Miscellaneous <1900 (Alternate) History Thread
- Thread starter RMcD94
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A more opportunistics Gustav II might've exploited Denmark-Norway's loss to invade them, though this will make him a traitor to the protestant cause rather than "the lion from the north". A "Swedish Empire" contained to Scandinavia will be less powerful, but also less overextended. This does leave a power vaccuum in north Germany, the Emperor's dreams of an imperial navy in the Baltics might be more within reach.
Like atterdag said less overextended sweden focusing on Scandinavia and baltic or do you think sweden gain in 30 years war worth better?
What can be the name of an "Ottoman" republic, I mean a nation that keep roughly the territories of the old empire but modernize and survive ?
I've think at something based on geographical features, like Cisasia or Mesothalassa (like austria hungary becoming Danubia or Cisleithania in some TL) but i'm not sure
I've think at something based on geographical features, like Cisasia or Mesothalassa (like austria hungary becoming Danubia or Cisleithania in some TL) but i'm not sure
Depends on the situation that leads to the tranformation from empire to Republic and what the goal of said state is. Is it a Turkish dominated state with minorities held in varying degrees of hostile occupation, in which case something like the Republic of Turkey would probably work. If its an enlightened and liberal true democracy where the diverse ethnic groups and religions in the old empire share equal status, then a more inclusive title would probably be in order.
I think more at the second case. To appease ethnic tensions I can't imagine the new entity juste call itself Turkey. As I said i'm inspired by these TL where Austria-Hungary reform and became the US of Danubia or something.
I know there was an essay to impose an "Ottoman" identity as a national and trans-ethnic thing in the last days of the empire, but I'm not convinced it can ever be successfull
Well, if General Edwin G. Lee decided to side with the Union instead of the Confederacy, I don't see many butterflies. The only active combat was in very minor roles, as his ill health held him back from taking active command for prolonged periods.
Oh, you mean Robert E. Lee?
Well, if Robert E. Lee decided to join with the Union, I can imagine 2 possible butterflies that could cause the shift. First is that Virginia does not secede, and thereby Lee does not have to agonize about drawing his sword against his state. Second is if Lee decided to uphold the oath he swore as a cadet at West Point, and defend his country against its enemies. The first case would obviously be more beneficial to the Union as a whole, but I could see the second doing some good as well. In either case, Lee takes his command in the Eastern Theater. From this position, I see him likely getting his troops into bloody scrapes and scraps, as IOTL that seemed to be his preferred method for improving the quality of his troops, except in this case he would have the numbers to make it a more sustainable (albeit costly) approach. This, combined with the lack of his presence of the Southern side, could probably shorten the war (although not as drastically as some say, probably 3 instead of 4 years). The real game-changer, in my opinion, would be if Virginia stayed in the Union. Virginia contributed the most soldiers to the CSA (approx. 155,000) and featured the largest amount of established industry (including its largest source of artillery and iron goods: Tredegar Iron Works) within the South, meaning that if it stayed in the Union it would be a crippling, if not fatal, blow to the Confederate cause.
Looking at the wiki page for Greatr Somalia made me try to think of a way to get it going without somehow winning the war against Ethiopia in the 1970s followed by a successful war with Kenya - a scenario I find pretty ASB.
So instead, I offer the forum this alternative going back decades more:
In the late 1800s as Europe goes for Africa, some minor PoD means the Italian and British holdings in Somalia (except for Puntland, which stays Italian) are switched compared to OTL.
Since Britain holds the part of Somalia that is continuous with the majority Somali parts of Kenya, those areas are made part of British Somaliland for ease of administration.
Italy still goes for Ethiopia, but manages to conquer it on the first try in 1896. As part of the colonisation of Ethiopia, the majority Somali areas in the south east are made part of Italian Somaliland. Again mostly for ease of administration.
Let's say the world wars play out essentially the same (big butterfly net, yes indeed), and the end of the colonial era rolls round much the same way as otl.
The two Somalilands vote for unification, and in French Somaliland someone in the French colonial office manages to set up the voting on unification with Somalia (or not) to be decided district by district. So the Somali half of that colony joins Somalia.
A glorious early post-colonial era takes place with some smart deals for small naval bases to the world powers who find they lack colonies in the region now.
Then...
Slow and steady building of prosperity?
17 civil wars by 2022?
that's up to you.
So instead, I offer the forum this alternative going back decades more:
In the late 1800s as Europe goes for Africa, some minor PoD means the Italian and British holdings in Somalia (except for Puntland, which stays Italian) are switched compared to OTL.
Since Britain holds the part of Somalia that is continuous with the majority Somali parts of Kenya, those areas are made part of British Somaliland for ease of administration.
Italy still goes for Ethiopia, but manages to conquer it on the first try in 1896. As part of the colonisation of Ethiopia, the majority Somali areas in the south east are made part of Italian Somaliland. Again mostly for ease of administration.
Let's say the world wars play out essentially the same (big butterfly net, yes indeed), and the end of the colonial era rolls round much the same way as otl.
The two Somalilands vote for unification, and in French Somaliland someone in the French colonial office manages to set up the voting on unification with Somalia (or not) to be decided district by district. So the Somali half of that colony joins Somalia.
A glorious early post-colonial era takes place with some smart deals for small naval bases to the world powers who find they lack colonies in the region now.
Then...
Slow and steady building of prosperity?
17 civil wars by 2022?
that's up to you.
What if, instead of getting dropsy, and ending up dying of his illnesses, Michael IV manages to avoid the worst of the illnesses and makes it to the age of 65 years? Dying in 1075-1076 rather than 1041?
en.wikipedia.org
Michael IV the Paphlagonian - Wikipedia
In the long term much would depend on if he finds a second wife he can sire heirs upon or has kinsmen that are better a politics than Mike the Caulker, but he showed every sign of being a solidly capable ruler by any standard (let alone for a jumped-up gigolo) and would likely avoid any of the obvious screw-ups his successors managed OTL.What if, instead of getting dropsy, and ending up dying of his illnesses, Michael IV manages to avoid the worst of the illnesses and makes it to the age of 65 years? Dying in 1075-1076 rather than 1041?
Michael IV the Paphlagonian - Wikipedia
I think he could probably keep a stable hand on the tiller of state? And at a time when the state really does need it.