PC and AHC: Napoleon III Wankage

I had first come across the idea when doing this thread --Napoleon III became Emperor of the French in December 1852.

With a PoD no earlier than 1853, how does the French Empire continue and grow to world hyperpower within 75 years, by 1928?

Here's what I've got:

1853 -- after asserting Russia's role as protector of Ottoman Christians, and initiating aggressive moves in the Danubian Principalities, Tsar Nicholas I dies (18 months earlier than OTL), leaving the throne and a tense situation to his more pragmatic son, Alexander (II). Napoleon III sees an opportunity, and sends his foreign minister, ED de Lhuys, to negotiate a treaty with Russia (and perhaps Austria as well).

1854 -- These powers sign a treaty carving up the Ottoman Empire into zones, where their respective nations have the "prerogative" to "protect Christian subjects" -- essentially giving France and Russia (and maybe Austria) "zones of influence" in the Ottoman Empire.

1850's -- [France sees heavier industrialization than OTL]

1857 -- Indian Rebellion succeeds in many parts of the subcontinent; the Muhghals maintain their rule in the northwest, etc

1861 -- following his 1861 Emancipation Manifesto, Alexander II is killed by a Polish nationalist. His 17 year old son, Nicholas Alexandrovich, assumes the throne and becomes Nicholas II. [This moves the January Uprising of OTL ahead of schedule]; Britain and France also send forces to intervene in civil wars in China (the Taiping Rebellion) and Japan (the Chosu wars), siding with the established powers

1862 -- France and Britain recognize the CSA, as well as the Polish rebels; French troops arrive in Mexico [as OTL]; British ships seek to break the Union blockade of the south; Prussia moves unilaterally on the Schleswig-Holstein, prompting a war with Austria

1863 -- the Italians try to retake the Papal states; Austria and France invade from the north

By 1866 -- The CSA is recognized by the US, but is essentially a British client state; Russia recognizes a Polish nation extending from Latvia to the Crimean; Prussia and Italy are stomped before it could rise; the Qing and the Shogun have been restored, under the influence of the British and the French; the Republican resistance in Mexico is all but defeated

Thus, do Britain and France solidify themselves as the pre-eminent global powers.

1873 -- Napoleon's son marries the Austrian Emperor's daughter, Griselda

1879 -- Napoleon III dies, is succeeded by his son, Napoleon IV

1880-1910 -- Britain and France divide up unclaimed Africa between themselves; [Archduke Rudolf does not commit suicide

1911 -- Emperor Franz Josef dies around the same time that Archduke Rudolf is shot; Napoleon IV claims the dual throne through his wife, which the Archduke Ferdinand objects to; Britain backs Ferdinand; this leads to...

1912-15 -- the War of Austrian Succession, which France wins; Britain is so badly beaten that France is able to extract most of her colonies as "compensation"

1921 -- Napoleon IV dies, succeeded by his son, Napoleon V

1927 -- 75th Anniversary of the French Empire
 
A Polish nation stretching that far seems a little unreasonable. Additionally, you say that Britain and France are both major global powers, yet you seem to have the French magically eradicating British presence and merging with Austria.

I don't know what I think. I'll have to wait and see what other people say about it.
 
A Polish nation stretching that far seems a little unreasonable.

My thinking is that the Polish rebels get all Russian Poland-Lithuania, while France and Britain take the Crimean, and give it to the Poles to cut Russia off from the continent.

Additionally, you say that Britain and France are both major global powers, yet you seem to have the French magically eradicating British presence and merging with Austria.

Well, I've got Napoleon with a claim to the Austrian throne, likely getting a number of their interests to back him, plus 30 years to get the upper end; what I imagined was that France and Britain would go to war over the matter, you've got a war where the winner gets position as a global hyper power.
 
John Fredrick Parker said:
Well, I've got Napoleon with a claim to the Austrian throne, likely getting a number of their interests to back him, plus 30 years to get the upper end; what I imagined was that France and Britain would go to war over the matter, you've got a war where the winner gets position as a global hyper power.

Their is just one little problem with your reasonning : the Austrian rule of succession.

Franz Joseph had only one son : Archduke Rudolph. As we all know, Rudolf killed himself (officialy anyway) in OTL. However, he wasn't the only child of Franz Joseph : the Emperor also had three daughters. Besides, Rudolph also had a legitimate daughter.

Yet, because of male primogeniture, the next Emperor was to be Franz Joseph's nephew, Franz Ferdinand, the son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, Franz Joseph's brother.

And when Franz Ferdinand was murdered in 1914, and after the death of Franz Joseph in 1916, the crown passed another of his nephew who became Emperor Charles I, the last Emperor of Austria-Hungary (and a good man).

So, sadly to say, Napoleon III's claim on the Austrian throne is weak : marrying a daughter of the Emperor is not enough compared to being a nephew of the Emperor.
 
Their is just one little problem with your reasonning : the Austrian rule of succession.

Franz Joseph had only one son : Archduke Rudolph. As we all know, Rudolf killed himself (officialy anyway) in OTL. However, he wasn't the only child of Franz Joseph : the Emperor also had three daughters. Besides, Rudolph also had a legitimate daughter.

Yet, because of male primogeniture, the next Emperor was to be Franz Joseph's nephew, Franz Ferdinand, the son of Archduke Karl Ludwig, Franz Joseph's brother.

And when Franz Ferdinand was murdered in 1914, and after the death of Franz Joseph in 1916, the crown passed another of his nephew who became Emperor Charles I, the last Emperor of Austria-Hungary (and a good man).

So, sadly to say, Napoleon III's claim on the Austrian throne is weak : marrying a daughter of the Emperor is not enough compared to being a nephew of the Emperor.

Not only is his claim very weak, but he will have to face all the other great powers, not only Britain, to succeed.
Since it also isn't in the interest of Prussia, Russia, obviously Austria etc. It might end up being be ''Leipzig and Waterloo'' 2.0.....

Hmmm now that I think of it, this would be an excellent ATL scenerio for the establishment of the German Empire, the German part of the Austrian Empire was a part of the German Confederation. Bismarck wouldn't even need an ATL Ems Dispatch:D.
 
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Emperor-of-New-Zealand said:
A Polish nation stretching that far seems a little unreasonable.

Indeed. Especially with all that upcoming nationalism in the 19th century. Besides, this could almost make Prussia, A-H and Russia allies by default.

John Fredrick Parker said:
1912-15 -- the War of Austrian Succession, which France wins; Britain is so badly beaten that France is able to extract most of her colonies as "compensation"

How did this, especially the bold part happen? Britain ignoring a french fleet building program which should at least exceed the OTL imperial german one?
 
Indeed. Especially with all that upcoming nationalism in the 19th century.

When the Poland described consists almost entirely of the former Poland Lithuania, this is a problem?

Besides, this could almost make Prussia, A-H and Russia allies by default.

Remember, Prussia has been beaten into the ground, and Poland is still pretty weak in its own right; Russia is now cut off from Europe and the Ottomans, so I don't think ITTL Austria will be thinking about Russia one way or another as much either way.

That of course, largely leaves France -- bringing me to the concession that the War of Austrian Succession is implausible, especially as the path to Franco-wank.

That takes me back to the end of the Great War in 1865; I ask then, how does Napoleon IV lead France from being one of the world's two superpowers to global hyperpower?
 
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John Fredrick Parker said:
When the Poland described consists almost entirely of the former Poland Lithuania, this is a problem?

Well, since it extends from Latvia to the Crimean it's seemingly larger than just that.

ITTL Austria will be thinking about Russia one way or another as much either way.
Admittedly, Austria could as well be content with this buffer separating it from Russia.
Then again, the poles in Galicia are very likely to develop some irredentist movements, which might irate A-H's leadership. But for this timeline's sake I assume that Nappy managed to persuade them to give up Galicia in exchange for Silesia, which Austria gets from defeated Prussia.
Although Britain will do all possible diplomatic tricks to prevent this shift in power.
 
Well, since it extends from Latvia to the Crimean it's seemingly larger than just that.

Maybe "Latvia" isn't exactly right -- it includes Courland (western Latvia today), which was part of the January Uprising OTL, IIRC. The Crimean is conquered, ITTL, by the Alliance, and there's very little territory between the Crimea and the southeastern border of the former PLC, so again we're not talking about that much.

Although Britain will do all possible diplomatic tricks to prevent this shift in power.

Yes, true -- heck, this could be the start of a "cold war" between the French and the British. :D

EDIT ADD: Here's a map; note the location of the Crimea

PolandLithuania1454.jpg
 
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