Of Lions and Eagles: A Timeline

Of Lions and Eagles: A Timeline

In 1749, Maria Theresa,
Empress Consort of the Holy Roman Empire and sovereign of the Habsburg Monarchy, convened a meeting of the Privy Council (Geheime Konferenz) to conclusively solve the problems caused by and preceding the loss of Silesia during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). The young Count Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz, previously the ambassador to Sardinia and briefly in charge of the government of the Austrian Netherlands, advocated something completely different from the traditional Anglo-Austrian Alliance. He believed that rapprochement with France and the Bourbons would better serve the Habsburg Monarchy’s ambition to reclaim Silesia from Prussia under Frederick II. Conservative factions, including Holy Roman Emperor Francis I of Lorraine, opposed such a radical new direction.
Maria Theresa accepted von Kaunitz’s diplomatic theory, which matched her own beliefs, and it became state policy to pursue an alliance with Russia and France. Von Kaunitz was made the ambassador to France in 1750. He would serve until 1753, working to drastically realign the alliances of Europe (1).
That year, the forty-three year-old diplomat fell off of his horse in Paris, sustaining a fatal head wound (2). With the talented von Kaunitz’s death, the foremost advocate for a Habsburg-Bourbon alliance ceased to be. Conservative Austrians were able to exploit this power vacuum in the pro-French lobby to take control again of foreign policy. The Anglo-Austrian Alliance would stand, for better or for worse.

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A posthumous portrait of Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz by J. G. Haid, 1755 (3).


(1)Christopher Clark, Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia (1600-1947)
(2)This is the point of diversion. In our timeline von Kaunitz’ returned to Austria in 1753 and became the state chancellor with control over foreign policy, essentially Metternich’s predecessor.
(3)This was of course not posthumous at all in our timeline.
 
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Well, this is the first post of my long-worked upon timeline about the world. Updates will likely be sparse, but at this time I am hoping to update on a weekly or biweekly basis. Please critique it however you want (grammatically, aesthetically, historically), though I realize with such a small introduction there is probably little to say. Thanks for reading as far as this little introductory post, and I hope you'll continue to read as I update.

H-R
 
A World Map Circa 1753

To help add context to the beginnings of this timeline, I have attached a map that should roughly correspond to the year 1753.

1750.png

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Background on North America

In North America, several colonial wars were fought by the French, the English and their respective native allies, naturally creating great animosity between the colonists. An inconclusive struggle called King William’s War was fought during the European Nine Years’ War (1688-1697). During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), Queen Anne’s War was fought, resulting in the cession by France to the newly-united Kingdom of Great Britain of the territories of Acadia (renamed Nova Scotia), Newfoundland, St. Kitts (in the Caribbean), and claims to territory surrounding the Hudson Bay (Rupert’s Land). A smaller conflict unrelated to larger European wars, Father Rale’s War (1722-1725), resulted in no territorial exchanges. King George’s War (1744-1748) was fought during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), and under the Treat of Aix-la-Chapelle status quo ante bellum reigned in the North American colonies, much to the chagrin of the New Englanders. The 1749 establishment of Halifax in Nova Scotia set off a new round of military action as Acadians and the Mi'kmaq rebelled against the British. The Acadian War (1) would spill into the wider-reaching King George’s Second War (2) and ultimately be solved by the deportation of the Acadians by the British.

(1)Our Timeline’s Father Le Loutre’s War
(2)Our Timeline’s French and Indian War
 
The Anglo-Russian Alliance

Great Britain’s personal union with Hanover proved to contribute substantially in expanding a colonial conflict to yet another inter-European conflict. King George II was also the Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg, more often called Hanover, which was well within reach of France and her Prussian allies. Naturally, the King’s interest in maintaining his rule in the state caused him to pressure for the defense of Hanover in the event of war with France. To meet this end, the British sought an alliance with the Russians. In exchange for British subsidies, the Russians, ruled at the time by the Empress Elizabeth, would deploy their military around East Prussia to relieve Prussian pressure on Hanover. The Convention of Saint Petersburg would be ratified by both governments by early 1756 (1).


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(1)In Our Timeline, the Convention of Saint Petersburg was never ratified and instead the Convention of Westminster allied the British and the Prussians.

George and Elizabeth.png
 
The North American Conflict Emerges

Prior to the start of King George’s Second War, there was conflict between the British and French in the Ohio Country. Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, who had invested in the British Ohio Company, had dispatched Major George Washington of the Virginian militia to the Ohio Country in October of 1753, just days before the untimely death of Count Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz in France. After failing to diplomatically eject the French from Ohio, Washington returned to Virginia in late January of 1754.(1)
Lt Governor Dinwiddie authorized a separate military expedition to the Ohio Country prior to Major Washington’s return. Governor-General Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville of New France dispatched a larger force along the same time. The French expedition repulsed the British and established themselves at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers as they merged into the Ohio river.
A third attempt to assert control over the Ohio Country in April of 1754 failed, and Governor Dinwiddie requested aid from London, supported by the American upper-class. The Duke of Newcastle, Thomas Pelham-Holles, had recently assumed the title of Prime Minister from his deceased brother. He wished to avoid war in Europe, but was willing to entertain the notion of further conflict across the Atlantic.With France threatened by the Anglo-Austrian alliance, peace in Europe seemed secure, even with Hanover between the Prussians and France. By July the British government was again preparing for war with the French in America.


(1)This would be marginally later than in Our Timeline.
 
Retroactively:

I have changed the Convention of Saint Petersburg to 1755 from 1756 in my drafts. Any further references to it should be taken to refer to 1755, not 1756.
 
Helios Ra

Interesting. Missed this before but something different. I was wondering what way Russia would go but glad their on our side [as a Brit;)] but interesting to see how this develops. Think there will still be a big war in Europe as Austria wants Silesia back and France will want to exert pressure on Britain via Hanover.

Given that Prussia and presumably Bavaria are their main allies I think France are in a weaker position. The Spanish might be more reluctant to support them compared to OTL unless they think they can gain something in Italy. Attacks against the Austrian Netherlands are likely to bring the Dutch in and re-create the traditional Grand Alliance. They could try something in the Baltic but either Sweden or Denmark are likely to be opposed by the other and Russia.

The best way the French might get a bit of balance, although not sure how much, might be their traditional links with the Ottomans. Or try and support something in Poland, although for most of this period it has a Saxon king, who will tend to favour Austria over Prussia.

A long while since I read up on the period but I think France also wanted to have the 'diplomatic revolution' as she hoped to avoid a continental conflict to be able to concentrate her entire strength against Britain. Also I think there was some dis-satisfaction in Britain after the 1748 treaty and a desire to link up with protestant Prussia. Hence there might be problems with actually maintaining the traditional alliance but doesn't seem too difficult.

I presume that whatever happens, unless the revolution happens later on, you're not going to get a Bourbon-Hapsburg royal marriage so Louis XVI will have a different wife.;)

Steve
 
Helios Ra

Interesting. Missed this before but something different. I was wondering what way Russia would go but glad their on our side [as a Brit;)] but interesting to see how this develops. Think there will still be a big war in Europe as Austria wants Silesia back and France will want to exert pressure on Britain via Hanover.

Thanks!

Given that Prussia and presumably Bavaria are their main allies I think France are in a weaker position. The Spanish might be more reluctant to support them compared to OTL unless they think they can gain something in Italy. Attacks against the Austrian Netherlands are likely to bring the Dutch in and re-create the traditional Grand Alliance. They could try something in the Baltic but either Sweden or Denmark are likely to be opposed by the other and Russia.

The Elector of Bavaria's mother is a Habsburg and his wife is Saxon, so I feel he would likely lean towards the Austrians. Maximilian III was not a particularly ambitious man militarily from what little I have read.
I haven't quite decided the course of the war in Europe. I certainly have some ideas, but still have some research to do and of course have to write it all down. I have ideas about Sardinia-Piedmont entering the war, and Sweden and Russia at odds over Finland, but not anything too concrete.

In the meantime, I have a very small, though reasonably consequential, update prepared.
 
A Miracle in Spain

King Fernando VI of Spain’s wife Barbara of Portugal discovered she was pregnant in early 1758 as war raged in Europe. Both being in their mid-40s, with little reason to believe an heir would be produced, this was praised as a miracle. Late on the 19 of September, 1758, Infante Marco “El Milagroso” of Spain would be born. He would be, predictably, the only child of the two monarchs, and would succeed to the Spanish throne in 1771 at the age of thirteen, with a regency, following his father's death.

Maria_Barbara_de_Braganza.jpg
Fernando_VI_rey_de_Espana.jpg

Infanta Barbara of Portugal (1711-1770) and King Fernando VI of Spain (1713-1771)
 
I would just like to point out that in 1753, the British did not have that much of India. It was still under the Nawab of Bengal, and so loosely under Mughal rule. Though that is something wrong with the basemap and nothing you have written.:)

Also, interested in the timeline, and will definitely follow.:D
 
I would just like to point out that in 1753, the British did not have that much of India. It was still under the Nawab of Bengal, and so loosely under Mughal rule. Though that is something wrong with the basemap and nothing you have written.:)

Also, interested in the timeline, and will definitely follow.:D

trollhole

Good point. It was only the 1756 conflict that really broke French power and allowed the expansion of influence into Bengal. Helped if I recall correctly by the Nawab being pro-French, or at least anti-British and hence the EUC arranging his replacement. Butterfly that, or Clive's failed suicide, and things can go differently.

Steve
 
trollhole

Good point. It was only the 1756 conflict that really broke French power and allowed the expansion of influence into Bengal. Helped if I recall correctly by the Nawab being pro-French, or at least anti-British and hence the EUC arranging his replacement. Butterfly that, or Clive's failed suicide, and things can go differently.

Steve
He was anti-British, though he could very well play the French against the British. At this point in time, there are a great many paths India could take. It could undergo loose control by the French, though the South can and will resist that. It could see a Mughal resurgence. It could see the Nawabs becoming more and more independent and seizing their own destiny, or you could have the British succeed as per OTL. But it is in a precarious position, and IMO, if you do not have successful colonization now, then you will not get the opportunity to explore it further ITTL. The Indian states will recover and become quite powerful. There would be more of an impetus to take them as strategic partners, rather than objects of conquest.
 
He was anti-British, though he could very well play the French against the British. At this point in time, there are a great many paths India could take. It could undergo loose control by the French, though the South can and will resist that. It could see a Mughal resurgence. It could see the Nawabs becoming more and more independent and seizing their own destiny, or you could have the British succeed as per OTL. But it is in a precarious position, and IMO, if you do not have successful colonization now, then you will not get the opportunity to explore it further ITTL. The Indian states will recover and become quite powerful. There would be more of an impetus to take them as strategic partners, rather than objects of conquest.

trollhole

I don't know if the path to a India falling under European rule was that narrow. The Mughal empire has imploded and the Maratha's are already squabbling. Although if they win the 3rd Battle of Panipat in 1761 that might change.

Don't forget the key factor was the disorder in India not only made European domination possible but also necessary. To maintain their trade, since the EIC was a commercial organisation and to prevent an enemy taking over. Also the gulf in both technology and organisation between Europe and the rest of the world will continue to grow for another century. Hence, if the Maratha's form a new powerful empire India could end up with a similar path to OTL's China. Plus unless the Maratha's quickly remove independent elements like the Nawab of Bengal, one of them can give a European power an in, either as an ally against the Maratha's or simply as the Nawab did OTL by picking and losing a fight with one of the European powers.

I'm not saying European rule is inevitable but I think its still the most likely route for things to go.

Steve
 
trollhole

I don't know if the path to a India falling under European rule was that narrow. The Mughal empire has imploded and the Maratha's are already squabbling. Although if they win the 3rd Battle of Panipat in 1761 that might change.

Don't forget the key factor was the disorder in India not only made European domination possible but also necessary. To maintain their trade, since the EIC was a commercial organisation and to prevent an enemy taking over. Also the gulf in both technology and organisation between Europe and the rest of the world will continue to grow for another century. Hence, if the Maratha's form a new powerful empire India could end up with a similar path to OTL's China. Plus unless the Maratha's quickly remove independent elements like the Nawab of Bengal, one of them can give a European power an in, either as an ally against the Maratha's or simply as the Nawab did OTL by picking and losing a fight with one of the European powers.

I'm not saying European rule is inevitable but I think its still the most likely route for things to go.

Steve
As long as the Mughal Empire continues to implode, yes. Shah Alam II however, is also on the horizon, and if he is able to get on the throne sooner, a resurgence is possible, completely changing the dynamic of Europe and India. I believe the path of India falling to European rule was that narrow, however India falling to European influence and domination is much broader. Also, nominally the Nawab of Bengal and Nizam of Hyderabad were also Mughal. The Mughal Empire had not imploded at this point. Was it much weaker? Yes. But Shah Alam II managed to bring about a resurgence through active reform, and by the end of his rule, the army was still better than anyone else, except the British. With that being butterflied....well.....

Also, should Bengal successfully play the French against the British, and suppose that the French are successful, then you really do have a whole other ball game.
 
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