Xen
Banned
This isn't a timeline, more of a sounding board for an idea I had a couple of days ago. I can already see Abdul Hadi Pasha turning purple and screaming at the monitor "Why!" But hear me out
What if during the late Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon was able to convince Russia to maintain the Continental System by offering a coalition against the Ottoman Empire (about 1811/1812) and the liberation of the Slavic/Christian Peoples of the Balkans, and even the ultimate Russian dream, the conquest of Constantinople.
Tsar Alexander I, I can imagine might be a little apprehensive at first, but how could he pass up such an offer, and Napoleon had the means to build the ultimate coalition to do this, there was no questiion about that. So all of the nations of the continental system (including Austria and Prussia) join forces and declare war on the Ottoman Empire. I personally don't think the Ottomans are going to be able to beat the Coalition, even if they are allied with Britain, Spain and Portugal/Brazil.
Now let us assume for the sake of argument that Napoleon and his allies win this war, this what Europe looks like in 1815
-As part of the agreement, Russia agrees on the upgrade of the Duchy of Warsaw to a Kingdom, Józef Poniatowski becomes the King of Poland
-Russia annexes Bessarabia, Wallachia and Moldavia
-Bosnia is annexed into Illyria which is part of France
-Austria annexes Croatia
-Bulgaria is granted independence with Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich as the Tsar
-Serbia is granted independence with Miloš Obrenović I as King
-Greece is granted independence with Alexander Ypsilantis as King (Alexander and Grand Duchess Anna of Russia marry in an arranged wedding)
-Rumelia, Thrace, Albania, Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly and most importantly Constantinople are formed into the Empire (or Tsardom) of Romania, with Grand Duke Constantine serving as the Tsar. Control of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straigts is maintained by Constantinople
-The Ottoman Empire limps out of Europe setting up a new capital in either Bursa or Izmir, or maybe even Nicea (kind of a history repeating itself)
Two years later the old alliance falls apart, Russia leaves the continental system provoking Napoleon to invade Russia and occupy Moscow during a long and brutal winter. In 1818 the Emperor dies of pneumonia, forcing France and allies now under the command of Nicolas Oudinot in a long and humiliating retreat.
Within the year Napoleon's enemies (and some of his former friends) turn against France, an alliance of Britain, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal/Brazil, Prussia, Naples and Austria go on the offensive against France, they are of course joined by Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Romania. The Ottoman Empire remains neutral, supporting Britain but not Russia.
The Congress of Vienna meets in 1819 to discuss post-Napoleonic Europe
-Russia insists on maintaining the status quo in the Balkans, and though it is not ready for another war lets it be known it will go the greatest lengths to protect them
-The status of Poland divides the Congress, it is eventually agreed that Poland be allowed to maintain its sovereignty. The 1795 partition is overturned. Prussia is compensated with Lithuania, Russia's annexation of Bessarbia, Moldavia, and Wallachia are recognized, as is Austria's annexation of Croatia. King Józef is forced to abdicate in favor of Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
-The north Italian Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto-Illyria is created in personal union of Austria
-The Bourbons are restored in France and Spain, Murat maintains his throne in Naples and shelters former Bonapartists
As I said this isnt a proper timeline, its just to see what others think, is this plausible (I think its most certainly possible) and I am considering a timeline for this scenario. Thoughts & Ideas?
What if during the late Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon was able to convince Russia to maintain the Continental System by offering a coalition against the Ottoman Empire (about 1811/1812) and the liberation of the Slavic/Christian Peoples of the Balkans, and even the ultimate Russian dream, the conquest of Constantinople.
Tsar Alexander I, I can imagine might be a little apprehensive at first, but how could he pass up such an offer, and Napoleon had the means to build the ultimate coalition to do this, there was no questiion about that. So all of the nations of the continental system (including Austria and Prussia) join forces and declare war on the Ottoman Empire. I personally don't think the Ottomans are going to be able to beat the Coalition, even if they are allied with Britain, Spain and Portugal/Brazil.
Now let us assume for the sake of argument that Napoleon and his allies win this war, this what Europe looks like in 1815
-As part of the agreement, Russia agrees on the upgrade of the Duchy of Warsaw to a Kingdom, Józef Poniatowski becomes the King of Poland
-Russia annexes Bessarabia, Wallachia and Moldavia
-Bosnia is annexed into Illyria which is part of France
-Austria annexes Croatia
-Bulgaria is granted independence with Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich as the Tsar
-Serbia is granted independence with Miloš Obrenović I as King
-Greece is granted independence with Alexander Ypsilantis as King (Alexander and Grand Duchess Anna of Russia marry in an arranged wedding)
-Rumelia, Thrace, Albania, Macedonia, Epirus, Thessaly and most importantly Constantinople are formed into the Empire (or Tsardom) of Romania, with Grand Duke Constantine serving as the Tsar. Control of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straigts is maintained by Constantinople
-The Ottoman Empire limps out of Europe setting up a new capital in either Bursa or Izmir, or maybe even Nicea (kind of a history repeating itself)
Two years later the old alliance falls apart, Russia leaves the continental system provoking Napoleon to invade Russia and occupy Moscow during a long and brutal winter. In 1818 the Emperor dies of pneumonia, forcing France and allies now under the command of Nicolas Oudinot in a long and humiliating retreat.
Within the year Napoleon's enemies (and some of his former friends) turn against France, an alliance of Britain, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal/Brazil, Prussia, Naples and Austria go on the offensive against France, they are of course joined by Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Romania. The Ottoman Empire remains neutral, supporting Britain but not Russia.
The Congress of Vienna meets in 1819 to discuss post-Napoleonic Europe
-Russia insists on maintaining the status quo in the Balkans, and though it is not ready for another war lets it be known it will go the greatest lengths to protect them
-The status of Poland divides the Congress, it is eventually agreed that Poland be allowed to maintain its sovereignty. The 1795 partition is overturned. Prussia is compensated with Lithuania, Russia's annexation of Bessarbia, Moldavia, and Wallachia are recognized, as is Austria's annexation of Croatia. King Józef is forced to abdicate in favor of Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
-The north Italian Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto-Illyria is created in personal union of Austria
-The Bourbons are restored in France and Spain, Murat maintains his throne in Naples and shelters former Bonapartists
As I said this isnt a proper timeline, its just to see what others think, is this plausible (I think its most certainly possible) and I am considering a timeline for this scenario. Thoughts & Ideas?