Wait- I'm still somewhat confused. The dates in the TL so far are from the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1748. This war was known as King George's War in the Americas. This is not from the Seven Years' War, or the French and Indian War as it was known in the Americas. No significant territorial changes came about as a result of this war, as far as I know. Louisbourg was taken by British colonial forces, then exchanged for Madras at the end of the war. If you have the French retake Louisbourg before the war ends, then there will be no need to exchange it for Madras, which probably has a lot of butterflies for India. To get a French victory in the Seven Years' War, you would have to significantly alter basic French strategy at this time, which was to concentrate most of their forces in Europe and trade European gains for colonial losses at the end of the war. Whatever this expedition in King George's War gains for France, it will still likely be lost because of French strategy. Unless you can significantly increase the population of New France between the two wars as a result of this POD , get the troops in this expedition to stay in America, or destroy British naval supremacy, these gains will still be lost in the next war. Unless this expedition can take all of British America (very unlikely), this expedition will not matter very much. Sorry to be so negative, but these are the facts.
You are not confused. This was part of King Georges War. There were no major changes to territory in OTL as well. Sorry for not being more clear about that.
The French were highly incensed at the taking of Louisbourg by, what to them was, a bunch of colonial fishermen. Louisbourg was the third largest port in North America at this time. It’s location, controlling the entrance to the Gulf of St Lawrence and giving quick access to the fishing grounds of the Grand Banks was highly strategic. It had been insanely expensive to build and there was much royal prestige built into it’s walls. This was not a give and take, but a take back. They were seeking gains in NA in this case, not to trade, but to keep. Consider the expenses involved to build and garrison Louisbourg. The King said he expected to see it’s walls rising over the western horizon because it cost so much.
Louis orders were to re-take Louisbourg and Annapolis Royal (Port Royal) which would effectively drive the English out of Acadia. There would only be scattered concentrations such as Canso, which the French had destroyed 2 years earlier I believe. He also wanted the fleet to lay waste to the coast and ports of the British colonies and then take action in the Indies. The goal was, I believe, to consolidate and expand holding in NA, reduce English capabilities and damage their economy. Weaken Britain in the New World.
I know that Louisbourg was exchanged for Madras later, but that is OTL…The need and opportunity for exchange has not yet arisen in 1746. Perhaps the English will take Martinique and the French will exchange Madras for Martinique (I know, What will they have to exchange Canada for in 1763). As I noted in my earlier post, I haven’t even begun to think about the Carnatic War and what happens in India. Yes, I realize that it may look like there will be butterflies migrating from the Himalayas to Ceylon, but I don’t think that the POD of this AH was determined by a butterfly.
The direction I am going in this AH does involve increased French colonization and increased French military presence. It is a change in Strategy that is more in keeping with the initial goals of the expedition. It does require that the French discover that there is greater value to holding on to their American possessions than in following the old path. They learn something from the English (
That may be a big butterfly. If the consensus is that it is, I have learned my lesson).
The French will not take all of NA, I agree with you that they cannot. They will achieve a stalemate of sorts. Remember that the French had a geographical advantage and a strategy based on strong land forts. Their frontier was defended not only by the forts, but by league upon league of wilderness. They also had a better relationship with most of the indigenous nations, therefore more allies. The British had neglected their forts and installations for some time. Throughout most of this war and the next in North America, they relied on colonials to do much of the heavy lifting. They also had a long and exposed coast rich with cities, ports and farms.
I know…Facts are facts…but after the POD, don’t they turn into potentialities? What happens after d’Anvilles expedition will be influenced, to a greater or lesser degree, by the results of the expedition. This includes national strategic interests as well as political, military, economic and diplomatic influence on the world stage.
I don’t think that a successful expedition by d’Anville’s Armada would be a butterfly and I still think it could be a world changer.
Thanks for your thoughts; they caused me to think about what I am doing here. I am open to being proven wrong or being shown another way. If this AH is going to be a dismal failure as I proceed, I will try to be better on the next one.
PLEASE keep giving me feedback.