Hail, Britannia

[TPL99]

OH GAWD THERE'S HOPE. WELCOME BACK FELLA @LeinadB93!!!!

 

[LeinadB93]

Aww, hell yeah, it's back!

HE HAS RETURNED

Hail, Britannia!

OH GAWD THERE'S HOPE. WELCOME BACK FELLA @LeinadB93!!!!

Awh thanks. It's nice to know you missed the series, and I'm glad there are still some people interested in it!!

I do intend to respond to everyone's questions in due course, but got a bit caught up today with a write up for something I've been playing with for a while. Hopefully I'll be a bit more frequent moving forward

Credit to @TPL99 for the list of First Ministers, and helping me flesh out the backstory. Here's a look at TTL's Largest Colony:

The Viceroyalty of Benguela, also known as Brazilian Africa, is an autonomous unincorporated territory of the Empire of Brazil located in south-central Africa, approximately 6,500 km east of São Paulo. Benguela is bordered by the Co-operative Republic of Angola to the north, the State of Zambia and the Commonwealth of Zimbabwe Rhodesia to the east, the United Provinces of the Cape to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Ranked separately, Benguela is the twelfth-largest African country by area, and the twenty-second most populous. The capital and most populous city is São Felipe. The territory's total population is approximately 17.3 million. Portuguese and Umbundu are the official languages, though Umbundu predominates.

Although predominantly inhabited by the nomadic Khoi and San people since the Paleolithic Era, what is now Benguela was moulded by Portuguese and later Brazilian colonisation. Portuguese explorers first reached the area in 1484, establishing coastal settlements and trading posts, including the now capital São Felipe de Benguela. For over two hundred years the colony traded in Angolan slaves for the Brazilian plantations, and the Atlantic slave trade tied the colony closely to Portuguese Brazil. Local slave dealers provided a large number of slaves for the Portuguese Empire, usually in exchange for manufactured goods from Europe. During the Portuguese Restoration War, the Dutch West India Company seized control of Luanada and the northern regions of the colony, and despite repeated attempts by Portugal the colony would remain in Dutch hands until the 20th century. By the early 17th century, Portugal had gained control of the coast through a series of treaties and wars, but control over the country's vast interior was minimal.

The independence of Brazil in the 1820s had profound impacts upon the Portuguese colony of West Africa, which erupted into revolt against the Portuguese authorities, who sought to reduce and even abolish the slave trade, in support of the new Brazilian Empire. In 1826, Portugal begrudgingly ceded their West Africa forts and settlements to Brazil in exchange for perpetual trading rights in their ports. In the mid 19th century there were a series of renewed expeditions into the Benguelan hinterland, and settlers slowly began to establish themselves in the hinterland. The mixed heritage of the settlers from Brazil meant that they were more cautiously welcomed than white Europeans, and many mixed communities emerged between the immigrant Pardo Brazilians and the native Bantu peoples. As of the 2010 census nearly 50% of the Benguelan population is of mixed/pardo heritage. Conferences and treaties throughout the late 19th century delineated Brazilian claims in Africa, establishing borders between Dutch Angola, British Rhodesia, and German South West Africa. During the period of Brazilian direct colonial rule, cities, towns and trading posts were founded, railways were opened, ports were built, and a distinctive creole culture that combined indigenous African, Brazilian and European elements was developed, blending western imports with the deeply traditional tribal heritage.

During the First World War, forces in the neighbouring German colony of South West Africa launched several probing invasions into the Brazilian colony prior to Brazil's official declaration of war (March 1917). When the British invaded the colony in 1915 from the south, Brazilian forces launched a joint invasion from the north and both countries jointly occupied the colony. At the end of the war, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the territory known as German Kavango, which covered much of the Okavango River basin, was ceded to the Empire of Brazil and annexed into the Brazilian colonial possessions in Africa. The election of Brazil's first socialist government in 1929 saw the outlawing of the forced labour system in Benguela, although the plantation based economy continued, and the emergence of a major mining sector. Improved railway links between the coast and the interior, including the newly annexed Kavango territory, served to link the disparate regions of the colony together.

The immediate period following the Second World War saw the colony begin the transition to autonomy, with the granting of indirect home rule in 1947. However, the establishment of a fully autonomous viceroyalty would not occur until 1987 due to the Imperial Congress being unable to approve a local constitution. Benguelans have been citizens of Brazil since 1919, and enjoy freedom of movement between the territory and metropolitan Brazil, however Benguela's future political status has consistently been a matter of significant debate, with some seeking full integration and others independence as a sovereign state. Benguela has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy is among the fastest-growing in the world largely due to the presence of Brazil's state run industries. A highly multi-ethnic country, Benguela's 17.3 million people span tribal groups, customs, and traditions, and Benguelan culture reflects centuries of Portuguese and Brazilian influence, in the use of the Portuguese language and of the predominance of the Catholic Church.

First Ministers of the Viceroyalty of Benguela (1987–)

11. 1987–1996 Jonas Savimbi (Democratic majority, then Democratic minority)​

12. 1996–2008 Samuel Nujoma (SDF–Benguelese majority coalition)​

13. 2008–2016 Alberto Ngalanela (Grupo Popular–Liberal majority coalition)​

14. 2016–2021 Agostinho Ndjaka (SDF–Benguelese–Communist majority coalition)​

 

[TPL99]

 

[StormStar]

ITS ALIVE, ITS ALIVE !!!!!!!

 

[Indicus]

Damn, it's back!

I'm not too sure how a fully autonomous viceroyalty with its own parliament could be described as an unincorporated territory on the wikibox, however.

 

[Rattigan]

Great to have you back.

Any chance we could see something more on TTL's Second World War equivalent in Europe?

 

[TheKutKu]

Awh thanks. It's nice to know you missed the series, and I'm glad there are still some people interested in it!!

I do intend to respond to everyone's questions in due course, but got a bit caught up today with a write up for something I've been playing with for a while. Hopefully I'll be a bit more frequent moving forward

Credit to @TPL99 for the list of First Ministers, and helping me flesh out the backstory. Here's a look at TTL's Last Colony:

The Viceroyalty of Benguela, also known as Brazilian Africa, is an autonomous unincorporated territory of the Empire of Brazil located in south-central Africa, approximately 6,500 km east of São Paulo. Benguela is bordered by the Republic of Angola to the north, the State of Zambia and the Commonwealth of Zimbabwe Rhodesia to the east, the United Provinces of the Cape to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Ranked separately, Benguela is the twelfth-largest African country by area, and the twenty-second most populous. The capital and most populous city is São Felipe. The territory's total population is approximately 17.3 million. Portuguese and Umbundu are the official languages, though Umbundu predominates.

Although predominantly inhabited by the nomadic Khoi and San people since the Paleolithic Era, what is now Benguela was moulded by Portuguese and later Brazilian colonisation. Portuguese explorers first reached the area in 1484, establishing coastal settlements and trading posts, including the now capital São Felipe de Benguela. For over two hundred years the colony traded in Angolan slaves for the Brazilian plantations, and the Atlantic slave trade tied the colony closely to Portuguese Brazil. Local slave dealers provided a large number of slaves for the Portuguese Empire, usually in exchange for manufactured goods from Europe. During the Portuguese Restoration War, the Dutch West India Company seized control of Luanada and the northern regions of the colony, and despite repeated attempts by Portugal the colony would remain in Dutch hands until the 20th century. By the early 17th century, Portugal had gained control of the coast through a series of treaties and wars, but control over the country's vast interior was minimal.

The independence of Brazil in the 1820s had profound impacts upon the Portuguese colony of West Africa, which erupted into revolt against the Portuguese authorities, who sought to reduce and even abolish the slave trade, in support of the new Brazilian Empire. In 1826, Portugal begrudgingly ceded their West Africa forts and settlements to Brazil in exchange for perpetual trading rights in their ports. In the mid-19th century there were a series of renewed expeditions into the Benguelan hinterland, and settlers slowly began to establish themselves in the hinterland. The mixed heritage of the settlers from Brazil meant that they were more cautiously welcomed than white Europeans, and many mixed communities emerged between the immigrant Pardo Brazilians and the native Bantu peoples. As of the 2010 census nearly 50% of the Benguelan population is of mixed/pardo heritage. Conferences and treaties throughout the late-20th century delineated Brazilian claims in Africa, establishing borders between Dutch Angola, British Zambia and Rhodesia, and German South West Africa. During the period of Brazilian direct colonial rule, cities, towns and trading posts were founded, railways were opened, ports were built, and a distinctive creole culture that combined indigenous African, Brazilian and European elements was developed, blending western imports with the deeply traditional tribal heritage.

During the First World War, forces in the neighbouring German colony of South West Africa launched several probing invasions into the Brazilian colony prior to Brazil's official declaration of war (March 1917). When the British invaded the colony in 1915 from the south, Brazilian forces launched a joint invasion from the north and both countries jointly occupied the colony. At the end of the war, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the northern half of the colony, known as German Kavango, was ceded to the Empire of Brazil and annexed into the Brazilian colonial possessions in Africa. The election of Brazil's first socialist government in 1929 saw the outlawing of the forced labour system in Benguela, although the plantation based economy continued, and the emergence of a major mining sector. Improved railway links between the coast and the interior, including the newly annexed Kavango territory, served to link the disparate regions of the colony together.

The immediate period following the Second World War saw the colony began the transition to autonomy in 1947, with the granting of indirect home rule. However, the establishment of a fully autonomous viceroyalty would not occur until 1987 due to the Imperial Congress being unable to approve a local constitution. Benguelans have been citizens of Brazil since 1919, and enjoy freedom of movement between the territory and metropolitan Brazil, however Benguela's future political status has consistently been a matter of significant debate, with some seeking full integration and other independence as a sovereign state. Benguela has vast mineral and petroleum reserves, and its economy is among the fastest-growing in the world largely due to the presence of Brazil's state run industries. A highly multi-ethnic country, Benguela's 17.3 million people span tribal groups, customs, and traditions, and Benguelan culture reflects centuries of Portuguese and Brazilian influence, in the use of the Portuguese language and of the predominance of the Catholic Church.

First Ministers of the Viceroyalty of Benguela (1987–)

11. 1987–1996 Jonas Savimbi (Democratic majority, then Democratic minority)
12. 1996–2008 Samuel Nujoma (SDF–Benguelese majority coalition)
13. 2008–2016 Alberto Ngalanela (Grupo Popular–Liberal majority coalition)
14. 2016–2021 Agostinho Ndjaka (SDF–Benguelese–Communist majority coalition)​

The last colony? It’s weird to describe it like that when France has its oversea, japan has Taiwan, and well, the British empire still has places like Sierra Leone or Fiji or Singapore.

Kinda weird Ovimbundu would be widely spoken when nearly 70% of the population is Pardo or of european descent, historically irl most mixed race African quickly assimilated with the colonising culture, and Portuguese angola was no exception. The mixed race population that doesn’t come from Brazil would very likely identify more with the Brazilian culture and forget its African part, at least over a generation or two. I doubt that a situation like Paraguay could arise, mostly because the Brazilian colonial administration would still likely consider the natives as culturally inferior, and being a colony it wouldn’t have the possibility to have a coherent unified education policy promoting Ovimbundu. Also Benguela would be much more ethnicall divided than Paraguay.

Still awesome update. Glad to see you’re back!

 

[LeinadB93]

I'm not too sure how a fully autonomous viceroyalty with its own parliament could be described as an unincorporated territory on the wikibox, however.

Benguela ITTL is very similar to Puerto Rico OTL - an internally self-governing state that is a territory of a larger power (Brazil/USA) but is not actually part of that larger power. Benguela is Brazilian territory, and its citizens are Brazilian citizens, but it is not part of Brazilian territory - many of Brazil's laws only apply to Benguela if it is explicitly mentioned, and its citizens cannot vote in Brazilian federal elections. Much like Puerto Ricans are US citizens, but cannot vote in US elections.

So Benguela is unincorporated because it has a separate legal status in Brazilian/international law compared to a state in metropolitan Brazil - which can vote in federal elections and is an integrated part of the Brazilian state.

Hope that clarifies

Great to have you back.

Any chance we could see something more on TTL's Second World War equivalent in Europe?

Thanks

Sure thing! Is there anything in particular?

The last colony? It’s weird to describe it like that when France has its oversea, japan has Taiwan, and well, the British empire still has places like Sierra Leone or Fiji or Singapore.

I suppose it might be better described as "The Largest Colony". The extent to which Overseas France, Japanese Taiwan, the European Cities in China, and the British overseas possessions are still seen as "colonies" varies from state to state. The UN list of Non-Self-Governing Territories is probably a lot smaller ITTL, and in fact may be non-existent at this point...

Overseas France are all departments, regions or collectivites - with full voting in French election. So not colonies.
Taiwan and Sakhalin are fully integrated with Japan, and like the other islands are divided into prefectures. Both have full voting in Japanese elections, although Taiwan has a strong secessionist movement. So not colonies.
Overseas Portugal (Cape Verde, Sao Tome & Principe, Macau) are considered the same as Madeira and the Azores. So not colonies.

Sierra Leone, Singapore and Fiji are integrated dominions of the United Empire, with full self-government like Canada or Australia.

Kinda weird Ovimbundu would be widely spoken when nearly 70% of the population is Pardo or of european descent, historically irl most mixed race African quickly assimilated with the colonising culture, and Portuguese angola was no exception. The mixed race population that doesn’t come from Brazil would very likely identify more with the Brazilian culture and forget its African part, at least over a generation or two. I doubt that a situation like Paraguay could arise, mostly because the Brazilian colonial administration would still likely consider the natives as culturally inferior, and being a colony it wouldn’t have the possibility to have a coherent unified education policy promoting Ovimbundu. Also Benguela would be much more ethnicall divided than Paraguay.

My thinking is that Umbundu continues to be spoken across much of the hinterland and inland regions, whilst Portuguese predominates along the coast. You are correct that Brazil would most likely promote Portuguese as the language of education and government, particuarly with emerging creole population, so potentially Umbundu would have declined significantly by the mid-20th century. However, with the language's heartlands surviving with "less" colonial influence into the 1940s, and the subsequent home rule, I think we could see a renaissance of the language as a second language - which could supplant Portuguese in the rural interior of the country, whilst Portuguese remains the predominant first language and the language of government, trade, education etc.

 

[Rattigan]

Thanks

Sure thing! Is there anything in particular?

So I was wondering if you had anything on either Italy or Germany from their OTL unifications (whatever the equivalent is in TTL) up to the end of the Second World War...

 

[Rattigan]

So I was wondering if you had anything on either Italy or Germany from their OTL unifications (whatever the equivalent is in TTL) up to the end of the Second World War...

Also (and I hate to keep on making demands like this) but I'd love to see something about the status of countries in East Asia apart from China. You've hinted at it in your updates on China and I'd love to hear more about what's going on in Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan etc...

 

[Arthur Marston]

Leinad still hasn't answered the most important question: is it Derry or Londonderry?

 

[LeinadB93]

ITTL, were the Romanovs still killed by the Soviets? Or due to the existence of Britain-in-America, was the King able to rescue them and send them to exile there instead?

Unfortunately the Romanovs are still killed by Soviets - and this is a big part of why Britain becomes so fervently anti-Communist is the interwar period. Their deaths, plus the Alaskan Uprising, leads to all Communist organisation being banned in the Empire.

One idea I had played with was that Anastasia is somehow separated from her parents and siblings, and ends up in Crimea with her grandmother - they both get rescued by the British and resettle in Alaska. Where Anastasia marries the heir the Prince of Alaska... But I’m not sure whether to follow it through.

Interesting. So, it’s sort of like how leaders with the title of “Chairman” became the head of so many communist states - the title originally referred to the president of an executive council, but eventually the end part referring to the executive council was forgotten in common parlance.

My thoughts exactly. Presidential republics in the mood of OTL USA are pretty rare ITTL, so very few states have an all powerful president. Most have semi-presidential or parliamentary systems, to like OTL South Africa - with executive president responsible to the legislature.

There is of course a British Ministerial office called Lord President of the Council to this day..

Indeed but that has a separate function to what I was thinking.

To the above few comments, President was used for various high state officials, but the US was the first for establishing it as a Republican Head of State. In the early US history, the Title of President also was called Chief Magistrate, so perhaps that could be used instead, or High Magistrate of the Republic of Texas (It does sound nice, Don't you think?)

Hmm, could be an historic/secondary title used for the Presidents role in delivering pardons etc.

This is absolutely fantastic. I had to sign up just to comment on it.

I love your Republic of China flag, and your mention the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (I wrote about it for my History dissertation). And some of the other flags are superb.

Thanks I’m glad you like them!!

Does Tom Selleck wear The Coat?

I’d like to think so

 

[Damian0358]

One idea I had played with was that Anastasia is somehow separated from her parents and siblings, and ends up in Crimea with her grandmother - they both get rescued by the British and resettle in Alaska. Where Anastasia marries the heir the Prince of Alaska... But I’m not sure whether to follow it through.

Perhaps Anastasia's condition worsens to the point where the family decides that, rather than keep her with them, she'd join the other refugee Romanovs in hopes of finding someone to help her now that they didn't have anyone - so, just like the others, she ends up in Crimea, and from there, go to Britain where the treatment there stabilizes her. Maybe after recovering, she even ends up meeting her relative, George Mikhailovich, Count Brasov, in Harrow and their interactions just have the slightest butterfly effect to prevent him from suffering the same death he had OTL.

 

[gunnerkite]

it lives! IT LIVES! *putting on my best Frankenstein accent*
Good to see you back lei!

 

[LeinadB93]

2: Does the UKE have a full NHS system, or various Universal Healthcare systems throughout the Britannic Empire, with an oversight ministry in the Imperial Government, allowing the dominions, kingdoms, and provinces some independence on it but have specific guidelines?

The NHS System is administered at the Imperial level by the Department of Health, which says basic standards and guidelines. But each dominion has it's own branch of the NHS - NHS England, NHS Canada, NHS Australia etc. - which handles local health matters and is repsonsible to the dominion government. Dominions will allocate funding, and are expected to meet the minimum care standards and requirements set down by London, but can diverge somewhat on treatment availability, waiting times etc.

3: What is the Education system like? Is it based on the UK system, the US, or a bit of both?
If I was to give my personal opinion on it, could I suggest both?
For example:

Infant School: Day Care and Kindergarten - Ages 3 - 4
Primary/ Elementary School: Years 1 to 5 - Ages 5 to 9
Middle School: Years 6 to 8 - Ages 10 to 12
High School: Years 9 to 13 - Ages (14-16*) - (16-18**)

*14 to 16 Lower High School GCSEs
** 16 to 18 Upper High School/6th Form A Levels.

The way I would assume the education to work is most subjects are taught until you reach 14, this is where you start selecting what topics you do, alongside the basics; perhaps 8 or 9 in total (akin to GCSEs).
Then at 16, just like in the UK, you do A levels until 18, choosing 3-4 subjects of the student's choice.

More likely to follow the UK system.

Nursery 3-5 (depending child's birth compared to school year)
Primary School - Year R/Reception, Year 1 - Year 6, 5-11 (Overlapping years due to the average age of the student at the beginning and end of school set)
Secondary/High School - Year 7-11, 11-16
College - Year 12-13/ A-Levels, 16-17
University/ Tertiary Education - Degree/Master/Doctorate/PhD 17+

Please do note there are schools called 6 forms which combine Secondary and College in the same building/site, along with other institutions which combine primary with secondary, primary + secondary + college and college + university (the university parts called adult colleges).

Also after Secondary any student may go straight into an apprenticeship or it to the work force.

I do know this, I live in the UK.
I was just compromising based on ages and how the child develops. I personally think 6th form should start at 14.
And 14 would also be when school uniforms are no longer needed, within a 6th form college.

I was saying I think it would be based on the UK system, and explained what the system is to show the differences between your system and the actual UK system.

I wasn’t saying you didn’t know the UK system, considering you merged the UK and USA into one in your post it is clear you do.

But, I do live in the UK though, born and bred Yorkshireman

I have just always disliked how the education in the UK is. I just found it did not benefit anyone much, especially from my own experience which is why I altered it a tad.

Having said that, I did love my 6th form, I just think having 4 years there instead of two seems better.

There is no UK education system.

The education system is very different in the constituent countries, even including university degrees.

This is true, but there are similarities between the Scottish, English&Welsh, and NI education systems. In fact, the ages are still the same throughout the UK.

Hell even counties like Kent haven't had uniform systems especially with various permutations of selecting for the 11 or is it 13 this year in this area, plus.

As a teacher myself, the education system is something I've given a lot of thought to.

Here's where it stands at present.

Before 1976 the provision of education is very much in the hands of the dominions. But along comes Pierre Trudeau who decides to centralise things abit, and sets up the Department for Education with a focus on setting minimum standards.

At the moment my idea for ages (using British naming):

• 1-4 yo - not compulsory, optional "Early Years/Nursery"
• 4-5 yo - "Reception"
• 5-7 yo - "Infants"
  • 5-6 - Year 1/Kindergarten
  • 6-7 - Year 2/1st Grade
• 7-11 yo - "Primary"
  • 7-8 - Year 3/2nd Grade
  • 8-9 - Year 4/3rd Grade
  • 9-10 - Year 5/4th Grade
  • 10-11 - Year 6/5th Grade
• 11-14 yo - "Middle School" [Often merged with High School]
  • 11-12 - Year 7/6th Grade
  • 12-13 - Year 8/7th Grade
  • 13-14 - Year 9/8th Grade
• 14-18 yo - "High School/Sixth Form" [Often merged with Middle School]
  • 14-15 - Year 10/9th Grade
  • 15-16 - Year 11/10th Grade
  • 16-17 - Year 12/11th Grade
  • 17-18 - Year 13/12th Grade

Some basic points:

1. Education is compulsory until 18. You sit three sets of exams, one at the end of "Primary", the other at the end of Year 11/10th Grade and the other at the end of Year 13/12th Grade.
2. You don't graduate until Year 13/12th Grade.
3. The curriculum is meant to be balanced across all subjects, so everyone does a bit of Maths, English, Science, History, Art, Music, Geography, Politics etc. You can specialise a bit in High School but it is expected that everyone knows a bit about everything.
4. Everyone studies a language that isn't their own i.e. French, Dutch, Gaelic, Spanish or Russian. These are chosen at the discretion of the dominion government.
5. After graduation you go onto University/College or apprenticeships - my thinking here is that unis offer degrees whilst colleges are more vocational/trade qualifications

 

[Arthur Marston]

And here is the most up-to-date world map:

Credit to the amazing people at The QBAM Thread for the Base Map.

I just noticed that Belize is a part of Mexico. How did that happen?

 

[gunnerkite]

1. After graduation you go onto University/College or apprenticeships - my thinking here is that unis offer degrees whilst colleges are more vocational/trade qualifications

Didn't you say in a post that there's compulsory national service at 18 for 2 years?

 

[LeinadB93]

Any ATL musical pop culture in the U.K.E.? (I can see different artists or bands from OTL that was existed)

So, could we know more about Japan, and especially how the gaming and animation industry has developed (Anyone seen Code Geass? )

I'm afraid pop culture isn't my area of expertise... Sorry

What would the Empire's automotive industry look like?

IOTL, American (and to a lesser extent, Canadian) automotive tastes historically trended towards big cars with big engines and soft handling, a product of low gas prices and America's extensive highway system which encouraged emphasis on long-haul comfort. Britain, by contrast, generally tends to prefer smaller cars with more responsive handling.

I'd imagine a bit of a combination of the two but leaning towards the American style I'd guess. Certainly in most uke countries like North America,, Australia and the liege,with the British isles tending to the smaller side as they have to get around places not designed for cars... especially wide ones!

Here's what I think it'd be like.

Using General Motors cars as examples, a typical UE automaker's lineup in 1973-the last year before the OPEC embargo-would look something like this.

Now for the present day, I'd assume it'd look something like this.

I think your ideas are pretty accurate. In North America, Australia and West Australia there is a trend towards big cars, whereas the Home Islands, the Caribbean, New Zealand and the smaller island dominions tend towards smaller cars with more responsive handling. Newfoundland and New England (and indeed New York and other major cities in NA) would probably see a trend towards smaller cars as well.

I'd assume that most middle-class families in Britain ITTL would have two cars - a smaller city car and a larger long distance one. There's a real push towards eco-friendly models, more so than OTL, so hybrid and electric vehicles are much more common.

Hope that makes sense

Finally, what is the status of hunting, animal and wildlife preservation as well as the environmental goals of the UKE?

Similar laws to OTL Canada, with certain areas licensed for hunting activities with restrictions on the number of animals allowed to be hunted in a given year. Obviously no hunting of endangered animals. With firearm laws the same as OTL UK hunting is less mainstream. Fox hunting is definitely banned.

 

[LeinadB93]

So I was wondering if you had anything on either Italy or Germany from their OTL unifications (whatever the equivalent is in TTL) up to the end of the Second World War...

Also (and I hate to keep on making demands like this) but I'd love to see something about the status of countries in East Asia apart from China. You've hinted at it in your updates on China and I'd love to hear more about what's going on in Manchuria, Korea, Taiwan etc...

I've got a few bits on pieces on both those areas in the works. I have a tendency to get sidetracked on a small area of the world when something catches my interest!!

Leinad still hasn't answered the most important question: is it Derry or Londonderry?

To avoid controversy the city is known as Derry whilst the country is Londonderry. However Protestants generally reverse the order. It's a goodnatured debate ITTL amongst residents of the city.

Perhaps Anastasia's condition worsens to the point where the family decides that, rather than keep her with them, she'd join the other refugee Romanovs in hopes of finding someone to help her now that they didn't have anyone - so, just like the others, she ends up in Crimea, and from there, go to Britain where the treatment there stabilizes her. Maybe after recovering, she even ends up meeting her relative, George Mikhailovich, Count Brasov, in Harrow and their interactions just have the slightest butterfly effect to prevent him from suffering the same death he had OTL.

Sounds like an interesting divergence - consider it canon

I just noticed that Belize is a part of Mexico. How did that happen?

British Honduras had first been settled in the 1660s, on territory disputed between Spain and England. When Mexico gained its independence the dispute continued with Britain, but the collapse of the First Mexican Empire, and the separation of Yucatan and Central America meant the fledgling colony survived. After the Mexican War, the British recognised Mexican suzerainty over the territory (and the Mosquito Coast) but was deliberately vague about what that meant. The territory was de facto a British colony for the next century.

In the 1960s/70s, with the beginning of British decolonisation, Belize and the Mosquito Coast were both integrated into the Third Mexican Empire after negotiations between Mexico, Britain and their respective local governments. Both states retain a Westminster-style government, with a Legislative Assembly and an elected Premier responsible to the Assembly. English is the official language of both states, and both are observer members at the Commonwealth of Nations. The Mosquito Coast retain their local King as head of state, whilst Belize recognises Elizabeth II as Queen of Belize, but all reserve political power is reserved to the resident Governor.

Hope that makes sense

Didn't you say in a post that there's compulsory national service at 18 for 2 years?

Indeed I did (I've highlighted the key bit relevant to education):

The 1957 National Service referendum was a success and saw the continuation of a form of conscription/national service. I haven't fully fleshed out the inner workings, but the general premise is that at some point after their 18th birthday every British citizen is required to undertake two years of "National Service". Some opt for this to be in the main branches or the Navy, Army, Air Force or Coast Guard reserve (a bit like the OTL Territorial Army), while others join their home nations' national militia (I've mentioned Sierra Leone's and Louisiana's before). The Royal Militias are basically TTL's version of the US National Guard, and are under the command of the home nation governments unless "imperialised" by the Imperial government (which happened in Canada and Oregon during the Alaskan Uprising, or Carolina during the 1960s, and Louisiana during the Troubles).

For those who have any reason preventing them from military service, either objection or medically unfit, take part in either the "Civil Defence" or "Civilian Service" aspects. In the former you are trained to assist the emergency services as well as natural disaster relief, whilst in the latter you are involved in health care, welfare, environmental protection, agriculture or development assistance abroad. National Service is arranged around university/college education or employment/apprenticeships. Even if not in a field or combat capacity I feel that makes the average citizen perceive having "skin in the game" in terms of national policy.

It operates along similar lines to the Swiss model.

 

[LeinadB93]

1A. How would WW1 have start in this timeline without a united Germany and it's heavy Prussian influence? Granted the Franco-Prussian of 1870 was between the largest state in Germany at the time and France, but without the heavy influence of Germany, should it be as similar to OTL?
1B. following on, how would Nazi Germany have come to power? It was only due to the specific events and actions that occurred that allowed the Nazis to gain power. But without those specific situations, they would have never come to fold, even in althistory (this video is a pretty good example:

)

Uhhh, according to this, ITTL German history is pretty much identical to OTL until the end of WW2. The reason why Germany is divided now is because the Soviet Union finished WW2 in a weaker position than OTL, which meant the Allies didn't feel the need to put Germany back together.

Indeed, German history is much as OTL prior to the end of the Second World War. A weaker Soviet Union due to the losses sustained against Kuomintang China in the Far Eastern Front meant that all of Germany ended up under Allied rule, and then partitioned into the six successor states.

Is there an update on the WW1 and WW2 equivalents in this TL?

Not as yet, other than the East Asian War and the Atomic bombings. I did a piece on the American Theatre of the First World War back before I started the thread - which I'll hopefully redo at some point.

I still find this rather implausible, due to the complete alteration of the time line, leading to so many drastic changes. Especially without Napoleon Bonaparte who united the majority of the German states from the smaller one of the HRE.

Uhhh, Napoleon still rose to power ITTL too.

*Alt Historical brain implodes*

But, without the colonies becoming independent, France would not fall into a revolution so soon fro bankruptcy from assisting the colonists, which would lead to a more than likely outcome of France becoming a constitutional monarchy, thus never allowing Napoleon to rise.

This would also mean Germany would not merge into larger German States due to Napoleon's influence.

I must state that I disagree with the analysis that delaying France's massive financial chaos by a few years (a decade at most, France was at breaking point with or without the ARW) would magically make the absolutist Louis XVI accept being reduced massively in power. I'm inclined to think France would still become a republic, since after all those ideas were already in the air and an obstinate king and aristocracy would exist in any case.

Secondly, if you see the first post of this thread, you will see that this TL has many, many PODs and is stated to be on the Type II and Type III scenario on the Sliding Scale of Alternate History Plausibility. So, none of this really matters. Take this for what it is - a cool worldbuilding project with cool graphics.

I am unsure about that, there were so much that was plausible. But yes, the revolution would not have happened as quickly as it did. With the French not supporting the colonists financially, it would not lead to an instant collapse.

Given how the First Treaty of Fontainebleau never happens ITTL, one would expect the French monarchy to implode sooner than OTL. IIRC, France was flat broke after the Seven Years' War, and the sale of Louisiana to Spain helped alleviate some of the financial pressure.

As @Indicus rightly says, this is (by design) a convergent TL. I think it's more fun to explore a world that is both recognisable, but also radically different to OTL.

Indicus is again correct about my thoughts regarding France - the Revolution was in many ways inevitable, although the dates and events are probably different ITTL, regardless of the status of French Louisiana. The continued existence of a vast French colony probably allowed France to sent a few radicals overseas. And I imagine a fair few nobles and aristocrats escaped the chaos and fled to America and Louisiana, only to return after Napoleon rose to power and established the Empire.

There was even a plan to smuggle the Dauphin to Louisiana, which failed. But that's a very common trope of TTL's Alternate History - "What if the Dauphin established a Kingdom-in-Exile in French Louisiana?".

Secondly, I would love to see some profiles on what would have been the American Founders (Washington and crew) and how they fared, as well as Admiral Nelson, Duke of Wellington and Teddy Roosevelt (surprised he never became PM actually).
Even going into if and how the UKE as a whole fought during the "Napoleonic" wars.

Leinad wrote a profile on George Washington before making this thread. Teddy Roosevelt was First Minister of Columbia twice (1907-11, 1913-16).

All in good time

On the contrary, I think the case for using nuclear weapons would be much stronger than OTL. Having a larger population than Japan, China would have a lot more men to throw at the Allies. It should be self-evident that an invasion would result in a massive body count for both sides, way beyond even the most pessimistic predictions for OTL Operation Downfall.

I think that you are correct looking at it from OTL, but remember ITTL they don't have the benefit of having Axis Japan as a comparison. Most people would accept that the bombings were necessary to bring about a swift end to the war with minimal loss of life on all sides, but some think that the atomic bombings were morally unjustifiable.