AHC: Make India divided by European empires

[connorCD]

As the title implies, your challenge is to have India be divided by the European empires instead of being a singular colony, basically a similar situation to Africa and South East Asia. It can be divided by Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and/or Italy.

 

[Kirook]

France is more successful in supporting anti-British opposition in India while Portugal expands beyond its traditional outposts in Goa, giving a three-way division of the subcontinent.

 

[John I of Brazil]

France is more successful in supporting anti-British opposition in India while Portugal expands beyond its traditional outposts in Goa, giving a three-way division of the subcontinent.

Yes. We can also have the Russian Empire being more successful in the Great Game, creating a russian-influenced Pakistan. The dutch could also have more (probably small) parts of south India instead of only Sri Lanka.

 

[Koprulu Mustafa Pasha]

Only France and maybe Russia can challenge the British. After defeating the French in the Seven Years War there was no European Power to Challenge the British.

Unless France managed to hold out with Mysore and the British leave Mysore within French sphere there is a chance. From the 1820s onwards, Russia can start meddling with India, mostly North Indian States.

I see 5, 6 powers with a holdout in India. Denmark and Portugal keep their outposts. The Dutch do it as well, maybe with Ceylon as well. The French, British and Russians may carve up India. And they are the only one. The former first three states are not really in a position to do so.

 

[John I of Brazil]

I think that one of the biggest effects of this partition would be that the idea of a unified India would be even more far from reality than it is today. The already persianised afghans/pakistanis/northeast indians would be russified and probably become subjects of a communist regime , and would become specially alien to the rest of the continent . If Portugal doesnt carve more territory in the indian mainland, the cities of Goa, Damao and Diu would have serious chances of staying portuguese. A smaller British Raj would be easier to be controlled by the UK , but less valuable. Don't know the possible effects of a big french India.

 

[Lusitania]

The issue with a weaker British East India company would be a more independent Indian states. It was the combination of Indian states infighting and British east India military and political operations that left it in control of the sub continent.

So the scenarios identified would divide the coast into enclaves (like french Pondicherry or Portuguese Goa) but the interior would continue independent with alliances to certain European powers.

The ability of Russia to expand into Pakistan would run into same issues the British ran into expanding into the tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 

[FillyofDelphi]

As the title implies, your challenge is to have India be divided by the European empires instead of being a singular colony, basically a similar situation to Africa and South East Asia. It can be divided by Britain, France, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and/or Italy.

Why not add the Danes/Scandinavia or the Ottomans here? Honestly, I think an Ottomans that develops a colonial-naval interests in the 1600-1700's would be in a good position to pick up some of the decline in Muhgal interests by clientizing the Islamic dynasties of the eastern Indian coast, though this would require a checking of Russia's rise in order to remove the pressure on the Black Sea front so they could afford to turn attention to the Indian Ocean. Establishing a Red Sea-Med connection (Either via some kind of canal or a duel-port system connected by a highly organized and dense system of overland transport) would be helpful, but it could also come about as coming to a stable frontier with Persia or a development along the Red Sea coastal ports.

 

[Lusitania]

Why not add the Danes/Scandinavia or the Ottomans here? Honestly, I think an Ottomans that develops a colonial-naval interests in the 1600-1700's would be in a good position to pick up some of the decline in Muhgal interests by clientizing the Islamic dynasties of the eastern Indian coast, though this would require a checking of Russia's rise in order to remove the pressure on the Black Sea front so they could afford to turn attention to the Indian Ocean. Establishing a Red Sea-Med connection (Either via some kind of canal or a duel-port system connected by a highly organized and dense system of overland transport) would be helpful, but it could also come about as coming to a stable frontier with Persia or a development along the Red Sea coastal ports.

The biggest challenge to any Ottoman colonial attempt would be challenge by superior European forces and if the Ottoman Empire does dedicate resources to colonial atrempt it would weaken them elsewhere

 

[Hegemon]

Have the British lose the battle of Plassey?

 

[pompejus]

The dutch could also have more (probably small) parts of south India instead of only Sri Lanka.

The Dutch actualy had a relatively decent part of southern India, but managed to lose (and sell/trade) it all. I think part of the reason is that Indonesia was more important for the Dutch. I could see the Dutch keeping and expending in southern India. Especialy if they use Ceylon as a base. So give the Dutch the southern part of India, give the British Bengal and the Ghanges river, give France the eastern part of India and Portugal the western part. That could work, maybe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_India