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Hey everyone, so I've been tinkering around with this idea for a while, when it's been proposed in the past it's generated some interest, but not as much as I'd initially thought. The basic gist of it is...taking the initial POD for the Draka books and moving on from there without having any specific end goal in mind such as the infamous Domination.

I've put my ideas down in a rough timeline form, figured I'd see what y'all think.


1781: Admiral George Johnstone decisively defeats the French at the Battle of Porto Praya and goes on to conquer the Cape Colony. African Khoikhoi and Griqua/Mixed race people play a large role in this conquest.

1781-1783: The Cape Colony is placed under military occupation while the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War continues to rage along with the American Revolutionary war. Britain does slightly better in Asia/India due to the capture of the Cape Colony and the problems it poses to the Dutch. During the occupation the British military makes strategic alliances with the Khoikhoi and the Griqua to “keep the peace” and ensure that only a small garrison is needed. The conclusion of the American Revolutionary War brings up the question of what to do with those African Americans who have enlisted/escaped with the British Army. Those that are not returned to their owners are encouraged to settle in the Cape Colony in a "back to Africa" movement.

1784: The Treaty of Paris awards the Cape Colony to Britain making the war an even larger disaster for the Dutch (domestic rammifications?). The British see the seizure of the Cape Colony as a potential settling place for American Loyalists and in so doing offer free land and subsidized immigration to whomever will take it. In reward for their loyalty to the British the Khoikhoi and the Griqua are offered improved rights.

1785-1800: Roughly ¼ of OTL Loyalists (13,000) who left America end up heading to South Africa and taking advantage of the offers of free land. In particular South Africa is the destination of choice for Black Loyalists due to them having better prospects/climate there than in America. South Africa also becomes a replacement for the American colonies as the destination for British convicts bolstering its population even more. These colonists expand the borders of the Cape Colony even more but also lead to increasing fears among the Dutch population of Anglicization. Furthermore the liberal treatment of Free Africans and Mixed Race peoples by the British colonial government raises the ire of the Dutch settlers. Those mad enough, and with remaining ties elsewhere emigrate. However the better economic policies of the British entice many to stay.

1787: Instead of settling at the sight of Sierra Leone, British abolitionists settle the “black poor” in South Africa. However they run into difficulties with the colonial authorities in Cape Town. Eventually a compromise is found and the site of Walvis Bay in OTL Namibia is selected for settlement.

1789-1801: During this time the 2nd Xhosa war is also fought with the British forces delivering a decisive defeat against the Xhosa and driving them further east.

1801: A smaller group of Dutch settlers (percentage wise in population) attempts a “Great Trek” in order to save their culture from the growing British domination of South Africa. This trek is marked by several defeats resulting in many turning back. The British governor handles this well however with the returning Dutch being granted amnesty etc.

1802: Last of the Voortrekkers return, the failure of the Great Trek has a substantial impact on the remaining Dutch colonists and begins to have an impact on their thoughts regarding race and relations with the British.

1803-1804: Emulating the voortrekkers British authorities begin to expand North East opening the region to future settlement by convicts and settlers.

1807: Britain outlaws the slave trade as per OTL. From this point on convict labour begins to replace slave labour in South Africa?

1811: 20 years after TTL's British takeover of South Africa has seen the region change dramatically. A massive influx of English immigration by both American Loyalists and convicts has established them as the largest settler community. Dutch culture in the region is slowly beginning to fade as intermarriage and sheer numbers take their toll. In addition to changing white settler trends, S. Africa is dotted by dozens of Khoikhoi, Griqua, and Free African communities who have fought hard for their rights and are quite loyal to the colonial government so long as those rights are maintained. Furthermore, a growing abolitionist movement is taking shape in the region influenced both by events in Britain and local experiences.

Longer Term
-The Abolition of Slavery, though not popular in South Africa isn’t as big a catastrophe as expected. Different measures ensure a rather smooth transition towards a free-er economy. Though some call for a second trek they are quickly shouted down as by this point intermarriage has tied the remaining Dutch colonists to the Cape.

-Shaka Zulu runs up against growing British colony in South Africa and is defeated in the 1820’s. However due to their ferocity in warfare an perhaps an agreement is made in which the British crown can recruit Zulu warriors to fight for it (much like the Gurkhas). These troops could be employed by the British during the Indian Mutiny.

-Due to no great trek South Africa pushes inland slower than OTL but along the coast faster due to penal settlements

-Fewer convicts to Australia (mostly politically dangerous ones are sent there)

Thoughts? Don't be shy, If I've gotten anything grievously wrong I'm more than willing to revisit it. I know I'm probably a bit too optimistic but at the same time I'm pretty convinced that an earlier British conquest of the region is going to lead to a more liberal "nicer" S. Africa in time.
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