, parts of India, and the Lesser Antilles, as the Spanish take Jamaica, Belize, Menorca, Gibraltar, and the Mosquito Coast. If this were to happen, the British economy would be shattered by the loss of the Caribbean, which would also effectively end the Industrial Revolution. In return, all of that lucrative sugar income would be going into King Louis' coffers, who would likely be able to circumvent the French Revolution as he now actually has more than a penny in the bank.
I feel this is the most likely candidate for the fall of the British Empire as this POD takes place when the French and Spanish still have rather substantial navies with which to inflict some defeats on the Royal Navy, as it precedes the effective end of Franco-Spanish naval power at the hands of Nelson.
I would also pair up this resurgent France with a conquest of Egypt (yes, Napoleon, I know), since to my knowledge of the period the French were well aware of the Ottoman's being the leper of Europe and most likely planned to take their own share of the pie (Egypt for the Nile revenue and the Holy Land for the prestige) before it all fell to Catherine.
Also, I wonder what would occur with the Americas in this period. What would happen with Louisiana? Would it be given to France? Would America somehow come into possession of it? And what about the Spanish American Wars of Independence? Would they still occur if the Spanish Empire is still relatively successful on the international stage?
Anyway, even though I invariably put a lot of focus on my idea with all of that text I wrote, I do also hope for discussion of other potential PODs that could see the same general result: the fall of the British Empire.
Thoughts?
