The XXth Century arrived, and to mark it there was the World fair of Moscow, in the Russian Empire. The Great technologies from all the world were exhibited, including new models of Cars, electricity, etc. But the greatest invention was Santos Dumount's Dirigible, a mix of the projects of Airplanes and Baloons powered by Gasoline, it attracted the attention of many to the Brazilian Empire, especially the French prince Napoleon V. Another one of the main events was the exposition of Colonies, including British Human Zoos (sponsored by the King Edward VII, OTL Leopold II). The fair reflected the times, it was a time of innovation in science, arts, culture, mechanics, and society like never seen before, it is called "La Belle Epoqué" many saw that Humankind was reaching a Utopia, but there was a darker side to the world: It was a powder Barrel about to explode.
Ever since it's unification, the German Empire (called as Germania by the French) was in a meteoric rise, threatening to overshadow Paris itself, the Industrial power of most of Central Europe united powered the Prussian military machine, the resources, manpower, and technology available to the German military made it a formidable force that could defeat almost any nation in the world in a 1v1 war, but that is where the French outmaneuvered the Germans, and that was mostly caused by the fall of Otto and the rise of Frederick in the Bismarck chancellorship, tied with the death of Wilhelm I and the rise of Heinrich I.
((Kaiser Heinrich I, considered as the man that created the Modern German State with the "Liberal Triumvirate" with His wife and Frederick von Bismarck, but his dismissal of Otto was considered a key moment of European History))
Otto von Bismarck was the conservative one of the Bismarck brothers, while Frederick was a Liberal, one completed the other as Otto was the master of diplomacy and Geopolitics, while Frederick could manipulate the entire Reichstag to vote for their dissolution if he wished. But when Otto was fired in 1876, his entire diplomatic web to protect Germany was dropped by the Anglophile Kaiser Heinrich, the Anglo-Germanic alliance was called "The 6th Coalition" with the obvious goal of fight against the French, the alliance was officialized in 1892, soon Spain, Portugal, and the Ottoman Empire would join it. To oppose it, the French created the "Entente Cordiale" with their old Rival, the Russian Empire.
On the 12th of March of 1900, Frederick von Bismarck announced his resignation, due to his old age. He left making a speech of what many call "The Bismarck Prophecy", he predicted that a Great War would engulf Europe, and the Rhine would turn red. He made one last warning to the Kaiser, "Never trust a Bonaparte."
The Japanese Shogunate's modernization efforts were worth it, after a bloody 4-year war against the Qing remnants and Korea, the Korean War was over and the Japanese Shogunate united Japan and Korea under the same flag. But it was not an easy task, over 200,000 men perished during the adventure and many more came back traumatized or injuried. The Shogun at the time was Tokugawa Yoshinobu, responsible for great modernizations in the military and industry that was called "The Tokugawa Modernization", but after such a war and the lack of political opening caused unrest in Japanese society.
((The Japanese Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu))
The situation in mainland could've gone the other way, the Koreans were trying to modernize their forces due to the growing threat of the Japanese and the Heavenly Kingdom. But the Conservativism of the court and the King prevented several necessary steps for modernization of the military, resulting in the Koreans getting Outgunned by the Japanese. The war killed over 600,000 Koreans, both soldiers and civilians, and would be just the beggining of the Japanese domination.
Meanwhile, in the North, the Qing Manchu Empire became a stagnant nation after the Heavenly Kingdom took control of China, the Manchu Nobility cemented their power and used the Emperor as puppet, but the Guangxu Emperor tried to break that, he started several reforms to modernize Manchuria, and they arrived just in time for the Japanese invasion, the Japanese were stopped at the North of Korea and pushed back when the Manchu arrived. But the reforms were far too late, the Qing were pushed to the North and were forced to make a peace treaty in the last days of 1899. Now the Emperor was proven right about the need of reform, the question if it will come fast enough to save his throne.
((The Guangxu Emperor in a portrait))
The greatest power of the region was the Heavenly Kingdom of Celestial Peace. Ruled by the King Hong Tianguifu, the son of Hong Xiuquan. The King ruled absolute der jure, but der facto it was ruled by the descendants of the Generals of the Taiping Crusade. The "Kings" as they were titled, ruled as Warlords under the Authority of the King of the Heaven, the most powerful of them was Yuan Shikai, the Eastern King. Using his influence in the court, Yuan started several modernizations and reforms in the military, while a group of reformists in the court pushed for Economical modernization, in the last years of the XIXth century, the Taiping started their Economical modernization, bringing railroads and basic industry, and by 1900 the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was on an early Industrial Revolution. But things changed in the countryside, the promised land reform ended up ousting the Manchu nobility and putting the peasants under der facto control of the Warlords, Industry brought with it Pelletist ideas from Europe and the first strikes were already beggining, but the main weakness of the Heavenly Kingdom internally was the religion. Thanks for half a century of intense missionary activity, Hong's Christianity became the religion of at least 35% of the population, but they were mostly focused on the coastlines, with the countryside still faithful to Confucianism and Buddhism. Some villages fought violently against attempts of conversion, making an divide between Countryside and City in China, one marked with hostility and religious divide.
South America between the Independence of Brazil and the Platinean War is referred to a Cold War of two Empires: The Brazilian Empire and Rosas' Platinean Empire. It was inevitable that both these forces would eventually clash, resulting in one of the greatest conflicts of the Continent: The Platinean War. A war that would define the Dominant power of the Continent, the two nations were considered equal, and the 5-year-long brutal warfare would serve the purpose of another nation: Paraguay.
Paraguay was an isolated nation between two gigants but with a territory too worthless for a fight, that position allowed the small Guarani state to enjoy a period of peace that other neighbors didn't. Surrounded by Argentines, Andineans, and Brazilians, the small state was forced to pursue indiscriminate militarization of society under the Autocratic regime of the dictator Francia, a man that wanted Paraguay to become a utopia in the middle of the Chaco, making Rosseau's Social Contract into law and completely isolating their nation to the world. But in 1840 he would die and Antonio Carlos Solano Lopez would become the new "El Presidente" of Paraguay, breaking the isolationism and desiring to make Paraguay a power in South America for its own survival.
((Francia, Dictator of Paraguay))
Lopez started to try to industrialize Paraguay, building railroads and basic industries, but almost all resources were directed to the military, every man was expected to serve in the army, with Paraguay keeping an standard army of 70,000 men. And soon they would have their opportunity.
((Antônio Carlos Solano Lopez))
The Platinean Empire of Rosas was also seeking to increase its own power, entering in contact with the British, building up a Navy to "keep the foreigners out of the Plate" promising the people that they would never suffer a foreign blockade again. The army was expanded and trained by British instructors, and all of this was targeting one nation: Brazil.
Brazil was under the rule of D. Pedro II, he didn't want to be an Emperor, but saw as his duty to serve his Fatherland, the Emperor had modern views of Brazil, viewing Slavery as an evil, and technology and industry as the way forward. The first railroad lines of South America were built to connect the Coffee farms with the ports in Rio de Janeiro and Santos, the international slave trade was banned, the first telegraphs started to connect all the nation, French instructors were called to train the Brazilian army, and Pedro even married Josephine, Napoleon III's daughter in 1853 during the war. Brazil developed a close relationship with the French Empire as a counter to the Platinean support of the British, but soon these forces would clash.
((D. Pedro II by 1852))
It started with an rebellion, General Justo José Urquiza was opposed to Rosas' regime in the Platinean nation, his Autocracy and Monarchism were the complete opposite of his Republicanism and Federalism. The regions that opposed Rosas the most were Entre Rios and Uruguay, traditionally more Liberal and with close Economical links with the Brazilian south, especially with the cattle. Urquiza's Rebellion mustered thousands of soldiers against Rosas, starting the Platinean Civil war, the first phase of the Plate war. It lasted from 1851-1852 with Urquiza, the Leadership, and the remnants of the Army fleeing to Brazil after the defeat at Rosario, seeing the opportunity, D. Pedro II refused to give them to Rosas and mobilized the army. The "Voluntários da Pátria" campaign was launched, offering freedom for slaves that joined the army, and offering land for those that joined the military. The Brazilians mustered an army of 80,000 men with 15,000 Argentine Exiles and Marched into Rosas' Empire, starting the Platinean War.
((General and Rebel Justo José Urquiza))
((Images of the Platinean War, a series of 3 wars that would shape South America))
The Second phase of the war was the conflict of Brazil and Rosas, lasting from 1853 to 1857, one of the most destructive phases of the war. The sea was the most decisive factor in the war, if Rosas lost control of the Platinean Basin, the Argentine economy would die a slow and painful death. His new Naval fleet would be tested at the battle of the River Plate, it was an extension of Britain vs France in Naval warfare, with the traditional British tactics fighting new French Steamship technology, international observers from both nations would see the clash of Gigants. In the end Rosas' Navy was defeated when a lucky shot destroyed the Admiral's flagship and turned the tide of the battle. With the Brazilian navy blockading the main export port of Argentina, Economical defeat was assured.
Meanwhile, the battle in land would be decided with the siege of Buenos Aires, blocking the city on sea and land. The allied forces forced the surrender of Rosas and his Exile to London, Urquiza declared the Republic of Argentina as a Federal state, but then came time to pay their debts to Pedro.
The modern average Argentine has a mixed opinion of General Urquiza, he was the man that took down the first Totalitarian State of South America and created the Republic of Argentina, but the Nationalists in special blame him for the decline of Argentina and the Brazilian dominance of South America. The fact remains that Urquiza had to make a deal with the devil to take down Rosas, the Brazilian Emperor received the control of Banda Oriental and Entre Rios, giving Brazil the control of the Platinean Basin.
View attachment 444155
((The post-war settlement accordingly to the "Acuerdo del Diablo"))
The war was devastating for both sides, with a total of 13,780 Brazilian, 24,433 Imperialista, and 4,509 Federalista loses. But one nation survived unscathed from the conflict and saw it as an opportunity to have it's place by the sea: Paraguay. Presidente Lopez prepared Paraguay for over a decade, modernizing the country for war.
The Paraguayan forces attacked swiftly, on the 18th of April of 1857, after the end of the siege of Buenos Aires and the declaration of Urquiza as President of Argentina. They took the cities of Corumbá and Uruguaiana, pushing into Corrientes with the support of the (laughable) Paraguayan Navy. The Brazilian forces were catch by surprise, with most of the army in Buenos Aires and the border of Paraguay being guarded by green troops, the Paraguayans won great success, taking the city of Corrientes by August. But their success wouldn't go much further.
Under the command of Luis Alves de Lima e Silva, the Brazilian army went to the North, supported by the navy. The Brazilian navy attacked the Paraguayans at the Battle of Riachuelo, the iron hulls of the Brazilian ships destroyed the small wooden Paraguayan navy. The battle is considered one of the turning points of the war.
((Luís Alves de Lima Silva, the head of the Brazilian army in the Paraguayan War (or Third Platinean War)))
((Brazilian ships sinking a Paraguayan "Chata" (literally a merchant ship with a canon) during the battle of Riachuelo.))
But the bloodiest battle of the first phase of the war was yet to come: the siege of Corrientes. Over 36,000 Paraguayans led by the son of the President, Francisco Solano Lopez, took control over the Key Argentinian city. On the 23th of February of 1858, the Brazilian forces of Caixias arrived, over 55,000 men veterans of the Platinean War. The city was surrounded and the Paraguayans would be starved to death, Solano installed a horror regime over the city, confiscating the food of the citizens and forcing thousands to fight at the Frontlines. Eventually the city would fall in May thanks for both a Brazilian offensive and the revolt of the civilians themselves, with a total of 47,000 casualties, great majority of them civilians under Solano's horror regime.
The last phase of the Platinean Wars would come between 1858 and 1860, between the end of the siege of Corrientes and the fall of Ascuncion. Brazilian forces under the Marquis of Caixias would advance into the Paraguayan Chaco, fighting a series of desperate Paraguayan defenses until Carlos Antonio Lopez fell leading the defense of the Paraguayan Capital. The War would claim over 140,000 Paraguayans, from a population of about 500,000. The Catastrophic loss of lives was mostly result of diseases and starvation, Paraguay would never recover from that defeat, and Brazil used that to continue the expansionism in South America. One of the main voices was Pedro de Araújo Lima, Marquis of Olinda, ex-regent of Brazil and President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister), he pushed the Emperor D. Pedro II for full-annexation of Paraguay as a Brazilian province, claiming that: "It is God's wish that Brazil takes it's place in the leadership of South America, and that can never be achieved before the Paraguay River becomes our Border in the South." The Emperor was hesitant, but after being encouraged by his wife Josephine Bonaparte, he surrendered to the wishes of his ministers and annexed Paraguay in the Treaty of Petrópolis, giving the territory of Chaco Austral to Argentina as compensation.
((Pedro de Araújo Lima, the Marquis of Olinda))
((Map of the Platinean Basin by the end of the Platinean Wars, the Orange Territories are controlled by Peru-Bolivia))
What followed would be a period of Golden age to Brazil, the Coffee boom and the new territories would put it as the undisputed Economical power of South America. The economical growth was spearheaded by one man: Irineu Evangelista de Souza, the Baron of Mauá, Brazilian pioneer of Liberalism and Capitalism. Mauá was responsible for the first telegraph cable between Europe and South America, the Third Bank founded in Brazil, and was one of the main responsibles for pushing for end of slavery and industrialization. Mauá was supported by the Emperor (in great part thanks for his wife) and had great influence in the Royal Family, receiving the title of Count in 1871. Some claim that his influence in the Empress was thanks for a love affair that originated the third child of Josephine: Leopoldina, the claim gained more strength recently with the discovery of love letters kept by the Baron, even if the Brazilian Royal Family claims they are forgeries. Mauá would create a dynasty that would rule the Brazilian industries for decades, he would serve as President of the Council of Ministers for the Liberal party for 3 terms (1866-1870, 1874-1878, 1882-1886) and is considered to this day as the greatest Capitalist of Brazilian History, and called as "The Brazilian Rockefeller".
((Irineu Evangelista de Souza, the Count of Mauá))
Other important step was made about slavery, thousands of slaves were sent by their owners to fight in the Platinean Wars, and under the influence of the Royal Family and several Liberal intellectuals, the Brazilian parliament approved the freedom of womb, every slave born from the date of 30th of April of 1862 would be a free man. More would be made in 1869 when every slave older than 50 years was declared free under the "quinquagenários" law. But the final step would come on the 7th of September of 1872. The Prince and Heir of the Brazilian throne, Luis de Braganza, during a Regency while his father traveled to Europe, would sign a historical law during the celebrations of the 50 years of independence: "If Brazil was freed from the slavery of the Portuguese 50 years ago, then the slaves can also be free today." He signed the "Golden Law", ending slavery in Brazil. To compensate the slaveowners, immigration from Europe was heavily incentivized to provide an new source of labor for coffee and factories, while also paying a compensation for slaveowners for each slave they lost.
((The Golden Law, signed by Prince Luis, would end over 3 centuries of slavery in Brazil))
The last decades of the 19th Century for Brazil would be remembered with Nostalgia as a Golden Era during the last years of Pedro II and the first years of Luis I. It was marked by the arrival of millions of European immigrants, only behind the United States by sheer numbers. They mostly settled in the South that became a melting pot of cultures: Brazilians, Germans, French, Italians, Spaniards, and Guaranis created something unique: The Gaucho culture. The Gauchos developed an unique cowboy-esque culture based on the Pampas, with their own dialect and language resulted of the mix in Southern Brazil, this distinction of the Gaucho and Brazilian cultures would eventually have a bloody clash in the 20th Century.
((Typical Gauchos))
D. Pedro II would die in 1892 as the most popular sovereign of Brazilian History, leaving the throne to his son D. Luis I, a moderate man like his father, but also a modernist that wished to see Brazil as a protagonist in Latin America.
The French Empire, the most powerful nation of the world, envied and feared by all of Europe. For better or worse, the 19th century was the French Century, that's why it is called the "Zenith of France". It is ruled by the Family of "Bonaparte" and it's head: Napoleon IV. At the age of 65, Napoleon IV is the inheritor of a massive Empire left by his father Napoleon III in 1885. He just increased even more the size of France, now stretching from Indochina to Paris, from "Napoleonia" (Southern Island of New Zealand) to French Guiana. The Sun never sets over the French Empire, with the legendary La Grande Armée numbering over a million men and a Navy that challenged the British Empire, Napoleon I was smiling somewhere seeing his children becoming so successful. But France wasn't a nation without rivals, not even close, the British Empire of Edward VII and the German Empire of Heinrich I formed the "6th Coalition" a defensive alliance formed to fight the French Empire, and with them joined other French Rivals: Portugal, Spain, and the Ottomans. The French also had some tricks on their sleeves: the Federal Kingdom of Scandinavia and the Russian Empire joined the Emperor in the "Entente Cordiale", everything was set for a new European conflict that could overshadow the Napoleonic Wars.
For now, things are peaceful, unless you are talking about politics, 20 new deputies were added into the Parliament in 1894, creating a new Assembly that for now is led by the Conservative Government of Georges Clemenceau. The government advocated more harsh measures against Unions but at the same time enacted Pelletist policies: 10-hour max workhours, increase in minimum wage, and restrictions in Child Labor. Clemenceau is seen by most of the conservatives as a "Secret Pelletist" that would not survive a non-confidence vote. But the Empire still had to deal with their old 19th Century problem: Frankification. The policy was very successful in some places while rejected in others: The Occtanian, Breton, and Wallon languages were almost extinct, several areas of Italy had now a French plurality, and even in the Rhineland it was common to see French speakers. The Alsatians were French and the Rhineland started to develop a local mix of French and German called "Rhinish", but in Northern Flandres and Catalonia, the policies resulted in a resentment to Paris, especially to the Catalans that saw Barcelona destroyed twice. The Conservatives and Right-Wingers supported the continued Frankification policies, the Pelletists and Liberaux were generally mixed over the issue and preferred to stay silent, while the Federalisté opposed it at every opportunity. These policies would leave a devastating effect over the Future of Western Europe.
((Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau))
((French Assembly in 1900))
((French Senate in 1900))
The French military maintained the status of best army of the world in 1900... on paper. The French Grande Armée didn't fight a war against a major European rival for almost a century and most of the fighting was against primitive armies or secondary powers. The French armed staff was a mess, run by corruption and nepotism, the army was led by descendants of Napoleon's Marshals independently from their competence, using their influence in the army, the "Sword Nobility" was putting relatives in command of divisions and batallion even if most of them never saw a rifle. The Army corruption was just lower than it's arrogance, the French Marshals considered the army invulnerable, considering the old Elan offensive doctrine of Human waves with bayonets as the way forward (pun intended). Several lower officers tried to warn that "Soldiers going into waves with shiny blue uniforms against a Machine Gun isn't a viable tactic anymore" as quoted by Philipe Petain, but it fell on deaf ears, and that would be costly in the future.
((An example of the French General Staff: General Jean-Henri Bonaparte, promoted by the Emperor, even if he didn't show any great martial skill other than following the traditional doctrines.))
The Emperor was old, at the age of 65, he had as heir Napoleon V, the Prince was 32 years' old and was a great admirer of his Grandfather Napoleon I, especially over military conquests, while Napoleon IV was a moderate man, his son was a Conservative Militarist associated with the Sword Nobility and the Parti Imperialisté. His potential rise to power made many Pelletist and Liberal ministers fear that he might become like another Napoleon II, or worse: Start a World War.
The Union Jack, the flag spread over all corners of the earth, symbol of the British Empire, and a Symbol of Death to many. In India, Africa, and Oceania, this flag caused deaths in a scale not seen before on those lands, extreme poverty, brutal colonialism even for European standards, and famines, lots of famines that were forged by the colonial Governors to weaken their subjects. The image of Britain and it's Monarchy would be forever stained in the eyes of the world thanks for the actions of one man: King Edward VII.
Edward VII would not be a British King if it wasn't for the British revolution and the fall of Wellesley's commonwealth. He was the son of King George V, a German Prince appointed by the Parliament to be the new King of Albion, his father was a charismatic leader, beloved by the people even if he wasn't British. His son inherited that popularity, he was a Moderate monarch like his father, always avoiding the use of his powers (something common in post-1845 British Monarchs). But he was a different man once he took the control of the colonies: He installed brutal Governors over the Dominions while imposing harsh policies in other colonies, in Australia for example, the Genocide of Aborigenes would end up almost exterminating that minority by 1900. While some colonies like Newfoundland and the Caribbean didn't have a very intensive policy, India and South Africa would experience the worst of it.
In India, the King considered the Indians as "Lesser Humans", a filthy race of lazy pagan degenerates. The policies in India were meant to "redeem the Indian race with labor and discipline". That would include dangerous work with no security measures and punishment of those that didn't fill the quotas by having their hands mutilated, with the same happening to their families if it repeated, it just wasn't considered slavery because the workers were paid a wage that could afford a piece of bread per day. The same policy would be applied in Africa, but there the Africans weren't considered humans. There is nowhere where that was the most evident than in South Africa. Edward diverged from other British monarchs in his Boer policy: He considered them a valuable ally in Colonization and civilization of the Barbarians in Africa. A Anglo-Boer alliance led the Dominion of South Africa in 1900, causing the deaths of millions in in practices similar to the Indian ones, adding forced deportations to the North of hundreds of tribes. But one infamous policy would stand out: The Zulu Genocide.
((Paint of the Anglo-Zulu war))
The Zulu were a tribe that, under the leadership of Shaka Zulu, this specific tribe achieved domination over the neighboring ones, especially with innovative tactics of Shaka. They controlled a large territory in southeastern South Africa and became a target of the British over the late XIXth Century due to their diamond reserves and constant raids on colonists. In 1879 the Experdition was sent, winning a key battle in Isandlwana and defeating the Primitive Zulu forces with Maxim guns and Bolt-Action rifles. The Zulu would be punished, Edward VII wanted to make them an example of those that resist the Union Jack. Extermination Experditions were sent to villages with the mission of committing atrocities not seen since the mongols, women were raped, men were killed, children were sent into camps to work until death, and the entire village was burned. Edward VII didn't know of what these experditions did and just gave a blank cheque for sociopathic Governors, the Zulu people would be reduced to a dozen of families by the XXth Century.
((One of the Concentration Camps made for the Africans in South Africa))
The Union Jack was red, not because of England or Ireland, but because of Blood, but that didn't stop them from getting a friend, the Kaiserreich and Albion would form the 6th coalition to fight the French in the last years of the XIXth Century. Britain's colonial policies would also create a spark that would destroy their own Empire, a single Indian lawyer, that went to study in Britain and had contact with Anti-Colonialism, Nationalism, and Pelletism would come back to India with ideas of ending the British rule and create a nation based on Pelletism, Agrarianism, Hinduism, and Nationalism in India, his name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
The 19th Century saw America go from Ohio to San Francisco, the country became Continental-Sized and was just behind Brazil in Territorial area in the Continent, but was also the richest nation on earth eve compared to the colonial juggernauts in France and Britain, or the Industrial Titan of Germany. The latter half of the 19th Century started hard for America, tensions over slavery and states' rights between the North and South rose every day, the election of the anti-slavery President Sumner would be a final nail in the coffin, causing the secession of the southern states (except Maryland, Delaware and Missouri) and a Civil War that lasted from 1861 until 1866, President Sumner's radicalism and reckless actions during the war (That Generals claim that it would extend for another year if Mexico didn't open a second front) motivated a plot by the Vice-President Abraham Lincoln to make him step down, Sumner was isolated politically and a threat of impeachment started to rise, motivating his resignation to avoid the loss of political rights. Lincoln governed from 1866 until 1873, ending with the "Compromise of 1871" which gave the Southern states several of the previous rights in reconciliation, in detriment of the rights of African-Americans that were subjected to Lynchings, Segregation, and the Jim Crow Laws.
Between 1873 and 1897, America was growing like never before, the end of the reconstruction would start an new era in America, Economy skyrocketed and the Western frontier started to get settled (its the famous "Wild West" era), but on a darker side, conflicts between workers and bosses became a common sight just like confrontations between Union Busters and Syndicalists, strikes were in a all-time high just like the tall buildings being built over America, it was the "Gilded Era".
((McKinley's campaign poster is a good representation of the Turn of the Century in America))
In the 1896 elections, William McKinley of the Republican Party won the White House, promising to keep America on the Gold Standard and practice Protecionist Tariffs to keep the growth of the American Industry, but he would be famous for the purchase of Cuba. The Carlist Kingdom in Spain remained economically stagnated during the late 19th Century, the resistance against modernization by the Conservative Ultra-Catholic Kings prevented the state from doing the necessary reforms for industrialization (Much of the Country was still owned by the Pope). The result would be that by 1900 the Spanish Bank was almost bankrupt the King Carlos VII was forced to sell the Spanish colonies to pay it, selling Cuba for the Americans and turning the Island into a US Territory.
((King Carlos VII of Spain))
It's 1900 and election year and McKinley will fight the Whig William Bryan, McKinley choose the Young New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt as running Mate, while Bryan choose Adlai Setevenson I as his mate. America would soon decide the first president of the XXth Century.
The History of the Philippines in the 19th Century could have been much different if it reamined under Spanish control, would they achieve independence ? Would they be sold to the Kaiser ? Or maybe stay under the Carlists in Madrid ? Or God-forbit, Edward's Empire ? No one knows, just that the Philipino people would not like to find out what an extra century under a random nation in the other side of the world would look like. The Philippines could almost not come to fruition if it wasn't for the two Novales brothers, two young men in the military ordered to Garrison Manila. Andres Novales was a criollo officer at the young age of 23 during the collapse of the Spanish Empire, while he was patrolling the streets, Spain was tearing itself apart between Conservatives and Liberals while the colonies used their chance to break free. And Novales believed that it was the chance of his island.
On the 2nd of June of 1823 he led a mutiny, leading a small group of soldiers that soon started to grow, the people was marching on the streets with him, following the example of his idol Napoleon. He marched to the local military fort where he called for the garrison commander, which was his brother, to join him. Mariano Novales hesitated for a moment, but decided that it was their best chance of freedom, the fort was opened, supplying the rebels with weapons and increasing their military force. Andres led a column into the city, with crowds showing up in the streets hailing him as "Emperor of the Philippines", he marched into the Governor's mansion, the guards opened the gates without firing a single shot, and the Governor was arrested. Andres Novales declared himself Emperor Andres I Novales of the Philippines, and the news spread like wildfire in the islands, with several local commanders submitting their Authority to the new Emperor, except in the Island of Mindanao, where the Spanish Garrison would resist until 1825.
The Spanish would send an Experdition to reclaim the islands in 1827, the Phillipinos were expecting it, creating a Navy to fight it's enemies, both by taking the local Spanish fleet and by expanding the Shipyards. The Spanish prepared a landing on the Albay gulf, the plan was leaked by a friendly creole in the Spanish fleet and the Phillipino Navy prepared the defense, over 50 ships engaged on the gulf, using the natural defenses to their advantage, the Phillipinos managed to get the upper hand, Spanish troops landed in Pietro Diaz only to be engaged by a prepared Phillipino force, costal artillery bombed from a fort at the Rapu Rapu Island, the Spanish navy had half of it's ships under the gulf by the end of the day and the other forces fleed, leaving over 4,600 thousand Spanish troops stranded, they resisted for another day but without the supplies they would surrender on the 18th of October of 1828, a Historic date for the Phillipines when the Commander of the Spanish forces signed a treaty recognizing the independence of the Philippines.
The Islands would have their first constitution in 1830, after over a year of debates, the French Revolution in July would change Andres focus to create a French-Inspired constitution (with a little more Royal power), while the army increased it's influence considerably, with Andres recruiting French and Prussian advisors to build up an army, Andres himself gave great influence to the troops. The military was a prestigious institution, with many Prime Ministers coming from a Military background. The Empire became a de facto Stratocracy with the King and the Generals exerting their influence, the most influential rank of the armed forces was the Navy, the Phillipinos understood after the battle of Albay that the key for the survival of the island was in a powerful Navy, the navy was always given large investiments for technology and numbers, creating the most powerful Navy of East Asia rivaling the British and the Japanese Shogunate.
In 1865 the Emperor Andres I died, leaving the throne to his 31 year-old son Enrique I in the throne, the modernist Enrique desired the industrialization of the island. The Phillipino economy was dependent of cash crops since colonial times, but soon Enrique started to seek Import substitution, using the money from agriculture. In the 1870s, the Philippines competed with the recently open Japanese Shogunate for the European markets.
In 1900, the Philippines is the richest independent country in Asia (especially after Japan was still recovering from the Korean War), ruled by the elderly Emperor Enrique, and after the death of his son Carlos due to Tuberculosis, his daughter Isabella is the current heir of the throne. Marcelo de Pilar is the current Prime Minister of the National-Imperial Party, splitting the parliament with the Liberal Nationalists led by Andres Bonifácio. But they are both united in a Nationalist view (with a little Pan-Malay ideas), and a strong anti-British sentiment, due mostly for a dispute for the control of North Borneo. Due to that, the Islands are aligned with the Entente including joint exercises and the purchase of French ships. And the relationship with their Asian neighbors is complicated, while there is a friendly rivalry with Japan, the Taiping religious imperialism is source of confrontations between the two nations, the Heavenly Kingdom pursued a Missionary policy against their neighbors, seeking to put more nations into their religious sphere of influence, the North of Luzhon was the main target, with a large minority now converted into Hong's Christianity and entering in conflicts with the Catholic population (especially in Manila). The future of the Philippines is uncertain and might be determined by the inevitable confrontation between the Entente and the Coalition.
Russia, the nation that came the closest to destroying Napoleon's reign during the Coalition Wars, the original leader of the 6th Coalition saw it be restored under Britain. But this time they were on the opposite side even if rejecting the Bonapartes and French Liberalism. Why ? Because it was conventient after a massive Nation with the potential of destroying both France and Russia showed up between the two. Now the Bear and the Eagle were United against the Lion and the new German Eagle.
Russia was the last Nation of Europe, even including the Iberian Kingdoms that became "Organic Monarchies", that rejected French Parliamentarism on the 19th Century and remained an Absolutist and Autocratic Nation. The Russians managed to do that in a approach that became a characteristic of the Tsardom since Tsar Pyotr IV (1854-1879) and was being followed by his son Aleksandr II (1879-): "Have a Iron Fist but cover it under a velvet glove." As Pyotr told his son before dying. The Autocracy was veiled behind a Benevolent Monarchy led by Enlightened Despots, while being Saints to the common man, they were worse than Satan for Dissidents. That was product of "Rationalism", a political Philosophy that would rule the decisions of Russian Monarchs for Decades.
((Tsar Pyotr IV, the first one to implement Rationalism))
Rationalism was not a ideology per se, it was created in the wake of the 1845 revolutions in Bavaria, it was a guide on rulership, believing in Meritocracy, Autocracy, and Technocracy, it was believed that the Traditional courts and nobles were to be eventually phased out in favor of a new Enlightened class of leaders. Ministers should be chosen based on their capacity and professions, which would guarantee a maximum efficiency of the government in each sector. Rationalism was implemented by powerful men, like Prime Minister Boulanger in France, Disraeli in Britain, Frederick von Bismarck in Germany, and President Lincoln all made their administrations guided by the principles of Meritocracy and Technocracy (ignoring the "Autocracy" part), but nowhere it was more obvious than Russia where the Tsars embraced it fully.
The Reign of Pyotr IV, is famous for the beggining of Russian Industry and the end of Serfdom early in his reign. Pyotr dreamed on a Powerful and feared Russia, one that could crush the French Empire in weeks, but he knew that was impossible while Russia was still a feudal nation. The End of Serfdom in 1858 was the first step, freeing the majority of the Russian population from this system while breaking the backs of many nobles. Pyotr recruited foreign technicians and local prodigies into government positions to fully QuickStart the Industrialization, these men were chosen based on their capacity, intellect, and honesty as Rationalism ordered the Autocrats to do in the Book. The Russian Empire also tried to abstain from foreign wars until the nation was Modernized, a policy followed by Aleksandr II until the signature of the Entente Cordiale by the end of the century.
Agriculture was modernized, people went to cities where the new waves of workers encouraged factories to be built, but these new workers were underpaid and excessively exploited by the factories that forced them to work from childhood up to 16 hours per day. But Industrialization was slowly but steady becoming a part of Russian society of late 19th Century. The Military also underwent reforms, weapons were updated and incompetent officers were dismissed, meritocracy took the place of aristocracy in promotions. But these reforms brought the full ire of the nobility, and on the 4th of May of 1879, Pyotr IV was shot by a member of the lowly Ukrainian noble called "Milkhail Grannov", his 23 year-old son Aleksandr II would become the Tsar.
((Tsar Aleksandr II))
Was the Assassination worth it ? Not for many Nobles that were purged by the newly formed Secret police of the Tsar, the "Okhrana", for involvement in the plot. For others it prevented more radical reforms, for others it brought the ire of the population for assaddinating a popular Tsar, resulting in Lynchings after the aftermath against the nobility, and many nobles became paranoid that their own servants might kill them. The "Lord Terror" (Which ironically the man with the most titles, the Tsar, was spared of) lasted months and gave Aleksandr II his chance to secure his power while weakening the nobility by arresting powerful Nobles for "Suspected involvement on the assassination of the Tsar". Aleksandr suffered his own assassination attempt on the 2nd of January of 1880, but the bullet hit his security instead of him. By 1882, the Nobility was tamed while the opponent Nobles were purged.
Aleksandr was less enthusiastic about reforms than his father, instead on investing in industry, he left them alone while investing heavily on agriculture. The Tsar dreamed with a Russia as a breadbasket of Europe, for this he invested heavily on Modernization of the countryside and a land reform. The greatest reform of Aleksandr's reign was the Land Reform of 1886. Siezing the lands of the rebellious nobles that were purged during the "Lord Terror", then going for the siezing of lands from bankrupt Nobles, and compromising with several others to purchase lands. Those lands would be divided between the old serfs, increasing the number of small proprieties owned by a family for self-sustainment.
((Heir to the Russian Throne, Tsarevich Nikolai II and his wife Duchess Alexandra))
At the age of 42, in the year of 1898, the Tsar Aleksandr II caught Tuberculosis, with his condition worsening due to the Cold of Russia. In 1900, the old Tsar was frail, like if he aged 20 years in 2. His only male heir, Tsarevich Nikolai II, was prepared for the throne. His father delegated many powers and responsibilities to him after being diagnosed, soon he would be another of the "Rationalist Autocrats" in a new era of tensions.
"Those that said the crisis leading to the Great War would inevitably lead to it, underestimate the capacity of diplomacy. Those that said the War would never happen and Europe would enjoy eternal peace, underestimate the capacity of human stupidity." -American President Theodore Roosevelt in his memoirs, 1925.
The Great War was inevitable, but it could've happened many times before, during the turn of the century, the entire continent was a powder barrel, with some leaders trying to prevent a fire from reaching it while others were trying to start one, as one cartoon described it. Especially as a new generation of leaders was taking power in France, Germany, Russia, and Britain. The tensions caused by Nationalism, Imperialism, and especially the Peace of Vienna, started to become more apparent. The system of alliances, the Coalition and the Entente, served as a reminder that a local conflict between two powers would inevitably start a War not seen since the times of Napoleon I. And there were sparks everywhere, one at a time.
((The Leaders of Europe sitting in a powder keg, was an accurate representation of what was really happening during the "Belé Epoque"))
The Naval Race
((The British Ship HMS King Edward VII would start a new series of ships, and a new race on who would have the most of them))
In 1901, Britain presented a new ship in Belfast, the "HMS King Edward VII" the most powerful ship in the world, creating a new class of Battleships called "Battlesteel" (technically all ships of the time were made mainly by steel), ships with Heavy Armor and firepower that made the previous ships obsolete. The French Prince Napoleon V urged his father to start their own Battlesteel ships, with the first one of the "Charlemagne" class being released in 1903. Napoleon IV knew that France would never be able to rival Britain and Germany combined in the seas, instead the "Swordfish" program saw heavy investiment since the 19th century, with the creation of ships capable of going under the water undetected and strike ships with Torpedos. The French "Swordfishes" were inaugurating a new type of naval warfare, where even the mighty Battlesteels couldn't counter. But yet, the French pursued the Battlesteels, racing with Britain and Germany over the power each one could project by sea. This results in a increase of tensions between the 3 powers.
((The French S-1 Swordfish submarine in 1903))
The Persian Oil Race and Crisis
((Persian Oilfield in 1902))
During the 19th Century, Persia was in a awkward situation, being sandwiched between the British in the Gulf, the Russians in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and the Declining Ottomans in the West. The Empire had to intensify Modernization programs for their own survival. Ruled by Shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar or Shahanshah Khaqan, Persia became a Regional Power in the Middle East, during the 19th Century the areas of Herat and Baluchistan were added to the Persian Crown and in 1901, Oil was found in the South of the Country, a lot of oil. Oil was the new gold of the 20th Century, used from Cars to the mighty Battlesteels. And it was a very desired resource. The Discovery of Oil in Persia suddenly created a rivalry for the control of the region between Russia and Britain. The British created the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, that received the blessing of the Shah to start exploring Oil immediately while splitting the shares 50/50. In Response the Russians started to influence the Persian politics, the Tsar didn't need more oil as the demand was low and the numbers were high in Azeri lands (especially surrounding the Caspian Sea). But the Oil company risked to put Persia into the British sphere, and Russia couldn't afford to have a second front in the South. In 1904 (due possibly to Russian encouragement), Liberals and Democrats took the streets to demand the creation of a Parliament. The "Persian Constitutional Revolution" pressured the Shah to create a parliament and call for a election, electing Mirza Nasrullah Khan as PM, with a new "Nationalist" policy of independence (curiously from Britain alone). The British were alarmed with the possibility of a Nationalization of the company and prepared a plot. In 1907, a coup d'etat was launched by the Young Army officer Reza Shah. The coup dissolved the parliament and put the Shah in House Arrest. The Russians accused the British of intervening in Persian affairs and endangering Russia itself. The Russian army was mobilized at the Persian border and the issue was only solved in the "Bagdad Conference" hosted by the Ottomans.
((Shahanshah Khaqan))
((Reza Shah Pahlavi))
The Anglo-Persian company was dissolved, with the Persian Oil Company being created, with Russia, Britain, and Persia holding the shares in a 33/33/33 manner, with the Shah keeping the remaining 1% to prevent any of them from becoming a majority shareholder. Politically, Persia would have the Parliament restored and the Shah released, but Reza would become the Prime Minister-for-life, becoming a military dictator de facto. Persia would not be allowed to join any of the alliances and couldn't nationalize the Oil Company under the threat of a Anglo-Russian intervention.
The Ethiopian War
Citing the Paris Conference that divided Africa, the Italians took control of Somalia, and the map showed Ethiopia as part of the Italian Africa. But Ethiopia wasn't conquered while Somalia was. In 1898, Italy started to prepare a Experdition, the invasion started in 1899, with 190,000 men. Italy had the Support of Great Britain while Russia and France supported Ethiopia. In the battle of Adwa, the Ethiopians were victorious, instead of creating a Protectorate, Italy was restricted to the North of Somalia as gain (Somaliland). The support of the Coalition for Ethiopia would be something the Italians would remember.
The Mexican Civil War
((Mexican Emperor Juan I))
From the outside, Mexico seemed a prosperous nation. The Golden rush of the mid-19th Century turned the Northern Provinces into a developed area, California received thousands of Yankees, Europeans, and Mexicans becoming a Melting pot. The Country was rich, but was poor too. Great majority of the population was poor and illiterate, working for big landlords and industrials like slaves, social mobility was hard and the Empire's poll tax reduced the number of voters to a small minority. Adding the poverty, corruption, and the semi-feudal system of the countryside, meant that Mexico was fertile ground for Pelletism and radicalism. On the 5th of May of 1907, that blew up as a protest caused the panicked Emperor Juan I to flee to the US. General Bernardo Reyes acted quickly, siezing power in a coup and declaring himself President of the Mexican Republic. But Reyes didn't intend to give up power and soon became a military dictator. Led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, an uprising started against Reye's Republic, while the Northern Provinces used the chance to declare the Independence of the Californian Republic (California, Baja California, and Arizona), while the Texans declared independence with New Mexico. The South of Mexico, Yucatán, Guatemala, and the Central American Provinces rebelled with Zapata and Villa against Reyes, Monarchists took control of Veracruz and Monterrey, taking also Zacatecas and the Gulf Coast. Mexico collapsed into total war and everyone used it as proxy: The United States supported the seceding provinces in the North, The Monarchists had French Support, and the British and Germans placed their bets on Reyes. The bloodiest Latin American war yet had just began.
Vive L'Empereur! Anyways, your thoughts on how TTL's Gandhi is basically an Indian version of Mao Zedong as a result of alt-Leopold II? But OTOH, King Leopold II historically died in 1909, so alt-King Albert I would be the one who would be lined up against a wall and shot in such a scenario.
The Balkan Peninsula was a source of conflict since long before the Ottomans. Serbs, Bulgars, and Greeks competed for territory, but now they were united against a common enemy: The Ottoman Empire. Ethnic and Nationalistic ideas were central in the irredentist goals of every Nation: The Yugoslavia for Serbia, The Megali Idea for Grecce, and the Greater Bulgaria for Bulgaria. The 3 states were freed by Russia in the 19th Century, but much of their territories was still part of the Ottoman Rumelia. To release those territories, the Balkan League was formed on the 3rd of April of 1909. Even if they denied, it was a anti-Ottoman alliance to get them out of Europe, and developments in Turkey were favorable.
In 1856, the Ottomans created a parliament on the aftermath of the War with Russia, but when Abdul Hamid II became Sultan in 1876, he dissolved the Parliament and reigned as an Autocrat. By the Turn of the Century, Opposition groups grew in the army amongst Officers called "The Young Turks". In 1908, during the Bagdad Conference by the end of the year, a protest against Imperialism happened as the Tsar Nikolai II and King-Emperor Edward VII met, including some against Edward's brutal policies. The army was ordered to suppress the protests and many officers mutinied, Abdul Hamid started to lose control as the year of 1909 arrived, Protests in the main cities were joined by members of the military clashing against Loyalists, demanding the restoration of the 1856 Constitution. Abdul gave up on February and called elections. While the rebels celebrated victory, the Sultan prepared a counter-attack.
The Sultan ralied the Arabs, he was always a friend of the Arab Muslims, Rejecting Ottomanism of his father and the Turkish-Centric views of the Young Turks. He ralied Arab Loyalist Units to launch a coup, taking control of Bagdad, Damascus, and Hedjaz. The Coup on the 23rd of July spread to Turkey, where Loyalists and radical Muslims sided with the Protector of Medina and Makkah. The Parliament was dissolved and the Young Turks executed, causing great fear by non-Muslims of the Empire, especially in Armenia and the Balkans. That's when the Balkan States, with Russian support, attacked the Ottomans using the instability of the Empire and the confusion amongst the troops.
((Bulgarian Troops charging against the Ottomans))
The Ottoman troops were caught unprepared, with the Furious Bulgarian advance taking Western Thrace and reaching the Black Sea, cutting off the Ottoman troops that had to be supplied by sea, if their navy wasn't defeated in Naxos by the Greek fleet. Serbian, Montenegrin, and Greek forces pushed to surround the Ottomans in Macedonia and Albania, where the Turks also had to deal with Albanian Guerrillas. On the 3rd of March of 1910, the Ottoman army in the Balkans, surrounded in Macedonia, was forced to surrender. The war was over and a Conference was held in Constantinople.
The Balkan allies met to decide the fate of the Ottomans, that were reduced to a small part of Eastern Thrace drawn like a arbitrary line. The Greeks took North Epirus and Southern Macedonia (Including Thessaloniki), the Montenegrins took the surrounding lands of the principality, Serbia took Kosovo, a part of Northern Albania for sea access, and parts of Nis, Bulgaria was undoubtedly the Greatest winner, taking from Skopje and Macedonia to the gates of Constantinople itself. The Albanians also formed their state, taking Central Albania and parts of Western Macedonia.
((Bulgaria after the War excluding Thessaloniki region and not including the added parts of Thrace.))
The last years of peace in Europe would die with the last ones desiring peace, in a space of 4 years between 1907 and 1911, the most powerful men in the world went back to Dust.
In the Kaiserreich, Kaiser Heinrich I died in September 8th of 1907, his advanced age and smoking habits causing a cancer in his Lungs, a Liberal and pragmatic man that knew when to pick a fight and when to avoid it, didn't manage to pass these traits to his son, Kaiser Wilhelm II. Wilhelm was emotional, aggressive, Conservative, Militarist, and the "Greatest Friend of the Junkers", one of his first acts was to restore the old 3-class system of vote in Prussia into the elections. His second was to scrap military plans and demand the General Staff to prepare one new: Instead of picking up Russia and France's minor allies, Wilhelm demanded France to be the first target, even if that meant crossing the Rhineland defenses. Even traditional and aggressive commanders like Lundendorff were skeptical that this approach would work, Wilhelm had a irrational hate against everything French, even going to the point of arresting French Nobles on the basis of "conspiracy against the Kaiser und Reich". While the Germans were cautious to start a War under Heinrich, they now were desiring it under Wilhelm. The New Kaiser was also prone to embarrassing himself in interviews, even insulting King Edward VII once when visiting Britain. "I thought he walked around with Blacks held by chains like dogs for a walk."
The Second new Monarch was in Russia, 12th August 1908, the Tuberculosis finally killed Aleksandr II, giving the Throne to his son Nikolai II. Nikolai was young, also emotional like Wilhelm, but instead of using that to make harsh decisions, he gave greater freedom to his ministers, making a Rationalist ministry and letting them rule the country. But even if they were competent, some were corrupt too, and the light control of the Tsar allowed them greater liberties. One of the few decisions of the Tsar was to... play with his Guard, making a gigantic chess game using his troops and playing with his friends and generals. Nikolai wasn't as bright as his predecessors, but he knew that it was true and that was his greatest strength. He knew when to sit back and let people more competent than him to administer, a lesion his father gave him.
In Britain, on the 2nd of December of 1910, the "Butcher of India", the "Maniac of Africa", King-Emperor Edward VII died in his sleep. In Britain there was mourning, on the colonies it was a celebration, with the Indians even making it a National Holiday. The man responsible for 100 million deaths around the world (minimal estimates of 70 and some even reaching 150 million) has died. He left the throne to his son Albert, who took the name of George VII. He was known as the "Soldier King" for a reason, having served in the military and usually wearing army uniforms, George was like Wilhelm, never backing down from a fight. The King abandoned his father's brutal policies, instead giving more autonomy on colonial matters to the dominions. But no matter what he could do, he was never going to repair the damage of his father to the British-Dominated world.
But France was perhaps the most significant change, on the 28th of April of 1911, Napoleon IV was dead. He reigned wisely like his father, while his son seemed more like his uncle Napoleon II. Not like an Absolutist, but as a militarist that believed War to be a natural process of cleasening of society from the weak, and that France's natural destiny was to ultimately rule the Continent. Napoleon V desired war, he wanted the war as much as Wilhelm, he dreamed of being like Napoleon I and bring Europe to its kneels. He was a General, a competent one differently from Nikolai and Wilhelm, and he started to prepare France to war, a war that would reverse the Peace of Vienna and restore French supremacy on the Continent.
((He even looked like his Great-Grandfather))
The Stage was now set, with the leaders of the most powerful nations of the world desiring war, all they now needed was a reason for war, a casus belli.
