PAX FRANCIA
An alternate timeline where instead of the British Empire ruling the four corners of the globe in the Pax Britannica, the French are the ones who do so.
1810
It is 1810, month of February. The Fifth Coalition was recently defeated by Napoleon and his imperial army. In France, people cheer for their emperor. "Vive l'empereur! Vive la France!" they yell. The people of Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia, are all dismayed by their fifth failure to contain France. However, the four have decided on a new way to force France back into its old borders.
On March 5th, Spain enters the alliance. Great Britain promised the return of Gibraltar, should Spain help defeat France. A few days later, on the 8th, the Ottoman Empire joins the alliance after being promised the region of Hungary by Austria, though rather reluctantly on Austria's part.
After the six are finished preparing for war, the Sixth Coalition is formed in late July. On July 24th, war is declared on France. The Sixth Coalition is extremely confident in their ability to defeat France this time.
The first battle is fought off the shore of Holland. Six frigates and four SoTLs (Ship of the Lines) under Admiral Jean-Francois miraculously fended off a British attack force, consisting of three frigates and seven SoTLs. Admiral Jean-Francois is commended for his brilliant thinking in the battle, but his force is so battered that he must leave to Le Havre to repair and buy new ships. While he is gone, the Royal Navy and the Spanish Navy land an invasion force into the Netherlands. Around 24,000 British regulars and 17,500 Spaniards try to liberate the Netherlands. The Battle of Amsterdam ensues on August 18th. The French defenders, led by General Benoit, number 34,700. Using the cities recently-refurbished defenses, the Spanish and the British are repulsed. They retreat north, then try again on September 4th, but fail once more. Over in the east, Napoleon sets out with 94,000 men to invade Austria.
On September 28th, the Siege of Toulon begins. It is a huge battle. 8,500 Ottomans, 17,500 Brits, 14,000 Spaniards, 26,000 Austrians, 5,500 Russians besiege the port city for two weeks. It amounts to 71,500 men. Defending the city is General Davout. He has approximately 32,500 men under his command, along with seven SoTLs in the port. Just when the walls are about to be broken down by the Allies, Marshal Grouchy arrives with a relief force of 36,000. Together, they number 68,500. The Allies are split between the western and eastern side of the city. Austrians and Russians on the east, the rest on the west. Grouchy delivers a surprise attack to the Austrians and the Russians. Davout takes his men and strikes the British-led offensive on the west. The battle starts on October 12. That morning, there is a heavy fog. Thanks to the French communication lines, the seven SoTLs launch surprise attacks on the Allies. Four ships fire on the British-led army in the west, taking them totally by surprise and lowering their morale. The other three fire on the Austrians and Russians in the east, also lowering their morale. A few hours into the battle, the Austrians begin to break, and the Russians flee. On the west, only a few Spaniards and half the British force remain. The French casualties are also high, but not as much. Davout orders a full out cavalry charge. They encircle the British, and the British surrender. Meanwhile, about some of the Austrians are taken prisoner. Altogether, 3,700 Brits, 1,800 Austrians, 200 Russians, and 800 Spaniards are taken prisoner. Davout and Grouchy become heroes.