DBWI: What if the French Royal Family managed to escape to Australie?

[Nobodyydobon]

During the French Revolution Louis XVI and his family attempted to escape to the fairly young French colony of Australie, (barely 70 thousand people strong). But during his escape one of the shipwrights identified him and his family, and alerted the Authorities, eventually leading to his execution in 1793.

So what if he did manage to board the boat due to Australie without being captured?

Would the people of Australie accept their King and go against the Revolution?
Will the Revolutionary government be able to recapture him?
How would the King of France being alive affect the Revolutionary wars?
Would we see a Portugal-Brazil style situation?

 

[NedStark]

But during his escape one of the shipwrights identified him and his family, and alerted the Authorities, eventually leading to his execution in 1793.

That shipwright was actually a British agent.

Will the Revolutionary government be able to recapture him?

Unfortunately, the Commonwealth of Great Britain, which had the most powerful navy and supported the French Republicans, would have invaded Australie and captured him anyway.

Would we see a Portugal-Brazil style situation?

Australie was too sparsely populated to serve as a resistance base.

How would the King of France being alive affect the Revolutionary wars?

Unfortunately no, massive support from the Commonwealth of Great Britain (together with their massive and loyal dominions in North America) and the Dutch Republic means that the Republicans could easily outspend and outgun their Royalist opponents and their allies Austria and Prussia.

 

[vizzer]

Australie seems an awfully long way to travel when there are the nearer loyalist colonies of Quebec and Louissiane.

 

[Migrant_Coconut]

It's a testament to France's state of fustercluck that Versailles had three separate colonies to exile dissidents to, and they still couldn't keep the country from revolting.

 

[Slime_blob]

The real plan was to Saint Domingue but slave rebellion happened after Vincent Oge overthrow the colonial government, which was I think have royalist sentiments though being appointed by the revolutionaries after not allowing the free people of color vote. Later in the midst of chaos a huge slave rebellion happened under Toussaint Breda, knowing they can't suppress it.

Later the assembly of the provisional government of Saint Domingue which is mainly composed of the grand blancs and rich free people of color entered with negotiations with Breda and decided to free them and outlaw slavery in exchange for them going back to the works at the fields.

A month later they declare independence from France with the backing of UK and co.

Have the colony not declare independence instead put their firm support for the royalists, maybe allowing or giving the colony to have more autonomy and freeeer economic policies maybe allow free trade of their goods elsewhere to assure their loyalty which Oge and co demanded to both sides but got snubbed, add that to growing sentiments for the benefit of independence, which started from the grand blancs. It's no wonder they declare independence which caued them to not have a good place of refuge

 

[NedStark]

Australie seems an awfully long way to travel when there are the nearer loyalist colonies of Quebec and Louissiane.

Louissiane is the only viable colony, since Quebec has been reduced to a lone, isolated town plus the immediate area, completely surrounded by the Dominion of New England. Admittedly, the fact that Britain still let Quebec exist is quite strange.

But even with Loussiane, the Commonwealth of Britain, a Republican ally, dominated the sea, while its North American colonies were right next to Louisiana. There is a reason why Louis chose Australie even though it was much further away.

month later they declare independence from France with the backing of UK and co.

UK? What is UK?

It's a testament to France's state of fustercluck that Versailles had three separate colonies to exile dissidents to, and they still couldn't keep the country from revolting.

Yeah, it took three decades to stabilize. Such sorry state was unavoidable, especially when you were either a Republican or a Royalist in France at the time, with no middle ground. Note that back in the 17th century, following the English Civil War, it took Britain 40 years to build a stable republic.

 

[Slime_blob]

UK? What is UK?

Sorry I mixed up the commonwealth and the alt history TL ive been reading where Britain is a united kingdom centered in London. What I mean is if the rebels under Oge got what they want, they would hold firm under royalist cause. Until Oge and co decides to either switch sides or declare independence

 

[NedStark]

Sorry I mixed up the commonwealth and the alt history TL ive been reading where Britain is a united kingdom centered in London. What I mean is if the rebels under Oge got what they want, they would hold firm under royalist cause. Until Oge and co decides to either switch sides or declare independence

I see. Honestly if Britain is a monarchy, the French Republicans wouldn't have had any chance. If they managed to form a republic, they would have been completely surrounded by hostile powers, with one of them being the greatest naval power.