Arrogance and Empire: An Alternative 7 Years War Timeline

[Alt History Buff]

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?).

You are about 15 years ahead of me. I've already added something similar as a subplot to the four novels/parts of the followup Revolutionary War series. I am also surprised that France never conquer/traded for the Southern Netherlands.

Spoiler alert: in the next series of novels, I incorporated this idea into the Alternate "War of Bavarian Succession" which would not have taken place without a strong Prussia to oppose Austria.

Thus, I think in 1779, I had Austria taking Bavaria, the rightful inheritors (Palatinate) accepting Hanover/Cleves/Mark/Frisia/Lingen/Minden from France and France getting the Southern/Austrian Netherlands. This works better for all sides.

The Elector of the Palatinate in OTL tried to trade Bavaria to Austria for the Southern Netherlands. This way, I formed a three-way trade in which everyone was happy....except the rest of the Holy Roman Empire as it meant that the two great powers of the day grew more powerful and stable with better borders ensuring that the Protestant states of Germany would be weaker.

I doubt any of the Imperial States would be happy with Maria Theresa annexing Bavaria. They'd be livid if she took Protestant Hanover in northern and western Germany.

Per Rheinbund's comment, Britain would be horrified as this would make a French invasion of Britain more doable for France in the future. Also, the Dutch Republic could not expect to enforce the continued closure of the Scheldt. This would have huge effects on trade.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Alt History Buff]

April, 1764

Stockholm

Frederick Axel von Fersen, the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden, would be placed under enormous pressure by the Crowned Heads of Europe to return Louisa Ulrika, Dowager-Queen, to her daughter’s side. Yet, this was unacceptable to the ruling “Hat” Party. Despite the dangers of the moment, the Hats’ power remained total as most of the “Cap” faction leadership had been arrested, killed or exiled.

Von Fersen’s party had ruled for nearly two decades but never before had the population been so….unsettled. The girl-Queen was firmly under their thumb….and the Hats were seeing enemies everywhere. In truth, the Swede thought that the Hats had gone too far. Two decades of domination, augmented by regaining Finland from Russia years prior and now Pomerania, led to the assumption of unassailability among the Party leadership.

But now, Europe looked appalled at the situation. Some questioned if the little Queen was being held hostage by politicians. This was not the Hat intent. They merely wished to control her education until she reached of age. By that point she would be indoctrinated to the Hat philosophy of titular monarchy and the nation could go on with their Riksdag-dominated Democracy.

Still, the Hats were every bit as restive as the rest of the country. Some wanted to bring back the Dowager-Queen…under their terms, of course. That would likely reduce the international relations tension. Some wanted to compromise by…eventually…granting back some of the lost powers of monarchy. Even the Hat leadership knew perfectly well that the Riksdag domination had led to political stagnation, corruption and decay. With so little investment, the Swedish army and navy, despite their “victory” in the past war, had collapsed. Only the fact that but a tiny fraction of Frederick II’s resources had arrayed against the Swedes allowed their forces to seize Pomerania. Low taxation mixed with high (and wasteful) spending left the nation deeply in debt.

The High Chancellor knew that the government, led by the Hats, must reform. Despite the “victory” in the past war, the nation was in a poor state and much of the public was resentful for the 20,000 dead (mostly of disease) in the past war.

One radical solution was selecting another monarch. Sophia Albertina was obviously controllable but plainly a puppet and everyone in Europe knew it. The Caps were constantly intriguing. If a new King were to be summoned to Stockholm…under Hat terms…this would go a long way to letting the discontent simmer away. Unfortunately, the obvious selection…Peter III of Russia…or formerly of Russia now that his wife rather hilariously evicted him…was unacceptable despite his rightful claim. Peter had been initially selected as the next King of Sweden two decades prior but this was withdrawn when it was learned he was also intended for the Czardom. Instead, a cadet branch of the Holstein-Gottorp’s were called to the throne.

Von Fersen sighed. There seemed to be no real solution. They could not allow the Queen-Dowager back into the country. The bitch had simply attempted too many coups. Sweden would just have to muddle through it.

What Von Fersen did not realize was that the Cap faction…or what remained of it…were already stealing a march upon their enemies abroad.

 

[Alt History Buff]

March 1764

Gottorp Castle, Schleswig

Once more seated in his ancestral castle in the city of Schleswig, dominated by Danes for two generations, Duke Peter of Schleswig and Holstein, King of Prussia and….nominally….Czar of Russia, had waited with baited breath for the moment when the Danish Army would return to Schleswig soil. Oddly, it never came. Rumor had it that Moltke, the King’s defacto Prime Minister, was dead. Certainly, the Danish Army had collapsed under the weight of the Bleeding Death epidemic and its own incompetence.

It is odd that France, Prussia and Britain all paid these idiots to stay neutral in the past war, he thought.

While Peter would entertain fantasies about returning to Moscow in force, even he knew this was impossible with only Holstein and Prussia (the Czarina, oddly, didn’t bother to assert her power in the remote German Kingdom) resources in his hands. While Holstein and Schleswig were in rapture at their freedom from Danish rule, Prussia remained poor, underpopulated and recovering from the past war. It was also now separated from Holstein and Schleswig by a client and ex-lover of his sluttish wife, the new King Stanislaw of Poland. It was all Peter could do to keep the Prussian troops from deserting and going home. Only threats and bribes sufficed. Naturally, the Saxon hirelings had already returned home. Certainly, Peter could not afford to pay them.

This left his precious Duchies in a perilous state. Diplomacy had largely failed to gain allies. The best Peter could accomplish was preventing any of the regional powers from allying with Denmark.

It was at this point that several dozen Swedes arrived in his Court, begging for an audience. Their leaders include Ture Rudbeck, Eric Brahe and others. They portrayed the Riksdag as controlled by anarchists and regicides.

Peter was well-versed among the chaos of Sweden’s government and caustically asked what they wanted him to do about it. As one, they knelt to their knees and begged Peter to “liberate” their child-Queen, reign as co-monarch and punish the evildoers.

Peter agreed to hear them out.

Berlin

In truth, the exiled Swedes had first approached Brandenburg, but the new Margrave Frederick William II declined his Aunt Louisa Ulrika’s admonishments to “save his cousin”. The young Margrave, barely twenty, hadn’t liked his Uncle Frederick II and disliked his aunt even more. Indeed, Frederick William expelled Louisa from his Court after one too many tirades.

Still, Frederick William, having barely becoming accustomed to his throne, DID feel a level of responsibility for his cousin. Like much of Europe, ironically, even the Russian Czarina, he was concerned for Sophia Albertina’s safety though he did not believe she was in any particular danger. Instead, he wrote a letter to the King of France. If the Swedish “Hat” faction would listen to reason from anyone, it would be their longtime allies and sponsors.

Moscow

Czarina Catherine found maintaining order in Moscow easier than expected. There were precious few “Peter Loyalists” beyond the German contingent which she’d already “released from service to return home”. The man had done little to endear himself to Russia in twenty years of residence. He hadn’t even bothered properly learning the language. Catherine was viewed as a breath of fresh air in many ways. She placated the boyars politically and the clergy to the point of even being granted a divorce with a minimum of threats or bribes.

Catherine was feeling increasingly secure with her throne and new lover, Potemkin. However, as long as Peter was alive, there was the threat of a return. Quiet discussions of dispatching assassins to Schleswig were held but, to this point, the Czarina was unwilling to take such a step for fear of a backlash among the European monarchies.

Her son Paul, she’d never been sure of his paternity but he was looking dishearteningly more and more like Peter every day, would one day inherit Russia and Catherine kept him at arm’s length. Fortunately, neither of Paul’s parents had much to do with his upbringing. Certainly, Catherine hadn’t bothered trying to endear herself to him in the first years of her reign. Barely once a week did she even see her son.

Still, Catherine knew the precariousness of her position. However strong it looked today, she knew political fortunes could change. All validity of her reign flowed not through her veins but her son’s. While few voiced any objections against Catherine’s rule, some preferred she refer to herself as Regent in her son’s name, not Reigning under her own.

 

[Alt History Buff]

July, 1764

Mt. Vernon

George and Martha Washington would entertain guests over the summer of 1764 but a general pall fell over the colonies as a series of epidemics struck from Boston to Savannah.

As Washington feared, the “Bleeding Death”, as it was commonly called, would spread beyond the squalid slave quarters and into general population. The hardest hit were large towns, particularly the crowded poorer sections. In less than a year, slave ships were proven to be nearly universally infested with the pox and none were allowed to unload at any port until proven that the Bleeding Death was not present. Given that it was ALWAYS present, this meant that thousands of newly arrived slaves died in chains in the fetid holds of the transports, usually with the majority of the crews. By the conclusion of 1764, the slave trade ended as much for lack of crews than fear of loss of investment by the flesh-trade importers.

Trade as a whole suffered as the closed conditions of all sailing vessels would prove vulnerable to the Bleeding Death. As cleanliness, or lack thereof, was considered the primary cause of the Bleeding Death, a colony-wide (and world-wide) effort to increase bathing would ensue to moderate results.

Of course, this pestilence coincided with Yellow Fever epidemics that killed thousands from Savannah to Charleston to as far north as Philadelphia.

The Washingtons attempted to keep his parties light, filling with dancing, wine and conversation. In July, the Washingtons hosted 50 guests including Henry Lee, Washington’s Dutch fencing teacher Jacob Van Braam, who served as a translator under the Virginian’s command in the previous war, had spent two weeks with the family, and various extended members of the Parke clan.

Presently, Washington and van Braam broke away after an afternoon dance, quietly talking as they walked Mt. Vernon’s paths.

“How many workers did you lose?” Van Braam asked. It had not been considered polite conversation at a party but the two men were close enough for the Dutch soldier to ask.

Through gritted teeth, an act which made his mouth ache, Washington replied, “Four of my own, not including the three recently bought slaves from Africa. Plus another nine of Martha and Jacky’s dower slaves.”

This was not only a loss of humanity but a significant financial blow for the Washington-Custis family.

“I plan on totally giving up tobacco,” the Virginian murmured, wondering what his dentist would say on his visit the next week. Washington didn’t want any teeth pulled, especially in the front, as he feared looking like a backwoodsman. “It simply is too labor-intensive and, frankly, I never raised a good crop anyway. Far better for the land to grow grain and horse, which also requires less field hands. I shan’t purchase any more slaves until I know this damnable plague has passed.”

Von Braam nodded. This was not considered gentlemanly conversation but the two men had protected one another’s backs from French partisans while defecating in the woods. There were no secrets after that. Eventually, Washington went home while von Braam remained in British service for several more years as an explorer and translator.

The Dutchman noted several white men and women working the grounds, one as a blacksmith. “Are those the Frenchmen?”

Washington nodded, “Yes, after the…French Clearances…I offered several of the Canadians sanctuary on my land.”

Few things in Washington’s life had affected him so deeply as the cruel orders he’d been obliged to follow in Laval. Thousands of French settlers, deemed “a threat” by the British military and civilian commanders of Canada, had been summarily evicted by force from the lands between Quebec and Montreal. The French Regulars and Marines, of course, were place in internment until the war ended. However, there had been roughly 70,000 French settlers in New France from Acadia to New Orleans. At least half of these had been displaced. Many eventually sailed for home but thousands of others were forced onto ships and left at various American ports by the British government, with no provision to the colonies for their care. The lucky ones were allowed to settle in Acadia or fled down the Great Lakes to the Mississippi to Louisiana. Others were largely dumped on shore or, worse, left to rot in various ports locked in holds for months at a time. Probably over 10,000 French died in such fetid conditions.

Fortunately, Washington shivered, the evictions took place BEFORE the arrival of the Bleeding Death on these shores else the heavy majority of Canadians would have rotted away in those dank holds.

As the 1st Virginia had been assigned to Laval for over a year, Washington was expected to assist in the evictions. First, orders came to seize the property of the Seigneurs, who commanded large feudalistic plantations worked by tenants. Eventually, even poor tenants would be forced from their homes at bayonet-point to rafts along the St. Lawrence and placed upon those death ships. It was perhaps the saddest, most distasteful and most dishonorable thing Washington had ever experienced….or participated in. And that INCLUDED the massacre of French soldiers by Indians under his command at Jumonville’s glen.

Washington would resign his commission as Colonel of the 1st at the earliest opportunity and sail for home, eager to put the miserable experience behind him. Despite his ardent wishes, he was never offered the Colonel’s commission (or even a Major’s or Captain’s) in the British Army he’d coveted.

Upon returning to Virginia, Washington learned that 60 French Canadians had been left sitting in Norfolk harbor for months for lack of funds to sustain them. The penurious House of Burgesses would offer nothing and seemed content to let them the French die (twenty of them did) in the holds. Out of compassion….and guilt over his participation in the injustice….Washington would offer the French settlement upon several patches of land granted as partial compensation to the Colonel of the 1st for his many services over the past decade. Several of the Frenchmen would even take to working on the Washington plantation for pay.

“It was kind of you to take them in, Washington,” van Braam commented.

“It was the least I could do given….”

Given my guilt, he continued silently.

Van Braam snorted, “The least you could do was nothing and let them die. That is what the Burgesses were plainly planning. You gave the Canadians a chance at a new life.”

Embarrassed and not wanting to continue along these lines, the Virginian would change the subject. “How are Jacky’s fencing skills coming along?” Washington inquired playfully. For once, the boy was actually interested in a field of study.

“Not bad,” van Braam smiled. “Better that you I would think at his age. For that matter, better than you were when we met. He’ll be fine.”

Feeling unaccustomed pride, the Virginian sighed, “If only I could teach him myself but….” He nodded towards the empty sleeve where his right arm had once occupied. “…I fear that my left-handed fencing is not up to your standards.”

“Perhaps it would be best to avoid duels, Washington,” van Braam added playfully, “Both swords AND pistols as I don’t believe your left-handed shooting is any better.”

Nodding, the Virginian replied, “I suppose I’ll just have to be extra polite to everyone I meet to avoid a challenge!”

The pair laughed uproariously, a rarity for Washington these days, as they returned to the mansion and Washington’s other guests.

 

[Alt History Buff]

November, 1764

Moscow

“He wants me to…WHAT?!” Czarina Catherine replied in abject astonishment.

“The Czar…”

“EX-CZAR!”

“The….Duke of Holstein and King of Prussia….would ask for your support in placing himself upon the throne of Sweden, as is his right.”

Catherine was utterly and completely astounded. Throughout her life, the Czarina could not recall a single time that her mouth gaped open in shock as it must apparently be doing. Had her husband….er, ex-husband….finally gone insane?

“Peter wants….HELP….gaining the Swedish throne,” the Czarina repeated.

Over the course of the past few minutes, Catherine went from frankly appreciating the striking good looks of her ex-husband’s envoy, Colonel Baron Johann Ludwig von Wallmoden to attempting to regain her bearings. Since the coup, Catherine had effectively banned every vestige of her husband’s support (not that there was much of that in the first place) from Moscow. The significant political and military offices, especially in the Capital and other vital regions, had seen large-scale reorganization in order to place the Czarina’s loyalists in power.

Only by 1764 was she truly feeling safe on her throne though it wasn’t her incompetent and unloved husband that was the threat. It was the stain of illegitimacy of her line. Maybe Peter wasn’t going to march on Moscow…but some boyar with actual Russian blood may seek a coup to place their own on the throne. Certainly, Catherine could expect no help from abroad.

Then Peter’s envoy arrived and her world turned upside down. Wallmoden was reputed to be the bastard son of George II of Great Britain and his Hanoverian mistress. When Hanover fell, George II made his bastard a British Baron but failed to provide much of an inheritance. His nephew, the new King George III, was willing to grant Wallmoden a few minor offices to make a living. But eventually, he went abroad in the tradition of German mercenaries and ended up in the military and diplomatic service of Peter, former Czar of Russia.

“As you know, Your Imperial Majesty,” Wallmoden continued in German, which Catherine struggled slightly with his accent, “the Cza…..the Duke of Holstein….has a claim to the throne of Sweden. The ruling Party has kept the Princess…er, Queen…Sophia Albertina a virtual prisoner. The opposition party has been suppressed. As the opposition have been most disposed to close and peaceful relations with Russia in the past….”

Catherine could not help breaking out in laughter which echoed through her private audience room. “Are you suggesting my ex-husband wants peace with ME?”

Not fazed by the mirth, von Wallmoden nodded respectfully, his bland expression never changing, “Yes, Your Imperial Majesty, he does. If your Majesty would see fit to assist in the Duke in rescuing Sophia Albertina from the “Hat” Party of Sweden….”

“Oh, pray continue, sir,” Catherine encouraged, wondering what the man could possibly say next.

“….then the Duke of Holstein and Schleswig, King of Prussia and….King of Sweden will, of course, show gratitude by formally….by treaty shared with every government in Europe….abdicating to his son, Paul, with full approval of your rights as Regent until your son is prepared to rule…..”

“I am NOT a “Regent”,” Catherine hissed, “I am Czarina.”

To his credit, von Wallmoden did not flinch, “I do not believe that the King of Prussia is overly concerned of such distinctions. The important thing is that he will foreswear any interest in the Russian throne in return for your assistance. He will also guarantee that, under his administration, that Sweden, Prussia and Holstein will be quite friendly to his beloved son Paul’s patrimony.

The Czarina smirked a bit at that. Peter hadn’t spent any more time with their son (assuming he WAS Peter’s son) than she had over the years.

Wallmoden continued, “The Hat Party in power continues to agitate for a renewal of hostilities to regain the old borders of the Swedish Empire, particularly in the Baltic. His Majesty also would assure Your Majesty that he would not interfere in any manner in Poland, where your ally King Stanislas is having so many…problems.”

This was perhaps a bit more tangible. While Sweden was not a direct military threat to Russia, the chaos in Poland may result in Russian intervention, something Catherine wished to avoid.

“If your grace would be so kind as to give us a few moments to consider this?”

Taking his cue, Wallmoden bowed and backed out of the chamber to allow the Czarina to confer with her advisors.

“Well?” she prompted.

Alexei Orlov, one of her favorites, pursed his lips, “It…would…solve a great number of problems, Your Majesty.”

Wondering if the man had gone mad, she turned to her lover, Potemkin. To her surprise, the young man also nodded, “Every petty regional uprising revolves around claims that Peter is Czar. Granted, few actually care about the former Czar himself but use the opportunity to rise up in his name. The man formally abdicating…either in your name or your son’s…would solve a great deal of unrest.”

The Foreign Secretary, Nikita Panin, was another early supporter of the coup and was indispensable in foreign relations.

“I must concur with your other advisors, Your Majesty,” he managed to stutter out despite knowing it would displease the Czarina. “The Hat Party of Sweden will inevitably turn against Russia at some point. Worse, it will sooner rather than later fall into the orbit of this still forming Bourbon-Habsburg European hegemony. Should that occur, Russia could very easily find itself surrounded and cut off by enemies. This is why I have spent the past years seeking alliances in the North with Poland, Sweden and Britain.”

Catherine wondered what the hell her advisors were thinking.

“Do you believe that Peter would ever truly abdicate?” She asked all three men.

They glanced at one another and finally Potemkin replied, “You know the man better than any other, Your Majesty. Would Peter ever WANT to set foot on Russian territory again?”

The whole scheme seemed mad. But the more the Czarina thought about the matter, the more she realized that there was very little to lose. A Sweden under Peter could scarcely be MORE hostile than the Hat Party. And Russian forces could always easily invade Finland and Prussia while Peter, even fully entrenched as King of Sweden, would not be a real threat to Russia. Sweden had long been in decline and the Czarina doubted her ex-husband was the reincarnation of Charles the Great militarily. At best, the Peter she remembered was more interested in uniforms and marching than any actual tangible military improvements. Within months of seizing power, Catherine undid every one of his reforms much to her popularity among the General Staff and common ranks.

The Czarina signaled for her Chamberlain to summon von Wallmoden and his party back to her presence.

“What does Peter want?” She asked pointedly.

“Two million rubles to help pay for the expedition to liberate Queen Sophia,” Wallmoden replied promptly. “And the use of ten Russian warships for three months.”

“To protect his army?” Catherine speculated. “But no longer than three months?”

“If victory is not achieved in three months, the campaign will be a failure,” von Wallmoden concluded.

“And what “Army” will be transported?”

For once, von Wallmoden hesitated, “For the moment, His Majesty prefers to keep that confidential.”

Hmmmm, that means he had to hire mercenaries, Catherine speculated. Maybe the Saxons again? Or even Brandenburg?

“What other terms to this agreement?”

Relieved that the Czarina appeared to be considering the proposal, von Wallmoden swiftly returned, “None that I believe Your Majesty would find objectionable.”

He ticked off a few high points, “His Majesty will acknowledge your divorce in the Orthodox church as he will soon receive in the Lutheran Church.”

Catherine nodded, she had no objection.

“Should His Majesty remarry, Holstein, Prussia, Sweden and any other European inheritance would fall to a son of that marriage. Should he not father a son, then your son Paul’s line would inherit provided that Russia and the other European domains be separated. I suspect that your subjects in Russia would be no less emphatic on that point.”

Again, Catherine could not disagree.

The remaining points were indeed not particularly objectionable.

“And you will take this back to Peter for review?” The Czarina demanded.

Von Wallmoden shook his head, “No, Your Majesty. I have been empowered to compose the treaty with Your Majesty’s Ministers while in Moscow. If the wording can be agreed…and the funds assembled for the journey back…Your Majesty may sign the copies and I shall return with your emissaries…and the funds…to His Majesty”.

Given how many times the diplomat used the term “funds”, Catherine suspected that was the key point. Without funding for the presumed mercenary army and the protection of the Russian Navy for a few months to land in Sweden (or retreat from it), Peter had no hope to seizing Stockholm.

In truth, Catherine no more feared Sweden under Peter than she did Sweden under the Hats. But the legitimacy her ex-husband offered in recognizing her rule over Russia was precious diplomatically and perhaps almost as much domestically.

Will Peter keep his word? She wondered.

In the end, she didn’t particularly care. The stain of the “usurper” would be at least partially erased the moment the treaty was signed. That was worth a few million rubles and the use of a Russian fleet for a few months to her. If Peter did renege on his promise....well, that was what assassins were for.

 

[Alt History Buff]

February, 1765

London

Though most of the Earl of Bute’s government had been run out of power years prior, a handful would remain in junior roles in the new government led by the Duke of Cumberland. However, true financial talent was lacking in the nobility-dominated Ministry. Thus, young men like George Grenville (who broke from his kin to serve in the government) would rise out of necessity. By 1765, Grenville had ascended to the position of Chancellor of the Exchequer and ordered to find a solution for the ongoing debt.

Grenville would come up with a complex scheme to raise perhaps 40,000 pounds sterling per year by taxing the colonies for various stamped goods. The colonies paid only a fraction of the Empire’s expenses and the tax burden was considerably lower in America than Britain.

Grenville imagined this would prove unpopular in the colonies (what tax was ever popular?) but he was sure they’d eventually get over it. After all, the war had largely been fought for the benefit of the colonies. Shouldn’t they pay at least part of the costs?

It all seemed reasonable.

With the nominal head of the Ministry, First Lord of the Treasury Rockingham, being a less than industrious dilettante and the true muscle, the Duke of Cumberland, in poor health, Grenville was largely left to run his own policy with little interference.

When the Stamp Act was proposed as a funding substitute to replace British land taxes….what sane Parliamentarian wouldn’t agree?

April, 1765

Kiel

Though, in truth, Peter of Holstein, King of Prussia, etc, doubted that his bitch ex-wife ever intended to follow through on her pledge, Catherine would, indeed, dispatch eight warships to Kiel where his army was assembling.

While the now-former Czar was not entirely pleased with the document his representative had forged with Catherine, von Wallmoden had succeeded in bringing chests of hard currency and the promise of naval support for three months. That would be enough in the long run.

The gold and silver purchased another 10,000 mercenaries from Saxony and other German states. Peter loathed leaving Schleswig-Holstein bereft of native soldiers thus he would sail upon Stockholm with mostly mercenaries.

The question was…what would await him in Sweden. The “Cap” Party leaders in exile assured him that several key regiments and fortifications would flock to his banner the moment he set foot upon Swedish soil.

Well, he would soon find out.

 

[Alt History Buff]

July, 1765

Stockholm

Having been escorted to Scania by an eight-ship Russian squadron, King Peter of Prussia, Duke of Holstein and, perhaps, King of Sweden, Duke of Finland and Duke of Pomerania, would arrive without significant incident.

Perhaps against any expectations, the “Treaty of Kiel”, which would later become famous as the “Grand Divorce Settlement” throughout Europe, was signed with little fanfare. Copies of the Czar’s abdication to his son bearing comments leaving the Regency to “the Czarina” were soon spread throughout the width of Europe by Catherine’s diplomats. Of course, Peter would never have signed had the promised gold and silver accompanied Catherine’s representatives.

This allowed the King of Prussia (and Duke of Holstein) to gather his mercenary forces to the ships. Previously, the hired Saxon (and other German Regiments) had been ordered by their crowned princes not to cross into Holstein until the full payment was received.

The Swedish government, already in chaos, would prove incapable of action for several members of the “Hat” faction leadership had splintered away from the Party over the course of the past years, particularly over the management of the girl-Queen, Sophia Albertina, and the diplomatic crisis brewing with Europe.

The Sprengtporten brothers, two disaffected Finnish noblemen of the “Hats”, in alliance the Swede Johan Toll, managed to seize control over two key fortresses, Kristianstad in Scania (southern Sweden) and Sveaborg near Helsinki in the Duchy of Finland. This allowed Peter’s forces of 8400 soldiers to land without incident.

Joined by 1500 soldiers stationed in Kristianstad under Sprengtporten, the army marched upon Stockholm with little opposition. Restless commoners, long outraged by the corruption of the Riksdag administration, would join the march by the thousands, eager to put an end to the incompetence. Peter would receive acclamation of thousands of Swedes in village after village as his invasion turned to a two-week procession over 300 miles to the capital.

Upon arrival in August, the government had collapsed and thousands of Swedish soldiers had defected to Peter’s camp. The “Hats” fled the capital, leaving Peter to effectively coronate himself “co-monarch” of Sweden with “his cousin” Queen Sophia Albertina. He vowed to end the corruption, political infighting and graft which had plagued Sweden for decades.

With only a few thousand soldiers of questionable loyalty situated in the hills north of the capital, the Swedish government would see both politicians and entire army units quietly defect one after another, presenting themselves to Peter, often prostrating themselves as they begged for a pardon (almost universally granted). Peter had cannily made several popular pronouncements with the public involved reduced taxes, large scale criminal pardons, elimination of monopolies, etc. He also ordered the government’s books opened and every incident of graft promptly exposed to the public (and even a few imagined ones).

Peter pronounced the returned of “Enlightened Absolutism” and proclaimed that the “dark times” were over.

He then dispatched a message to the “Hat” leadership that could only be taken in one manner: return “Queen” Sophia Albertina…or else.

 

[Alt History Buff]

August, 1765

London

King George III would receive the news of his uncle’s death while breakfasting with his wife. Cumberland had never recovered from his wounds in the War of Austrian Succession or the 5 Years War. Now, at only 44 years, the Duke as dead.

Charlotte, seeing the King’s face turn ashen, was alarmed and asked in her thick German accent, “George, what is it?!” The Queen was still recovering from giving birth twelve days prior. This was their first real meal together in weeks.

With a sigh, he put down the dispatch and patted his wife on the hand. “Cumberland is dead,” he replied simply.

“Oh, George, I am so sorry.”

For the past several years, his uncle had been the driving force in his government, ensuring that the seasoned politicians did not take advantage of the young King by invading upon his prerogatives. Though having no official office in the administration, it was well-known among the Ministry that no one crossed Cumberland.

“Did you know I thought he was going to murder me as a child?” George III offered off-handedly, if a bit wryly.

Charlotte’s mouth opened in shock.

“It is true. My mother was convinced…by my father, who was dead already by that point…that my grandfather was planning on having me and my siblings killed and placing Uncle Cumberland upon the throne.”

“That is…horrible!” the Queen stammered.

“Yes, in the country, the “evil uncle” in the mold of Richard III keeps a special place in our hearts. When I was a boy, my brother and I were exploring Windsor and noticed an old sword on the wall. Uncle Cumberland came up, saw our interest and took down the sword to show to us. We were absolutely certain that he meant to murder us then and there with that sword,” the King broke off into a short laugh before turning serious. “The look upon Uncle’s face…he must have been very hurt when he realized what we believed him capable of.”

Charlotte grasped her husband’s hand, “And, years later, your Uncle was your greatest champion.”

“One I grew to trust implicitly,” George finished. “I’m not sure if I ever truly expressed my appreciation for his protecting me from my early missteps on the throne.”

“He knew that you loved him,” Charlotte urged. “Perhaps we may honor him somehow. Our boy’s baptism approaches. Perhaps we may name him William after his most honorable Great Uncle?”

The King smiled. He was truly a fortunate man to have married such a woman. The two spoke a bit more before Charlotte allowed her husband’s thoughts to drift off. Eventually, he was forced to consider the effect of his Uncle’s death on the government. Certainly, no new elections would have to be called but the power dynamics within the Ministry would, by definition, change. George would no longer have a true voice on behalf of the monarchy within the Privy Council.

The leaders of the government were…somewhat limited. Rockingham was the nominal commander but lacked experience, a strong work ethic and a seat in the Commons. Most of the other cabinet members were high aristocracy…which left a leadership void in the Commons. Worse, many of these high-born men, like the Duke of Bedford, spent more time quarreling with their supposed allies than actually governing.

George Grenville, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the government in the Commons, had just lost a power struggle to Rockingham and was gone. That left the odious Henry Fox once again as leader on the floor…with help from Henry Conway and a few others. That was not a strong team. Not entirely popular, it was easy to see Pitt, Temple, Grenville and a few others may someday bring down the government…and they would be far more difficult to control than Rockingham.

The King supposed some new blood with ties to the Commons must be brought into the government to stabilize the majority. There weren’t a great deal of good candidates as most of these were allied with Pitt’s faction. The only realistic option would probably be the Townshend brothers. They held key votes in Parliament and could be pried away from the grasp of Pitt if offered meaningful authority. Pitt was reportedly in poor health anyway. Maybe the man would die and his faction go with him.

George III determined to speak with Rockingham about the matter at the next opportunity. But first, the King must arrange a funeral for the late Duke of Cumberland worthy of his fealty and dedication to his nephew’s reign.

 

[Alt History Buff]

October, 1765

America

From Boston to Charleston, from Quebec to New Orleans, the American people would demonstrate in the streets expressing their outrage that Great Britain would commence taxing them without their consent or representation.

“No taxation without representation!” was the most common retort.

A movement called the “Sons of Columbus” would swiftly expand the length of the Atlantic seaboard as members of every social class rose in protest.

Stockholm

After months of milling about north of the capital, the remnant of the “Hat” Party elite and their military allies would finally concede that martial victory was impossible. A handful fled the country but most dispanded their regiments and scuttled into Stockholm to request pardon.

By early September, the “Age of Liberty” resented by Riksdag corruption and stagnation had given way to a new “Age of Enlightened Despotism” under Peter. This was a bit ironic as Peter, in his short tenure as Czar of All the Russias, would actually take several reforms which were democratic in nature. But the coup d’état by his wife would eliminate many of these inclinations.

By October, the “Queen” of Sweden, twelve-year-old Sophia Albertina, would be returned safe and sound. By agreement with the Margrave of Brandenburg, the girl’s cousin, Dowager-Queen Louisa Ulrika would return to assume control of her daughter’s education. By her nature, Louisa Ulrika would attempt to seize influence but few in Sweden were inclined to care about the unlikeable woman. In desperation, the Dowager would attempt to make a marriage match herself with the new King Peter of Sweden but the latter was not inclined to marry a forty-five-year-old woman…not when his “Co-Ruler” was approaching marriage age. With no heir for Sweden, his only child Paul still in Russia (and somewhat of a question for his paternity), Peter needed to remarry and sire additional children.

Peter gave Louisa the facts of life in blunt terms: Peter would marry his “Co-Ruler” when Sophia turned fifteen, thus uniting the two Houses of Holstein….or Louisa Ulrika could take her daughter and return to Berlin.

Recognizing that she had little choice, Louisa agreed always hopeful that she may find a way to return to authority in Sweden in the future. Like many Hohenzollern’s, an almost compulsive need to scheme was imprinted upon her personality. For his part, the new King Peter of Sweden would not care overly much. Louisa had no power base in Sweden and would not be a threat to him.

November, 1765

London

Robert Clive had suffered terribly in the past few years. First, the Bleeding Death had taken his wife and son just days prior to his final departure from India. He returned home to Britain expecting a joyous reunion and instead discovered a wake.

After months of self-medication with alcohol and laudanum, Clive was summoned to London in 1763. Expecting to be ennobled for his contributions in India (though, in the end, Bengal was lost), he was instead informed that a full investigation was ordered by the government to review his activities on the subcontinent. Dozens of officials in the now-defunct East India Company, Royal Navy officers and British Regulars would testify before Parliament that Clive’s “extortion and graft” after seizing Bengal for Min Jafir from his kinsman was directly responsible for Jafir’s defection to the French.

The trial was to last years and thoroughly destroy Clive’s reputation.

 

[Alt History Buff]

OK, all, thanks for reading. This is the last chapter of Book 1 of my series. For the purposes of this forum, I've named it Arrogance and Empire.

Book 1 covered an alternate 7 Years War and was the first novel I ever tried to write. This was written about 10-15 years ago and is less of a character-driven novel than a Timeline similar to what I usually see and contribute to this forum. The following novels which I've written (well, mostly written as I'll be adding in new subplots, cleaning up the writing and fixing continuity errors which set in over the long timeframes I wrote these novels) are much more in the "Turtledove" character-based style. However, as Turtledove started writing more and more Alternative Histories, he started "writing by the pound" as my father put it and his books tended to drag. I'm trying to find a happy medium between the mostly fictional character-driven historical novel of Turtledove and more of a higher-level historical character-driven series akin to Harrison.

I'll probably end up rewriting book 1 before I try to self-publish this series (probably a hobby in my retirement, in all reality) to make it more character-driven. I do have a subplot partially written in which John Wilkes, as I portray in this series as having screwed up his marriage and forced to the colonies by his father, and a fictional character named James Pattison serving as an engraver/propagandist in the "Patriot" movement which would serve as Wilkes ally/foil in the battle against Lord Loudoun's attempt at absolutism over the colonies.

I will also have a first-person view of the German War of this time period from the point of view of General James Keith.

James Oglethorpe will have a larger role and I'll probably add Spain entering the war in 1760 only to lose Florida and a couple of naval battles, spurring Spain to seriously reform. I think I mention this in the next books as already happened so I'll try to make a note going forward.

While the 7 Years portion of this series is by far my most primitive work and needs huge rewriting and cleaning up, please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions on writing style.

For example, when I reread this first book, I noticed that Lord Loudoun...in every chapter....was doing nothing more than complaining about treacherous colonials. I'll try to rewrite him to have a bit more balance and less one-dimensional.

I'm going to separate out the next "book" onto a separate timeline probably called "Arrogance and Empire 2 or something" and will cover the timeframe from 1765 here through the first year of the American war, 1775.

The next book will cover 1776, the next 1777 and the final in the Revolutionary War series will cover 1778 to the end of the war.

After that I have one or two books (depending how I edit) covering the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars and alternate Quasi War and War of 1812.

Then I have some Civil War era books, following by turn of the century and 20th Century war books.

Depending on how I edit, it would probably amount to 8-12 full books if I were to publish. Hope you all continue to read

As soon as I get the next series started, I'll add the link here.

New Link:

Arrogance and Empire: An Alternate 7 Years War Novel - Part 2 - 1765-1775

Thanks to the readers of my previous TL, Arrogance and Empire: An Alternate 7 Years War (https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/arrogance-and-empire-an-alternative-7-years-war-timeline.523847/) This is part of a series of novels I've been writing off and on over the past 15 years or so...

www.alternatehistory.com

 

[PGSBHurricane]

What does the world look like now that this alt-Seven Years War is now over?

 

[Xenophonte]

I want to mention to John Wilkes that was a very curious British historical character that seems that seems that could have been kind of overlooked. Cause, he is one that IMO, at least, his TTL altered destiny, could have interesting and far reaching consequences, down the line, both for the British press and for the Parliament and for the British MPs legal status.

 

[Xenophonte]

Also, I think that the harsh treatment and expulsion of the Quebecois, aside that it'd set an precedent for any future war where the roles would be somewhat reversed... But, it, not only would cause outrage in France, once the news about it, would reach Paris.
But, also, would almost guarantee that even if hopeless that many Quebecois would rebel and/or to choose to flee either to the wood or (when possible) seeking refuge with some friend tribes or to prefer to die fighting that be expelled from their homes/lands and/or to lose all their means of livelihood.
.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Arrogance and Empire: An Alternate 7 Years War Novel - Part 2 - 1765-1775

Thanks to the readers of my previous TL, Arrogance and Empire: An Alternate 7 Years War (https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/arrogance-and-empire-an-alternative-7-years-war-timeline.523847/) This is part of a series of novels I've been writing off and on over the past 15 years or so...

www.alternatehistory.com

 

[Alt History Buff]

What does the world look like now that this alt-Seven Years War is now over?

I haven't put together a map but Prussia was divided, all of North America seized by Britain and the East India Company defeated in Eastern India by the French/native armies and reduced basically to Bombay.

 

[Alt History Buff]

I want to mention to John Wilkes that was a very curious British historical character that seems that seems that could have been kind of overlooked. Cause, he is one that IMO, at least, his TTL altered destiny, could have interesting and far reaching consequences, down the line, both for the British press and for the Parliament and for the British MPs legal status.

Yeah, I have him with a more important role in my rewrite of the 7 Years War novel. I just didn't really include it here.

 

[Alt History Buff]

Also, I think that the harsh treatment and expulsion of the Quebecois, aside that it'd set an precedent for any future war where the roles would be somewhat reversed... But, it, not only would cause outrage in France, once the news about it, would reach Paris.
But, also, would almost guarantee that even if hopeless that many Quebecois would rebel and/or to choose to flee either to the wood or (when possible) seeking refuge with some friend tribes or to prefer to die fighting that be expelled from their homes/lands and/or to lose all their means of livelihood.
.

Yes, I have the fate of the Quebecois as a subplot in my next novel(s) from the point of view of Henri Dejardins, a Laval-born French Canadian whose family was evicted by George Washington to Acadia.

I would agree that there must have been outrage in France OTL in the eviction of the Acadians. In this scenario, I have most of the Acadians staying in the Maritimes and most of the "Mainland" French Canadians kicked out of the land between Quebec City and Montreal for British settlement.