Arrogance and Empire: An Alternative 7 Years War Timeline

[Alt History Buff]

December, 1759

Quebec

Having accepted the surrender of General Montcalm, the British commanders of Quebec would immediately seek to eliminate as many mouths as possible. The 2000 or so French Regulars and Marines were shipped south, spread out among various colonies. French civilians were allowed to depart the city if they had kinsmen able to care for them in the countryside (not that Wolfe had left much countryside intact).

Over 1200 British regulars were allowed to sail for home over the North Atlantic…including the ailing and disappointed James Wolfe. 2000 more were dispatched further west to seek out and accept Bougainville’s surrender and to garrison Laval and Montreal. Another 1000 British regulars were shipped south to New York, including the North American Commander-in-Chief.

The ice was already beginning to form by early December and Amherst had no intention whatsoever of remaining in Quebec for the winter. He left James Murrey in command of Quebec and Townsend in Montreal. Between them, they commanded 5000 British regulars and 2000 American colonial militia, including Colonel Washington’s regiment.

The 1st Virginia was ordered back to Laval along with Colonel Gage. They were ordered to ensure the French locals were abiding by the surrender.

As it was, the winter of 1759 would prove very, very lean.

December, 1759

The Northern Circars, Eastern India

After a year in purgatory, where his army had not been supplied with adequate munitions or pay, General Coote of the East India Army would witness a naval battle off the coast. It would be an indecisive battle, the third such in the past year. However, the French forces which had conquered Madras were now massing to the south as a much larger Mughal Army was forming to the west.

The Nawab of Bengal, once a British ally but now aligned with the French, would offer supplies to both France and the Mughal Empire. After months of siege, “General” Clive had finally given up Calcutta and retreated to the Circars…bearing a huge amount of embezzled, extorted and outright stolen Bengal treasure. Like most “Nabobs”, Clive had bled Bengal dry after his great victory at Plassey. Though Clive may not know it, Coote was aware that dozens of Company employees and British officials had written condemnations of Clive’s avaricious conduct in Bengal, may holding him openly responsible for the disaster.

Coote would determine that his position was untenable. Gathering up his European charges, Coote would sail to around the subcontinent to Bombay. Clive objected, pointing out that victory was still possible but Coote rejected this. In the end, Clive was forced to follow else be left behind.

December, 1759

Berlin

Despite seizing the Kingdom of Prussia (and the other assorted possessions of the late Frederick II), the victorious allies had been remarkably slow to decide exactly what to do about the matter. Part of this was the great distances involved, particularly the Czarina who was hundreds of miles away.

The conquering Generals would occupy Brandenburg, disarm, disband or imprison the Prussian Army and write letters home to King Louis, Czarina Elizabeth, Empress Maria Theresa and King Adolph Frederick asking for directions on what to do from there. Eventually, the continent-wide correspondence would agree to a conclave of allies, either the crowned heads themselves for senior diplomats, in April, 1760 in Berlin.

December, 1759

Bremen

The remnants of the Army of Hanover still clung perilously to the Continent. Now comprised of 12,000 British, 4000 Hanoverians and 4000 German mercenaries, the army was now based along the Weser and Elbe, mostly near the coastal cities of Stade and Bremen, where they could be supplied…and protected…by the Royal Navy.

Though King George II would repeatedly promise vast reinforcements from Britain were on their way, Generals Granby and Sporcken were too experienced to believe a word of this nonsense. Parliament was NOT going to approve any further British forces to the continent, certainly not enough to actually march inland and reconquer Hanover. Perhaps only the King maintained THAT illusion.

In the meantime, the French Army under D’Estrees would quietly bypass the frozen Weser in December and assume positions across from Bremen and Stade, outnumbering the defenders by more than two to one.

Worse, with Hesse, Lippe and Brunswick under their control, the French were able to entice large numbers of deserters from the German continent. In one notable incident, over 2000 of the hired mercenaries, mostly Hessians, would desert across the Elbe to French lines. Another 500 Hanoverians would do the same.

 

[Alt History Buff]

February, 1760

London

George II fell ill over the winter of 1760, less a matter of his own health that endless worry over how Hanover would be regained and if sole surviving (legitimate) son, the Duke of Cumberland, would recover from his wounds. For nearly two years, the Duke appeared on the verge of death, taking several turns for the worse in which the King feared for his son’s death.

Worse, the government under the Duke of Newcastle was proving incapable of forging an army capable of invading the Continent and retaking the King’s patrimony. Indeed, Great Britain was even beginning to fear a French invasion. Rumors of Spain joining the war against Britain on behalf of France were rife as the price of France turning over Minorca.

If Newcastle had one blessing, it was the fact that William Pitt had retreated from Parliament for reasons of health, including gout. The opposition was proving far less capable without him.

The Duke was in a nebulous position. Many Britons were quite happy with the gains in the Americas. Guadeloupe was a priceless possession while vast quantities of land had been taken on the mainland. Yes, Minorca was lost, but most Britons, if asked, probably could not find that flyspeck island on a map.

North America, though, COULD be found on a map.

Similarly, the bulk of the British public held no particular affection for Hanover, many of the political classes resentful of George I and George II’s attachment to their ancestral lands and frequent visits. The late Prince Frederick, to the King’s ire, had openly condemned the association as did the young Prince of Wales.

Many Britons held the opinion that the House of Hanover’s attachment led to their homeland would or had brought the King into policies against British interests. An independent observer may voice the opinion that Hanover took the worst of that relationship. The invasion of Hanover by France was directly attributable to the rivalry between France and Britain abroad.

Knowing that further reinforcement to Germany would be outright rejected by Parliament, including much of the Ministry, the Duke quietly ceased supplying Bremen and Stade while ordering the Admiralty to prepare to evacuate in the spring.

 

[Alt History Buff]

April, 1760

Berlin

Though none of the actual monarchs of the major allied powers made the long trek to Berlin, the Convention of Berlin in 1760 would nevertheless be frequented by Foreign Secretaries, Field Marshals, Ambassadors, negotiators, etc.

Among the luminaries were the heir to the Russian Empire, Prince Peter, and the heir to what would be left to the Prussian Empire, the fifteen-year-old Frederick William of Prussia, son of Frederick II’s younger brother, Augustus William, who had died in 1758.

The thirty-two-year-old Peter was the nephew of Czarina and a member of the House of Holstein-Gottorp. Though he’d resided in Russia for many years, the fact was that Peter was FAR more attached to his German kin than the Russian people. He abhorred life in Russia and his entire court was comprised of Holsteiners and other Germans.

Peter’s only strong personality traits were:

1. A desire to regain sovereignty over his family’s lost lands in Holstein and Schleswig, now controlled by the King of Denmark. To his fury, his Aunt, in a peace treaty with Denmark, ceded Peter’s claims to his ancestral homeland without his knowledge or consent.

2. Peter possessed an almost indescribable hero worship of Frederick II. The Russian, despite his nation being AT WAR with Prussia, would publicly declare his opposition to the war, dress his personal guard and regiment in Prussian colors and train them in the Prussian style due to its “superiority”.

When learning of Frederick II’s defeat and death, Peter broke down in tears for he would now never serve his idol as a Field Marshal in the King’s armies. By this point, many of his future subjects not only hated Peter but considered him to be a dilletante and fool. Czarina Elizabeth allowed Peter to attend the Convention mainly to get rid of him for a few months.

For his part, the young “King” Frederick William (though he had not been crowned and instead was under the “guardianship” of the Austrian and Russian Generals in Berlin) positively LOATHED his uncle after the man humiliated his late father after Augustus had the temerity of losing a battle. To this day, Frederick William was sure that Augustus had died of a broken heart (others said it was a brain tumor).

Over the course of April, the two nearly came to blows after an argument over Frederick II’s “Greatness”. Peter suggested that the King be remembered as “Frederick the Great”. Frederick William dismissed the man as “Frederick the Fool” and the cause of the impending dismemberment of his family patrimony.

The two men would never speak directly again.

 

[Alt History Buff]

May, 1760

London

George II clenched the parchment as if his life was hanging by the few short lines it contained. His hands and face seemed eerily white, illuminated only by the lamps on his desk and along the wall. Despite the gloom, the silent onlookers knew he could not have had any trouble reading the message from the duc de Choiseul. Its contents were simply too impossible for him to accept, so the king read and reread it a half a dozen times before slowly laying it on the desk.

Then he looked up almost blankly at the assemblage of men around him. In what was sure to be the first and last time, George II summoned the most powerful men in Britain to counsel him. For once, vulgar politics were put aside. The tired Newcastle, recently recalled to the lead the Ministry in place of the twice disgraced William Pitt, awaited the King’s pleasure. As the final disposition of appointments had been agreed to, Newcastle effectively led a shadow cabinet. The Duke looked uncomfortable with the direction he’d been given only that morning in regards to the succession.

The thought of the monarchy turned the King’s gaze towards the spitting image of the late Frederick, his oldest and least favorite son. Sitting and speaking quietly with his tutor, the ever-present Earl of Bute, the King wondered if his grandson was happy at the outcome. The Prince of Wales loathed the time, effort, blood, and money “wasted” on preserving the heritage of the House of Hanover. George II rarely would have invited his grandson to such proceedings, but given the enormity of the situation, he relented. The time for such foolishness has passed. Besides, Newcastle would soon arrange that Parliament……readdress…..the succession soon enough.

Lord Halifax and the Duke of Bedford passively sat at the end of the table, avoiding his cold stare. As members of Pitt’s government to retain office under Newcastle, the powerful duo had been wise enough to keep their distance given the open loathing the King now displayed towards anything associated with the Prince of Wales and his favorite, William Pitt. The heads of the Army and Navy also sat uncomfortably. Since their replacement of General Ligonier and Admiral Anson, both seemed overwhelmed by their responsibilities. The sacking of the two able officers was among the King’s few regrets. Henry Fox, the grasping Lord Privy Seal, attended as proxy of the still-recovering Duke of Cumberland. Newcastle had, once again, welcomed Cumberland in as a “Minister without Portfolio”. Though he despaired for his son’s life, the King was pleased that the disasters of the past months could not be affixed to the Duke. Cumberland had another destiny that could not bear the stain of such shame. This was among the reasons why George II had not agreed to the Privy Council appointments.

The King quietly waited for his advisors to comment on the French peace offer that each had already read and, in some cases, helped negotiate. Only the Duke of Newcastle dared speak what all present knew to be true. “Your Majesty,” the Duke quietly said, “I don’t believe that there is any realistic chance that we will receive a better treaty. Austria, Sweden, and Russia will not accept a reinvigorated Prussia. Pomerania has already been allocated to Sweden while East Prussia will not be surrendered by Russia. It will be absorbed into their Polish puppet state. Silesia will return to Austria. Prussia’s smaller western territories will apparently be turned over to permanent Bourbon control….as will Hanover, probably as a fife controlled by one of King Louis’ grandsons.” A long pause followed as each man contemplated the meaning of this. “Brandenburg’s next sovereign prince remains to be decided though I imagine it will be King Frederick’s nephew after all. If it is to be someone else, whomever the Austrians and French choose will not likely be any more of a friend to these Isles.”

Meeting only further silence from the King, Newcastle plodded forward, “France will retain Minorca, though I suspect it will be turned over to Spain, and the Dutch East India company, along with all other English traders, will be banned from the eastern coast of India.” Still not receiving any response from his grim monarch, the elderly Duke continued, “However, not all is lost. Bermuda, lost in 1759 in that surprise French attack, will be returned to his Majesty’s allegiance along our other lost territory in the West Indies, the island of Dominica. The Dutch East India Company may again do business in Surat.” At French sufferance, Newcastle chose not to add.

Halifax interjected eagerly, “Most importantly, Sire, we have utterly conquered France’s North American Empire from Quebec to New Orleans! New France, combined with our North American colonies, now encompasses a land area nearly twice the size of Europe, all Great Britain’s to colonize! The Island of Guadeloupe, immensely valuable in terms of trade and potential taxation, greater than the whole of New France even, will be retained for your Majesty as well.” As the Minister for North American and Caribbean affairs, his department was nearly the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal situation.

The King finally broke through his melancholy with a biting and sarcastic reply, “This is indeed glorious news. These Isles are now completely isolated on the continent as our allies have been subjugated, our enormously profitable India trade has been cut off, and our enemies mock us from the hall of my ancestral home. But we now possess an enormous amount of barren tundra devoid of population save for innumerous murderous savages! Oh, and a flyspeck sugar island as well. Truly the world trembles before Albion’s might!”

Newcastle closed his eyes, quietly sighed, and sat back. Perhaps a well-earned retirement was overdue. Though George II would never forgive him for saying so, Pitt may well have been right in believing Great Britain’s future now lay past the great expanses of the Atlantic. The Duke noted the open disdain that so often dominated the Prince of Wales’ pudgy features. As typical, the youth did not even bother concealing that Newcastle, and most of the other Privy Council members in attendance for that matter, held few prospects under the eventual reign of George III. Well, if the King’s secret demands to exclude his loathed grandson from the succession were met, the Prince of Wales would soon find his faction of rabble-rousers disbanded without the promise of his eventual ascension. British politicians rarely bothered flocking to losers.

Of course, Newcastle knew perfectly well that George II’s demands to set aside the succession of a healthy young man in favor of a plainly dying and childless Duke of Cumberland would NOT be met by Parliament…nor even openly considered. The succession was sacred and, short of converting to Papism, there was no way in the pit of all hell that the Prince of Wales would NOT inherit the throne. Newcastle only promised the King to “review the matter with legal experts” to shut George II up long enough for the old man to die.

For the moment, the King turned his attention to Bute and venomously spat in his pronounced German accent which tended to thicken when angry, now virtually all the time, “Tell me, sir. Did you even attempt to negotiate Hanover’s freedom or was that portion of my direction somehow forgotten?”

Knowing full well that whoever negotiated the treaty would be forever stained by the dishonor, the King had cannily ordered Bute to France. Intended by the old King as one more nail in the Prince’s coffin when the question of barring his grandson from the succession was opened in Parliament, the King solicited Bute’s service under the guise of a “reconciliation”. It was well known that Prince George had broken with his former favorite, William Pitt, when the man ignored Bute’s suggestion that clemency be given to the executed Admiral Byng in 1757. The rift widened when Prince George personally sought Pitt’s help in exonerating Lord Germain’s conduct at Minden. However, at this point, Pitt deemed his relationship with the King more important than a teenage Prince and ignored the Prince of Wale’s pleas. Pitt said nothing as Germain was court-martialed and expelled from George II’s service with the shocking admonishment “Unfit to serve His Majesty in any manner whatsoever”, an utterly unprecedented condemnation. The King felt Germain was lucky to escape with his life. Naturally, Germain would gravitate to the opposition “Leicester Faction”.

But with the Prince of Wales and Pitt at odds, the King brought Bute into the Administration in a token role. Already commonly loathed, the Earl of Bute would hang around Prince’s neck like an albatross, at least to the King’s thinking. Still, Newcastle doubted Parliament could ever be tempted to alter the line of succession merely due to a monarch’s loathing of his rightful successor. Were that the case, George II would never have inherited the throne from his own father. Not for the first time, Newcastle wondered why the House of Hanover hated one another so much.

As Bute, who had been sent to Berlin and then Paris, tried to sputter a response explaining his failure to regain Hanover, the Prince of Wales cut him off, “Your Majesty,” he stated heatedly, “knows full well that the Earl of Bute followed your instructions with all obedience. King Louis simply has no intention of allowing Great Britain a base upon continental Europe which might be used against them should a future conflict arise. And given the series of defeats Your Majesty’s forces have sustained upon that blood-drenched soil, they have no reason to believe that we can force the issue. Your “offer” of exchanging New France for Hanover was turned down. New France was a financial burden for its mother country to defend. Choiseul and His Most Catholic Majesty, Louis XV, would not even consider it. France is inclined to let us keep it rather than give up the more vital territories it has conquered! Perhaps you should have thought of this when you encouraged that mad Prussian to drag the entire continent into a bloody war for the sake of his own vainglorious hubris!”

When the Prince of Wales initially learned of the King’s offer to exchange New France for George II’s lost patrimony, he had nearly choked with laughter. Did his grandfather believe that France would give up Hanover and the conquered western territories of Prussia, as well as Minorca, England’s only naval base in the Mediterranean east of Gibraltar, in exchange for some frozen land and seventy thousand French colonists and slaves?! Even the offer of Guadeloupe wouldn’t suffice in the face of French glee at wiping the House of Hanover from the continent. When, mere minutes later, Bute had received a second note from the King instructing Bute to also demand the return of Britain’s east India factories as well (mostly held by Indian Princes, not France), it seemed certain his grandfather had fallen into permanent senility.

The King closed his eyes in hopes of keeping back the tears that would surely flood them. For the last few years, George II’s ailments and complaints seemed to intensify with each disaster. The King wondered if he would survive long enough to keep this odious boy from the throne. Due to his utter contempt and loathing for his grandson, the monarch refused to honor the Prince of Wales by answering directly. Instead, the King looked down at his desk and quietly inquired to all those in the room, “Can we in any semblance of honor agree to these terms? Can we not escape the humiliation? Is there no chance to regain martial advantage?”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room as each Minister hoped that the other would speak. Finally, Newcastle again stepped forward. “Sir, the London banks refuse to grant any further credit to continue the war. We may not even be able to prevent default on the current debt. Already, most of the vital naval construction has ceased for lack of funds. Our soldiers may riot or desert en masse if their arrears are not paid in a timely manner. Even if the appropriations could be made, there is little realistic chance of a breakthrough on our own in Europe or India. France is simply too well entrenched now for us to do any more than raid their coastlines, which they are fully capable of doing in return.”

“Our efforts at negotiating an alliance with Austria or one of the other European powers have come to naught. France is effectively giving their former allies in Austria, Sweden, and Russia free reign to carve up Prussia. Choiseul has also promised them that France will neither assimilate the captured German territories into her nation nor house massive numbers of troops within Holy Roman soil. She will only control them to the extent necessary to prevent our return. Rumors abound that one of Henry XV’s grandsons will be given the Electorate.” Newcastle attempted to ignore the monarch’s anguished flinch. “Given that the eastern powers are universally near bankruptcy from their years of warfare, none have any desire or reason to realign their allegiances and aid us in a continued conflict with France. The duc de Choiseul has covered his nation’s diplomatic flanks well.”

“In addition,” Newcastle continued hesitantly as he shifted uncomfortably in his high-backed chair, “France is once again massing soldiers along the English Channel. Given the poor state of our home defenses, even a small invasion army could cause great destruction if landed along an undefended section of coastline. Though they have threatened to invade before, continental commitments prevented them from using the full force of their military. Now, with no further conflicts, France may attack with all available forces. Worse, we’ve received word that Spain has also threatened to sail an invasion fleet to Brest to join forces with the French, this likely being the price for France handing over Minorca…and possibly French aid in capturing Gibraltar.”

The King once again felt very old as he looked around the lush surroundings of Buckingham Palace, the seat of power of the most feared nation on Earth. For the sixth time, the King reread the treaty before calling for a pen.

 

[Alt History Buff]

June, 1760

London

General William Winslow of the Massachusetts Colonial Militia was hanged on June 1st, 1760, after an extended trial for mutiny and desertion. Despite many pleas for clemency from America and Britain, few leading figures in the British government were inclined to intervene with the King. The ailing Duke of Cumberland, for example, openly viewed Winslow’s death as necessary to avenge General Loudoun and ensure colonial subjugation.

Shortly after Winslow had sailed from America in chains, a new administration under Pitt had taken command. Most Americans would simply assume Winslow would be released or pardoned. Even the Prince of Wales publicly urged that Winslow be exonerated. However, just as with Admiral Byng and General Germain, the Prince’s opinion did not sway the government. William Pitt, at that point in the relative good graces of the King, was not inclined to pick a fight with George II or the Duke of Cumberland.

Thus, William Winslow rotted for over two years in prison awaiting his trial. When his time came, a series of witnesses gave testimony. The facts remained the same: Winslow had orders to keep his Massachusetts militia in their northwestern forts past their contracts….and instead he led them home after a “vote”. The British regulars were scandalized and much of Britain considered the man a traitor and a coward.

Winslow was found guilty. Like Byng and unlike Germain, he would not find clemency when he was sentenced to execution. Naturally, Winslow’s death brought thousands of onlookers, some protesting, some condemning, most simply there to see a man die.

In the back of the crowd, a portly colonial bordering on elderly looked on with an expression of profound sadness vandalizing his normally jovial face. Despite his best efforts, barely a single august member of Parliament stepped forward to object to this act of barbarism. Bitterness churned in his stomach as he turned away from the ugly scene knowing that the jeers and taunts that the incendiary crowd would lay anchored in his memory until his dying day.

Turning back towards his rented townhouse, the man hobbled under the pain of his gout. As no cab would be available so close to an execution, he soldiered on for over a mile into the cold wind of the English winter. Each step increasingly agonizing, the familiar outlines of his temporary home rose out of the haze of the London dusk. Fumbling for the key, he entered the darkened entrance into his quarters. Given the recent departure of his son for his new governorship in Pennsylvania (after a particularly vicious argument regarding Winslow’s sentence), the once friendly confines matched his dreary mood.

Shrugging his coat indifferently onto the rack, the colonial stumbled about for matches to light a pair of lamps before moving on to the fireplace. After a few awkward minutes of kneeling on his arthritic knees, he was rewarded with a roaring fire. Settling back into his comfortable chair opposite the fireplace, he stared into the flickering flames.

At length, he returned from his revelries to bitterly ask aloud, “Is this the reward of all good Britons?”

Angered at receiving no response from the empty room, he spat, “For decades, I have served my King and Country loyally. I’ve reminded my countrymen of their duties to the crown at every opportunity. When peace was achievable, I’ve sought it. When war was necessary, I’ve fought.”

After a pause, “Was it worthwhile? Did I aid in the evolution of man’s soul or help tighten the chains that bond it?”

Again, only silence answered him. Time pressed onward into the evening as grey turned to black. Wind continued to whip against the elegant panes of glass that adorned the home. Had he bothered to turn his head, the aging colonial would have noticed the steady drizzle that blurred the streetlights to a faraway glow. But only the dancing flames beckoned his eyes as the lifetime of service burned to ash along side the sturdy logs.

Pulling himself out of his stupor, he rose unsteadily to his feet. Patting his vest, he located the ever-present bifocals.

At least I created something worthwhile in my life, he thought sardonically as he placed them over his eyes and began rummaging throughout his desk. Presently, he drew a quill and inkbottle from a drawer and placed them aside a pile of blank papers. Settling in the uncomfortable chair, he considered at length how to begin his treatise. With a spark of inspiration, the words flowed.

Quickly dabbing his quill in the ink, he began to write:

The Tyrants Unmasked

Nigh on three centuries ago, an Italian named Columbus set sail in a trio of rickety ships into the unknown. Though no practical evidence existed to support his hope of discovery across the hereto unsurpassable body of water, his steadfast faith moved a mountain of ignorance and inspired a nation to heed his call. To this day, his name is synonymous with discovery, with daring, with all that is noble to the souls that god bestowed within man to separate us from the animals.

However, the true impact of his discovery need not be relegated to subjects such as lands discovered, waterways plotted, tribesmen encountered and stars sighted. The seeds that Columbus planted cannot be captured in terms of trade or war or census figures. The true gift Columbus willed to those whom were to follow across the great ocean lay in the endless possibilities in the development of virtue. Here he found a land untouched by the blight of injustice.

Our inheritance is the opportunity to cast aside the chains of oppression which have bound men throughout time. God blessed or cursed each man with the capacity to yearn for freedom in the face of dictatorship. In the discovery of these shores, Columbus found a gift so priceless that few have understood its value.

Here, in the new world, we can be free if we are worthy.

Here, we are all Columbians.

The aging colonial, whose loyalty to the old order died with an innocent man on the gallows, wrote long into the night.

 

[Alt History Buff]

December, 1761

Moscow

Prince Peter would be taking his leisure with his mistress when informed that the Czarina was….finally….dead.

Good riddance, he thought.

Elizabeth had held this already backwards country back long enough. More importantly, Elizabeth had forced him to reside in this dismal place. Had Peter not, as a child, been deemed the new heir to his Aunt’s throne, he may have inherited Sweden’s vacant throne.

And he CERTAINLY would not have ceded his ancestral lands in Holstein and Schleswig to the Damned DANES!

In the meantime, the new Czar would see to his crowning. He also had plans to at least TRY to bring this country into the 18th century. Repression of the press would end, the path to liberation of the serfs could commence and a thousand changes implemented in the next few months.

But, more importantly, the new Czar would prepare for a reckoning with Denmark. In the Great Northern War, before Peter’s birth, the King of Denmark had conquered the lands of the House of Holstein-Gottorp, his own patrimony.

After a slew of reforms over the winter, Peter would lead a Russian Army west against Denmark and regain his ancestral lands of Holstein and Schleswig by force, if necessary.

Once that was done, he’d see his bitch wife in a nunnery.

Only later would he realize he should have done one before the other.

 

[Alt History Buff]

December, 1761

London

A year after his ascension to the British throne, King George III was married to the amiable Charlotte of Strelitz and, as his wife recently revealed, soon to be a father.

However, the young King’s reign had been anything but smooth. Political convulsions continued apace. George III dismissed his Ministers, led by the aged Newcastle, and replaced them with a Ministry headed by his beloved Lord Bute.

However, his old tutor had proven so terribly inadequate that George III had finally reached his breaking point. Bute simply lacked the spine to withstand public criticism, particularly by Pitt and his allies. In less than a year, Bute had requested to be relieved. More than a little disgusted, the King agreed.

A weak and discordant Ministry including the ill Duke of Cumberland, the grasping Henry Fox, the Duke of Bedford, Duke of Grafton, Duke of Devonshire, Duke of Marlborough, Earl Egremont, Earl Halifax and other luminaries were thrown together. George III was less than eager to allow Fox into the Ministry but, lacking a powerful voice in the Commons, Fox was all he had.

Unless he wanted to recall Pitt and his Grenville in-laws (no thanks).

It was a weak ministry and George III knew it. But at least it was obedient. George III vowed never to allow any government ministers dominate British affairs as his grandfather had done for years. The new King would oversee the government which advised him.

The good news was that the economy was starting to recover. The peace in Europe was being upheld and the young King didn’t give a damn about a French prince being handed Hanover.

 

[Alt History Buff]

January, 1762

Savannah

President James Oglethorpe of the Colony of Georgia, after leading the invasion and conquest of New Orleans, had expected his recall to Great Britain in 1760 in order to be recognized for his achievement….and presumable Knighted or ennobled. But the call never came.

After a year and a half of commanding the occupation of New Orleans, most of the British regulars were withdrawn while the 1200 Georgians would be summarily returned to their Colony with barely a thank you on behalf of the King.

King George II’s death in early 1761 left hopes that Oglethorpe would be recognized by the young King George III who seemed to appreciate the colonial Empire in a manner his grandfather never had.

But nary a communication was received from London. Oglethorpe considered returning to Great Britain but a remarkable event occurred in 1761 that required him to remain in Georgia.

In May, shortly after the Georgia Colonial Regiment and assorted volunteers returned to their homes, a series of slave-hunting raids from South Carolina ensued. Several escaped slaves were retrieved and carried back to South Carolina. However, a particularly large group of 80 slave-hunters (who had been authorized by the South Carolina Assembly to seize as many Negroes as could be found) made the error of entering into a Georgian town of Ebenezer in broad daylight. Within minutes, a running firefight broke out as virtually the entire town rose up to resist, including a number of Scots.

By happenstance, Oglethorpe was nearby assisting the settlement of a new town by recently arrived immigrants from Europe. When the President learned that over 18,000 Germans from Hanover (mostly soldiers and their families) and various allied states had been evacuated from Bremen and Stade before the French advance and formal abandonment of the House of Hanover’s ancient patrimony, he realized that this may be an opportunity. Oglethorpe knew London politics enough that the Crown in Parliament would not be interested in thousands of Germans suckling off of public charity. Thus, he generously offered to settle the Germans in Georgia if only the King could find arrange transportation.

Within a year, over 8000 Germans would arrive on Georgian shores on land grants within the new townships of Hanover, Brunswick, Celle and, of course, Oglethorpe. The President had been running a lottery for first choice of 120-acre farmsteads in Celle when he learned of the attack on Ebenezer. As much of the settlement were former Hanoverian soldiers, dozens of these Germans followed their benefactor to Ebenezer three miles down a dusty road carved from the wilderness.

They found the town in flames and over a dozen dead and wounded. The sight of armed Germans marching behind the Colony’s President was enough to send the South Carolinians in flight. Twenty of the slavecatchers were captured, tarred and feathered and placed in a makeshift jail.

Oglethorpe buried the dead and wrote a scathing series of letters to the Ministry in London demanding retribution against South Carolina. Even Georgians friendly to the idea of slavery were livid at the assault on their territory. Oglethorpe would promptly ordered three Companies of the Georgia Regiment (mostly Negro) to build a trio of “guardhouses” along the border to ensure that this never happened again.

The Minister for Colonial Affairs, the Board of Trade and several other government officials were consulted and the bizarre incident of two British colonies effectively entering into battle scandalized the Government and the matter was publicly debated in Parliament. Per Oglethorpe’s recommendation, his abolition of slavery among the light population of New Orleans was upheld until the Government formed an opinion.

By 1762, though, the Georgia Trustees were receiving repeated requests for the formation of a Colonial Legislature. Oglethorpe, who as a Trustee and the locally-residing President, would begrudgingly agree to the formation of a Legislature with limited powers.

 

[Alt History Buff]

February, 1762

Mt. Vernon, Virginia

“Jacky,” Washington bellowed towards the lithe tow-headed boy in utter exasperation. “Get out of that tree and return to your studies!”

Washington had married the eight-year-old’s mother in 1759. Exactly why Martha would want to marry a one-armed, facially scarred soldier of second-rank gentry, the Virginian could not comprehend but was delighted that the wealthy widow had. While perhaps not the most romantic man on Earth, Washington took great satisfaction in the affection and partnership of his wife.

But Jacky, the eldest of his two stepchildren, could be a bit of a handful. Over the past years, Washington had gone out of his way to procure the services of tutors across a host of disciplines, something he had lacked in his own childhood. Instead of gratitude and dedication, Jacky preferred to escape his tutors to play. Naturally, Martha tended to baby the boy.

Finally cornering the boy, who Washington loved (so he kept reminding himself), the tall man grasped Jacky by the collar and ushered him back to the house where his Latin Master (who also taught French, dance, rhetoric and history) was waiting.

“Jacky, what am I going to do with you?” Washington muttered as the boy sputtered a response. He longed to at least give the boy a good spanking but, as stepfather, Washington still deferred to his mother on matters of discipline. Fortunately, Patsy was an angel. “Someday, you will inherit your father’s estates, ones your Mother and I have been arduously managing. If you can’t apply yourself to learning in a comfortable office with a kindly tutor, how do you expect to manage a plantation?”

“Now get back inside and apologize to Mr. Harris.”

For once, the boy sullenly obeyed and returned to his studies. Martha stood upon the porch, frowning at the sight. There had been many an argument about Jacky’s behavior in recent months. In truth, Washington had hoped for children of his own. Despite healthy conjugal relations, not a hint of a pregnancy emerged in three years.

The short, slightly plump, woman with bright eyes, frowned at her son but let him pass without comment. Instead, Martha turned to her husband. “George, Barnes wished to speak to you in the slave-quarters. He stated it was urgent.”

Barnes was the Mulatto overseer of Mount Vernon. He’d been hired after Washington’s previous overseer had been caught one too many times “chasing after the colored girls”. Barnes was married and owned two slaves himself. Despite his race, Washington found the man an effective manager of his own workforce.

“Mister Washington!” Barnes would shout out, waving the Virginian towards the open doorway of one of the slave quarters. If he recalled, this was the quarters given to a quartet of newly acquired slaves from the Gambia. Years of war had significantly reduced the African slave trade but the trickle of new slaves was beginning to flow into a flood with the peace. “Christian and Thomas have taken ill an’ I fear the worst, suh!”

Washington doubted this. Slaves recently arrived from Africa frequently needed a stern hand. Too many workdays were lost to false “illnesses” for Washington to take any a slave’s word. The ex-soldier ducked into the quarters and waited a moment to adjust his eyes to the darkness. The slight light from the windows were augmented by a pair of candles.

“Now, what is this nonsense….” Washington demanded despite knowing full well the slaves didn’t speak a word of English. His admonition trailed off as his horrified eyes beheld the gruesome spectacle before him.

The quartet of slaves appeared to be….bleeding, from their noses, eye sockets and other orifices. Having never beheld such a sight, his mind only recalling descriptions of the bubonic plague of centuries prior. Immediately, the Virginian retreated back into the light, his breath coming quickly.

“What…..was….is that, Barnes?”

The mulatto shook his head, “I never seen such a thing, Suh….but I hear some rumors from Carolina. Whole slave tradin’ ships arriving with barely anyone alive. They not allowed on shore….”

The man shuddered, “I called for Helen the nurse. But she over at Mr. Gaines’ plantation helpin’ with a birthing.”

Washington nodded. His slave Helen often cared for the sick and served as a midwife for other slaves on nearby plantations.

“I’ve heard of this new disease described from inland tribes….what was it?” Washington murmured. “Ah, the African Death. But doesn’t that affect joints? I’ve never heard of….this…..bleeding.”

Barnes nodded. “I hear rumors, suh, ‘bout the African Death. Say it like syphilis, you catch when with a woman. But I neve’ hear of bleeding like this.”

Determined not to reenter that hut of the damned, Washington gathered himself and ordered, “No one but Helen is to enter, you understand. I don’t want this spread to the rest of the plantation.” Including my family, he silently added.

Washington didn’t care about the African Death…or Sailors’ Death as some called it given the large numbers of sailors contracting the condition in shoreside brothels….but this repulsing bleeding condition as a threat to everyone.

He prayed that this affliction would pass through quickly and die out.

 

[Hoyahoo9]

Ebola? Oh Lord . . .

 

[Xenophonte]

Ebola? Oh Lord . . .

Or Lassa fever.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Or Lassa fever.

I've kept this deliberately vague. I wondered what would happen if an Ebola-like and Aids-live epidemic emerged in the 18th century while the American Revolution and French Revolution cropped up so I've introduced that as a major subplot from 1760 onward.

This is a setup for a major subplot in the followup novels I've been writing for 15 years off and on. This 7 Years War segment was probably the first I wrote and by far the worst written. This is more of a Timeline I create for this forum than a true novel.

The follow-up novels are more true novel with defined characters, some historical, others fictional, across a four novel arc.

Since I wrote these in a disjointed fashion over such a long time-period, there are major differences in style and quality as well as a number of contradictions. I'm hoping to use this forum as feedback for my historical accuracy (or reasonableness), writing style and cohesiveness of plot.

I'll probably go back and completely rewrite this novel to have more "first person" content of Washington, Newcastle, Oglethorpe, Robert Clive (who will have a large role in the American revolution) Von Keith, Wilkes (who I plan to have a much greater role in this novel resisting Loudoun), etc, so it reads more as a novel than a timeline.

Feel free to make any suggestions, comments or constructive criticism. I hope to one day publish these once they are really, really, REALLY cleaned up.

 

[Xenophonte]

Well, whatever hemorrhagic fever would be responsible for the narrated surge whether an OTL known one or a just created for narrative purposes... First, I don't think that it neither would be limited to the British slaver ships, nor to the British Caribe and North America Colonies, but rather it (given the Slave trade dynamics) would quickly extend to the whole American continent and/or even, perhaps, to Europe.
Also, I'd guess that it (this Hemorrhagic fever), would need a more or less large incubation process/asymptomatic stage or wouldn't be possible for (at least) most of their host to survive both the Atlantic voyage and travel from the ports to the Plantation barrack. Cause, it would have wiped out both the slavers and their enslaved kidnaped captives long before that they'd have been able to reach their arrival port...
It'd, depending on its contagion ways and spread velocity, have the possibility to take an enormous toll in the Slaver ships' arrival city ports and its neighboring region's population.... But, also, while, on one hand its spread could possibly be speeded for the refugees fleeing from the coastal cities from both the certain death from the virus and if it'd be deadly enough, then, by the most than, (IMO) possible breakdown of the social order.
But, at the same time, I'd guess that the ad hoc contention and isolation measures, if possible, guess that them would be implemented ruthlessly and manu military against the affected regions.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Well, whatever hemorrhagic fever would be responsible for the narrated surge whether an OTL known one or a just created for narrative purposes... First, I don't think that it neither would be limited to the British slaver ships, nor to the British Caribe and North America Colonies, but rather it (given the Slave trade dynamics) would quickly extend to the whole American continent and/or even, perhaps, to Europe.
Also, I'd guess that it (this Hemorrhagic fever), would need a more or less large incubation process/asymptomatic stage or wouldn't be possible for (at least) most of their host to survive both the Atlantic voyage and travel from the ports to the Plantation barrack. Cause, it would have wiped out both the slavers and their enslaved kidnaped captives long before that they'd have been able to reach their arrival port...
It'd, depending on its contagion ways and spread velocity, have the possibility to take an enormous toll in the Slaver ships' arrival city ports and its neighboring region's population.... But, also, while, on one hand its spread could possibly be speeded for the refugees fleeing from the coastal cities from both the certain death from the virus and if it'd be deadly enough, then, by the most than, (IMO) possible breakdown of the social order.
But, at the same time, I'd guess that the ad hoc contention and isolation measures, if possible, guess that them would be implemented ruthlessly and manu military against the affected regions.

Yes, I have the expansion of these diseases to be a major subplot in the following novels.

 

[A Random Man]

Just read all the current chapters, good new series. With victory in the 7 Years War (albeit with snags here and there), I wonder what come of American Independence. Keep up the good work.

 

[Alt History Buff]

April-July, 1762

Holstein

Over the spring of 1762, Czar Peter III would arduously gather his forces in Russia, including 20,000 Russian and German soldiers in Russian service, for the reconquest of his territories in Holstein and Schleswig. Given his open adoration of all things German, the Czar insisted that every Regiment marching from Russia do so in the German fashion.

Peter had, to the surprise of his two primary subordinates:

General James Bruce (the Governor of Moscow and husband, Praskovya Bruce, of Peter’s hated wife’s favorite lady in waiting. Bruce was the descendant of a Scot in Peter the Great’s service) .

Pyotr Rumyantsev, who was among the most effective commanding Generals of the past war against Prussia. The Czar, who revered the late Frederick II, held this against the man but realized that Rumyantsev’s experience administering an army over the great logistical distances from Russia to northern Germany. Supply had been, by far, Russia’s greatest hindrance in the past war(s). Peter also held a grudge against Rumyantsev for being Praskovya’s brother.

Peter was intent on regaining his family heritage, lost in the Great Northern War and later “conceded” by his bitch Aunt Elizabeth as part of a shameful peace treaty with Denmark. Abandon by Russia and their old ally Sweden. Ironically, Peter was expected at one time to ascend to the throne of Sweden as well as Russia. In 1742, Peter, at age 14 at the death of his childless great-uncle Charles XII of Sweden, had been granted by the Swedish Riksdag as Grand Duke of Finland and presumptive King of Sweden. However, this was reversed upon learning that Peter had also just been selected (without his consent) as Czarina Elizabeth’s heir in Russia.

Had anyone bothered to ask, Peter would have, even then, immediately chosen the far more civilized Protestant throne than backwards Russia. In the twenty years since, nothing the now-Czar Peter III had experienced changed that particular opinion. Peter would have….happily….traded Russia for Holstein alone.

But, as always, Peter’s opinion had not been solicited and the opportunity for Sweden’s throne was lost.

Peter spent the past months not only preparing for the invasion of Holstein but also penning over a hundred domestic including the right to monopolies for the nobility and granting religious freedom. Naturally, the nobles and clergy objected but the new Czar didn’t care. If he was forced to reside among these barbarians, he would at least modernize the nation. The Czar even openly considered making the Duma a permanent institution and expanding the electorate.

Prior to departing, Peter left several of his German ministers in charge. He certainly didn’t trust the Russians. He’d considered ordering his wife to a nunnery but his son and heir Paul had recently been receiving attention from his mother and the Czar decided to separate them for a while before finally breaking the link.

Or maybe he’d just have the bitch executed. Catherine spent years sucking up to Elizabeth in vain hopes of receiving some sort of influence at court. For the most part, the late Czarina ignored her but still Catherine was popular among the Russians. Given that she lacked a single drop of Russian blood, Peter’s wife sure spent a lot of time shouting Russian patriotic slogans.

Well, Catherine and her friends would be dealt with after Peter returned from reconquering his patrimony in Schleswig and Holstein. Proskovya would be banned from court after Catherine was forced to take the vows. While the Czar had nothing against Bruce or Rumyantsev, he saw no reason to trust them.

Throughout the month of April, the Czar’s 20,000 strong Russian Army marched through the Kingdom of Prussia, still under Russian control. Peter had considered granting Paul the title of “King of Prussia” as an honorific to the heir of Russia akin to “Prince of Wales” in Britain. There was no reason to decide now.

Still devastated by the recent war, Prussia WAS able to supply the Russians as well as provide 8000 local German troops to their new master to aid in his conquest of Schleswig and Holstein. While disappointed that these Prussians lacked the polish of Frederick II’s forces, at least the Czar was able to hire dozens of mercenary German officers to command it. Most of these men had fought on one side or the other in the past war and were eager to work. Peter was just happy to have some Germans to speak with.

After passing through Prussia and the narrow strip of Poland between Prussia and the Holy Roman Empire, the Russian Army marched through Brandenburg. After their harsh words years before, Peter didn’t bother to ask King Frederick William’s permission. The House of Hohenzollern, by 1762, knew full well not to incur the wrath of the Russian Army. Frederick, still a teenager, meekly issued a modestly worded protest as Peter gained a further 12,000 German troops hired from various states including, somewhat surprisingly, Saxony. The Electorate had been ravaged in the war and the incompetent and aging Augustus III was flat broke and willing to do anything to maintain his dissolute lifestyle. Augustus also hoped to curry favor with Russia in order to maintain his family links as King of Poland. Peter held the man in contempt, but an army was an army and the Russian paid in cash….in advance.

This brought his German contingent to over half of his army, something which satisfied the Czar. From Brandenburg, the Army marched through Mecklenburg. Again, protests were received but the Duke of Mecklenburg knew better than to complain too bitterly.

To the Czar’s delight, the Governor of the portions of Holstein under his own control (mostly southern Holstein) had prepared well for his arrival by forming 4500 men into Regiments. This included several hundred patriots from Danish-occupied Schleswig and Holstein. Danish domination in the German Duchies was NOT popular.

This brought the Czar’s forces up to 45,000 men. Barely bothering to slow down, the Czar ordered his German forces northward against the Danes. The Russians, he deemed, were better fit to garrison duty.

The Danes were hardly prepared for war. Over the previous “5 Years War”, as the conflict was known, the Danish statesman Moltke had cunningly played one side against the other. At one point, he received subsidies from BOTH sides to stay out of the war. Somehow, even as war raged throughout the region, Denmark successfully stayed neutral and even made a profit in selling Norwegian timber and iron as well as Danish fish and grain to both sides.

However, King Frederick V was a hedonist, more interested in his orgies than maintaining the army. With the ascension of Peter III to the Russian throne, and his well-known desire to regain Schleswig and Northern Holstein, the King belatedly approved Moltke’s plan to upgrade the army. The famous French General, the Comte de Germain, would be hired in March to bring the forces into shape. Unfortunately, by May, the Russian forces under Peter III had arrived.

With only 24,000 men, mostly untrained, poorly commanded and often with obsolete or non-functional weapons, the Danish Army was ordered Holstein. Peter III would feel comfortable. For the actual fighting, the Czar had ordered Rumyantsev and Bruce to step aside. Peter was delighted to find that James Keith, the Scottish-descended Prussian General who had served Frederick II so well, was available for hire and the Czar promptly placed him above his “native” Generals with the German forces. Ironically, the former Hanoverian General, Frederick Von Sporcken, was also available for hire and served as his former enemies second-in-command over the German contingent.

As Peter marched into Danish-held northern Holstein, he would offhandedly remark to Bruce and Rumyantsev, “Now you will see how a GERMAN can fight!”

The two Russians withheld comment.

The skilled Keith would discover the Danes shockingly disorganized and route several modest Danish infantry formations while Sporcken seized with astounding easy several outposts in southern Holstein.

As the Danes fell back in confusion, the reason for this ineptitude became apparent. Over the past two years, rumors of some terrible new plague had swept through Europe. Suspected to originate in Africa, the ailment caused bleeding from several orifices including the eyes. Cases had sprung up in France, Portugal and the Netherlands, particularly at ports visited by slaving ships. No one knew exactly how the pox reached Denmark but the Danish camps proved to be fertile breeding grounds for what would soon be commonly known as the Bleeding Death.

In less than two weeks, nearly a tenth of the Danish Army would fall ill with almost half dying. The sheer hideousness of the disease caused large-scale desertion. Several high-ranking officers would expire…or desert….causing greater confusion as Germain desperately attempting to regain control over the motley Danish Army.

At the worst possible moment, Peter III’s forces invaded Holstein, crushing isolated garrisons. Germain attempted to form a new defensive line at the old “Danevirke” fortifications but Keith would skillfully bypass these in a brilliant flanking maneuver and strike the Danes from behind in a march even Frederick II would have been proud to call his own.

Within days, the Danish Army had effectively fallen apart. The portion of Schleswig (south Schleswig) which was part of the Danish King’s long-time patrimony fell, allowing Peter to march further north to seize northern Schleswig (the portion long claimed by the House of Holstein-Gottorp). After forty years of occupation, Peter had finally fulfilled his late father’s dreams of regaining his family patrimony….and Danish Schleswig as well.

Having marched by late June to the Kongeaen River, the tradition border to north Jutland, the Czar happily gathered up his 10,000 Danish prisoners and dispatched a letter across the sea to the Island of Zealand, where King Frederick V of Denmark cowered behind the skirts of the Danish Navy in Copenhagen.

Peter pronounced the rightful return in full sovereignty (under the Holy Roman Empire, he amended) of his ancestral domains as well as annexation of the Danish King’s lands in Schleswig and Holstein by right of conquest. Peter knew that the action would cause discomfort in the Holy Roman Empire but was quite certain the Arch-Duchess was not going to act against him.

As the Bleeding Death was also ravaging Copenhagen at this time, the King and his advisors fled to the countryside, ending any real capacity to resist on land. Disgusted, the Comte de Germain resigned and rode back to France. In a shockingly short period of time, the King agreed to cede his German lands in Schleswig and Holstein to the Czar in exchange for the peace. The Czar DID agree to a neutral commission to determine which parts of northern Schleswig were Danish in race and language and that those lands would be transferred back to Denmark within 10 years. In truth, the Czar did not want to deal with a bunch of whining Danes in his Court.

Thus, six months into his reign and three months into his campaign, Peter III of the House of Holstein Gottorp would succeed where his father failed in regaining the family patrimony…all with precious little expense or blood.

Of course, while in Jutland, the German contingent of the Czar’s army would suffer affects of the Bleeding Death. However, with the peace, General Keith (now “Von” Keith after Peter ennobled him) would work feverishly to segregate out the ill both among the soldiery and civilians in hopes of slowing the epidemic.

Peter would soon discover that he had other problems.

It seemed that, while he and his “German” friends were crushing the Danes, the 20,000 Russian under Rumyantsev and Bruce…..turned and marched for Russia without so much as a by your leave.

Over the course of the Spring, his wife had apparently overthrown his Holstein ministers Peter had left in command of Russia. Buoyed by the boyars, the army and Russian patriots tired of the Czar’s denigrations of all things Russian, the Czarina had managed to convince much of the Russian court to support a coup against her own husband….in the name of her Russian-born son, Paul, of course.

As the key Russian Generals in support of Peter’s campaign were the brother (Rumyantsev) and husband (Bruce) of the Czarina’s prime lady-in-waiting, it was easy for the conspiracy, months in the making, to come to fruition. With nary a word of complaint from the Russian ranks, all of whom had been repeatedly informed of the Czar’s derogatory remarks of Russia, its people, its culture and its faith, over the length of the campaign would happily follow their Generals east towards home. Resentment against Peter had been cresting for years prior to his ascension to the throne and the Czar’s mouth ensure that rebellion was inevitable.

It would be over a week before the Czar fully understood that his own army had abandoned him. By that point, the Russian forces were in Poland and a pointed letter from Rumyantsev and Bruce explicitly stated what would happen if the Czar were to follow.

Peter was stunned. His first impulse was to give chase with his 25,000 German troops. But Von Keith pointed out that the army was spread out across Holstein and Schleswig. To consolidate would be abandoning the Duchies. Also, with the Bleeding Death having already expanded to the Germans, Von Keith was hesitant to consolidate large quantities men together until the epidemic was brought under control.

Peter was panic-stricken. While sincerely loathing Russia, he could hardly concede the large Empire on earth. It would be too…..too…...humiliating.

The Czar-in-exile at once requested assistance from Austria and France, the late Czarina’s allies in the past war. Given that Peter had condemned the war itself, the King of France and Archduchess politely declined. On the contrary, peals of laughter echoed throughout Versailles and Vienna despite the minor fact that Monarchs seldom approved of common people (or even Royal wives) overthrowing their god-appointed heads.

But, in the end, Peter’s throne was deemed unworthy to be saved by exhausted European monarchies after years of war. If the man lost his throne by his own stupidity, few would feel sorry for him.

As it so happened, the Bleeding Death would swiftly bring chaos to much of the world, even expanding to Europe and America’s fetid cities. By the following year, the plague would reach Calcutta, Canton and Manila as well.

July, 1762

Stockholm

King Adolf Frederick of Sweden had ascended the throne of Sweden when the Riksdag learned that their first choice, the then fourteen-year-old Peter of Holstein-Gottorp had also been selected as the heir to Russia. The Riksdag withdrew their decision to summon Peter to Stockholm upon negotiation with Czarina Elizabeth who still desired a member of the House of Holstein-Gottorp on the throne of Sweden.

After generations of absolutist rule, the Riksdag, now divided into the ruling “Hat” and opposition “Cap” factions, would never again allow such power in the hands of one man. The Hats ensured that Adolf Frederick, who was by nature a mild man anyway, would be a figurehead to the divided Riksdag. Beyond a few minor attempt to regain power (pressed by Adolf Frederick’s wife), the King was content enough to watch the politicians brawl.

The “Hats” preferred an aggressive foreign strategy, particularly against Russia, but were flexible enough to join the 7 Years War as a client of France. Only by virtue of subsidies from King Louis could the Swedes maintain an army long enough to seize most of Prussian Pomerania, adding it to their own little sliver of Pomerania which was the last remnant of Charles the Great’s powerful Empire. This ensured “Hat” supremacy in the Riksdag for a few more years and regained some of the once-shaken Swedish public confidence.

However, the Royal Family of Sweden would suffer a terrible calamity in 1762. The three sons – Gustav, Charles and Frederick – were playing along the wharfs, pretending to be great Admirals of a bygone age. As their parents were somewhat indulgent, the boys were allowed free rein. They would routinely visit newly arrived ships in the bay.

A few days later, all three would find themselves desperately ill. Blood began to drain from their extremities. Charles would expire first, followed by Gustav. Little Frederick lasted a week. The King and Queen were devastated, as was the whole of the nation. The past two decades had been a time of general peace (the 5 Years War being atypical) if not necessarily prosperity.

Now, an entire generation of princes were lost. The King’s only surviving heir was a nine-year-old Princess Sofia.

Within days, the Riksdag was thrown into convulsions as the long-desired succession had been lost.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Just read all the current chapters, good new series. With victory in the 7 Years War (albeit with snags here and there), I wonder what come of American Independence. Keep up the good work.

Much appreciated.

 

[Alt History Buff]

December, 1762

Moscow

“Czarina” Catherine had spent the past six months consolidating her power. Via approval of the Boyars, the Army and the Church, the Czarina would declare Peter III’s campaign to reconquer Holstein and Schleswig an “unpatriotic war”. To bring home the point, the Czarina would print ever anti-Russian comment that Peter had ever made. The depth and breadth of such comments were so extreme that she seldom even had to exaggerate, much less lie.

Within weeks of assuming power, the Czarina would expel virtually the entirety of the German influence in Moscow, ironic given that she was a pureblood German herself. However, unlike Peter, the Czarina had learned to speak Russian like a native, happily adopted the Russian Orthodox Church and threw herself into all aspects of Russian culture. This brought her a level of popularity unmatched by the generally loathed Peter III.

The forces of James Bruce and Pyotr Rumyantsev had returned by late summer of 1762. By this point, both Generals had successfully purged their ranks of any potential pro-Peter elements. Bruce was placed in command of the governorship of St. Petersburg and Rumyantsev in Moscow. Both were trustworthy in the Czarina’s mind.

Naturally, there were a few peasant insurrections here and there. However, these were relatively easily put down.

As it was, the Czarina had plenty to do in Moscow. Unbeknownst to her husband, Catherine had been heavily pregnant when he departed for Germany. Since he hadn’t touched his wife in years, the child had actually been sired by Grigory Orlov, one of her many lovers over the years. The Orlov were among those Boyar families who had greatly aided in the coup d’état.

The child was born in April and named Alexey after his godfather, Alexey Orlov. Not being the maternal type, the Czarina left him with his father’s family.

The Czarina also formally requested permission of the Church for a divorce, claiming, among other things, infidelity on the part of her husband, impotence, alleged mental illness, abandonment, treason, etc, etc. The church cared little about abuse or neglect and divorces were rare, even among the gentry or royalty. The clergy would debate back and forth for the next year only for Peter III to considerately resolve their issue in 1763 when it was announced that he’d converted back to the Lutheran faith. That mattered far more to the Orthodox Church than charges of insanity, murder and treason. In summer of 1763, the Church would formally grant the Czarina’s divorce.

January, 1763

Stockholm

By January of 1763, King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, grief-stricken by the loss of his sons the previous year, would take to drink. After nearly a four day orgy of beer, wine and whisky consumption, the King would pass out at his supper table. He would be carried by his retainers to his bed and left for the morning. However, the retainers would not notice the hunk of meat remaining in the King’s mouth before retreating to their own blankets. Sometime during the night, the weak but personally popular Adolf Frederick would choke to death on a few ounces of meat. He was simply too inebriated to wake and save himself.

This left Sweden without a male heir.

By happenstance, Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, who had long been the dominant personality over her husband, was engaged in yet another round of intrigues to overthrow the Riksdag rule and return the nation to the Absolutist Monarchy of Charles the Great. Now the Dowager-Queen and nominal Regent for her daughter, Louisa Ulrika was certain that the Riksdag would dominate Sophia even more than they had her husband. Conspiring with the “Cap” Faction, she pawned several dozen of the Crown Jewels to pay for bribes in the Riksdag and to obtain support for a coup. Unfortunately, the Dowager-Queen’s scheme was leaked by an unsympathetic lady-in-waiting and the Hat faction alerted.

Having finally tired of the Queen’s antics in a time of national mourning, the Riksdag would exile Louisa Ulrika from Sweden, leaving the ten-year-old Queen Sophia Albertina in the hands of the government. Dozens of “Cap” faction politicians who had supported the Queen’s gambit would be exiled with her or imprisoned.

Little Sophia, considered good-hearted but lacking in intelligence, was terrified and plainly could not be expected to hold court. What was more, the purge of the Caps left the Hat leaders confident enough to effectively control the little Queen, selecting her attendants, tutors, etc. The expulsion of the Dowager-Queen, though, would rapidly put Sweden at odds with the Crowned Heads of Europe who disliked the idea of Parliamentary domination even more than potential abuse of a child. Among the protesters were Brandenburg (to where the Queen had been exiled), France (Sweden’s old ally) and, perhaps most importantly, Russia.

If no one cared what the House of Hohenzollern in Brandenburg (no longer Prussia) thought about anything, that most certainly did not apply to Russia.

 

[Circonflexe]

Exceptionnally well written! I have a simple question: is there any particular reason why France and Austria did not do the Hannover/Flanders swap? It would make sense for both of them: neither can Austria effectively defend the Austrian Netherlands (as the previous war showed) nor is France particularly interested in an indefensible, remote German exarchate; on the other hand, Flanders would give France some better borders (“pré carré”) and ports, as well as territories on which it has had a claim since the 6th century (and with an already Frenchified aristocracy), while Hannover cements Austria's control of Germany and in particular is a strategically important HRE electoral vote (again, the memories from the Austrian succession war are fresh). It also makes for cleaner spheres of influences: west of the Rhine to France, east of the Rhine to Austria.

The only countries which would object to the swap are the British, because of Antwerp (but then, they are in no position to prevent anything ITTL, and the fact that this threatens them is actually a boon to the swap) and the Dutch (but who cares?).

 

[Rheinbund]

Exceptionnally well written! I have a simple question: is there any particular reason why France and Austria did not do the Hannover/Flanders swap? It would make sense for both of them: neither can Austria effectively defend the Austrian Netherlands (as the previous war showed) nor is France particularly interested in an indefensible, remote German exarchate; on the other hand, Flanders would give France some better borders (“pré carré”) and ports, as well as territories on which it has had a claim since the 6th century (and with an already Frenchified aristocracy), while Hannover cements Austria's control of Germany and in particular is a strategically important HRE electoral vote (again, the memories from the Austrian succession war are fresh). It also makes for cleaner spheres of influences: west of the Rhine to France, east of the Rhine to Austria.

The only countries which would object to the swap are the British, because of Antwerp (but then, they are in no position to prevent anything ITTL, and the fact that this threatens them is actually a boon to the swap) and the Dutch (but who cares?).

the more time pass the more Austrian Netherlands lost their value and become a burden for Austria, they need to keep it for many reasons honor, prestige, etc, but it needed to be highly guarded, the frequent war deeply affected his economic value, etc

OTL, they tried a few times to swap these lands in exchange for Bavaria or Silesia, a swap for Hanover would also make sense due to its value (like you mentioned), and it will serve to pay France for this help and would give a new important advantage it will antagonize even further French relations with British and the Dutch, decreasing french presence in the European matters and allow each side to have their delimited area of influence, with a friendly France, they will be able to concentrate their efforts to consolidate their influence on the Holy Roman Empire and Poland.

On the other side, France will gain wealthy lands that would thrive if connected to France internal market, access to a vast financial system a prestigious victory, they will increase their presence in the west bank of the rhine and a delimited influence zone with Austria would allow concentrating their effort against Great Britain,

Still, it will antagonize their relations with Great Britain even further (and give them a casus belli) something that encouraged Louis XV not to keep Austrian Netherlands OTL, but here with Great Britain expulsed from Europe and with France and Great Britain fighting each other for the Indian market as equal, they could decide to take the risks.

OTL when Louis XV has given back Austria Netherlands it marked the beginning of a deception feeling "feeling of abandonment" causing dismay and anger when the end of the war was celebrated in Paris if Louis XV gain Austria Netherlands and with Indian success, the french opinion would be greatly elated and it will give more authority and legitimacy to reign.