The Golden Eagle, A Napoleonic France after the Peace of Vienna

[Kaiser of Brazil]

While great changes happened in Europe and the Americas, the Empires slowly started to dominate the east, the Traditional powers of the region were challenged and even defeated, but the Europeans also had their limitations.

India: The most powerful Company of the World, the East Indias Company, became der facto rulers of an entire subcontinent with millions of subjects, after the final Maratha defeat in 1818, there was no nation that could challenge the rule of the Company. The British maintained many of the previous institutions like the Princes (as long as they remained loyal) and the Caste system. During the 1830s the Company lost their monopoly over the East and had to compensate the loss of money with political gains, creating the Doctrine of the Lapse: If a Prince died without a determinated heir and there was a succession crisis, the Company had the right to intervene to secure stability. The first opportunity was the death of Ranjit Singh, the Marahajah of the Sikh Empire, a powerful nation over the Northwest of the subcontinent in Punjab and Kashmir with over 3 million subjects.

((The Empire in 1839))
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The Sikh Empire was soon invaded by the Company, but they underestimated the Empire of the Marahajah, Singh modernized his army during his late years in preparation for the inevitable war. Their army imported weapons, instructors and artillery from several European nations, especially the French Empire, and were able to defeat the Company in several battles, until the decisive victory in the battle of Patiala, Sher Singh became the new Marahajah and forced the retreat of the Company in 1842, demanding heavy war indemnities, it was the first time a Indian Princely State resisted the Doctrine of the Lapse.

China: The Empire of the Great Qing, known as the Chinese Empire to the westerners, was the most powerful Nation of Asia. Ruling over hundreds of millions, the Qing dinasty overthrew the Ming Dinasty during the 17th Century, and ruled an Empire from the Gobi desert in Mongolia, to the Mountains of the Himalaias in Tibet, from the distant Manchuria in the North, to the Yunnan Jungles and the border with Dai Viet, the Empire ruled over several cultures and religions, and such a vast dominion made the Qing believe they ruled over the Center of the world and were superior to all their neighbors, until the British Empire arrived. They started with Trade, using the Canton system that made the city of Canton the only port open to trade with foreigners, but then the trade expanded, in 1834 with the Company monopoly broken, other traders started to join in, including those that sold the drug called "Opium".

((Consumption of Opium was a great issue in China, by 1838 there were between 4 and 12 million addicts))
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The Daoguang Emperor demanded action, Commissar Lin Zexu was sent to Canton where he cracked down on opium, closing factories and smoke houses, arresting producers and expelling foreigners involved with no compensation. The British traders took the case to London where Prime Minister George Augustus sent an Experdition to forcefully reopen the trade in China.

((Ships of the East Indies Company destroy the outdated Chinese Junks))
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For 3 years, the British Bombarded and blockaded the coast of China, destroying their navy and costal fortifications. The Qing were brought to their knees and forced into a unequal treaty: The village of Hong Kong would be given to the British, the Qing Empire would reopen trade with the West, and heavy war indemnities would be given to the Traders and the East Indies Company. The Qing were humiliated and saw the need to start a reformation, but their problems would be just beggining.

((Map of the Qing Empire c.1844))
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Indonesia: The Treaty of Vienna gave the Low Countries as a puppet state to the French Empire, but their colonies were a different talk. Like in South Africa, the British seized control of the Dutch East Indies and the French took the Caribbean and Guianense possessions. The British East Indies brought little change to the local sultans that continued to pay tribute in return of protection (Most of the times against their own overlords), a system of Protectorate. The British created the "Dominion of Indonesia" as a Autonomous colony with Royal Authority to collect tributes and being responsible for the colonization and defense of the Area, it was centered in the Island of Singapore. The first act of the British was to crush the Padri rebellion in Sumatra, where radical Wahhabist clerics wanted the implementation of it in Sumatra. By 1821 the rebels were crushed and the British control over Sumatra was secured and tightened.

((Fight between Padri and British forces over a standard, 1817))
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Burma: in 1822 the Burmese King Bagyidaw was convinced by Jingoists of the Court to launch can offensive against the East Indies Company, it proved to be a great mistake as the war ended in a decisive British victory, giving the British total control of Assam, Manipur, Cachar and Jaintia as well as Arakan Province and Tenasserim. The Burmese were also forced to pay an indemnity of one million pounds sterling, and sign a commercial treaty.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The states of Scandinavia had a Long History during the last centuries, the Rise and fall of the Kalmar Union, the Union of Denmark and Norway, the 30 years' war and the Rise of the Swedish Empire, the Great Northern War, the Enlightenment and the Napoleonic Wars. The Kingdoms finally had a moment of rest.

As punishment for the support to Napoleon and to compensate the loss of Finland, Denmark lost Norway and it was given to Sweden, but the Norwegians weren't asked their opinions and they didn't want submission to Stockholm, the result was a revolt that lasted until 1814 when king Karl XIV (The French Marshall Jean Bernadotte that was made King after a coup by the Swedish Military after the Finnish war) proposed a Dual Monarchy: Sweden and Norway would be equal with their own Parliaments, Armies and laws, While united under the same King. It was the beggining of Sweden-Norway.

((The Flag of the Union of Sweden and Norway))
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The Union was initially a compromise that didn't satisfy anyone, but soon people grew used to it. The Industrial revolution also arrived with the Textile industry being the main beneficiary of it initially, but interesting Geological studies showed large iron reserves in the north of the Country, but the harsh environmental conditions prevented the excavation of the mines of Lapland.

Denmark lost Norway, but they were compensated with Holstein and Schleswig, two German-Majority duchies in the south, the two were in a interesting situation where the dukes were both Vassals of the Danish King, and members of the German Confederation.

((The Duchies were split in 3, North and South Schleswig and Holstein))
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Other than that, things were quiet over the North, economy was growing like in the rest of Europe and peace reigned. For now.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

Gran Colombia: President Santander was in his 4th term as President of Gran Colombia, when he announced his resignation, he argued that he already served his purpose and was time for the "Maturation of Colombian Democracy", the presidential race began, with Equador, Venezuela, and Granada having their internal elections and sending 3 candidates to be chosen by all the Union. Santander's Term was remembered for the stabilization of the economy and the Federalist Constitution, the political stability was also enjoyed by the Colombians and that influenced the election of José Ignacio de Marqués, the Colombian candidate for the Federalist Party.

((President José Ignacio, the Second Granadian President of Colombia))
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José wasn't as bright as Santander, his term was mostly Business as usual, he continued the protectionist policies of Santander and what prevented him from falling in obscurity was the Pastaza War. Peru-Bolivia and Gran Colombia went to war in 1836, the war lasted 2 years as both sides ended with a stalemate, but then Chile attacked the Confederation in 1839 and they were forced to surrender their claims over Pastaza and give Antofagasta to Chile. The Victory gave José a second term.

Peru-Bolivia: The Confederation went into the 30s optimistic, if not overestimating, of themselves and their capacities, the economy was good and In 1834 Santa Cruz was back into Presidency after Gamarra's term, with a expansionist agenda. The army was increased to 38,000 men and was being trained by European instructors. In 1836, Cruz fabricated a border incident in Pastaza, shooting at Colombian Soldiers and provoking a War.

((Andrés de Santa Cruz, President of Peru-Bolivia))
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But the war didn't go as expected, the Main Peruvian force was repealed in Guayaquil and the war became a back and forth confrontation. The 1838 elections was suspended by the Marshall as he prepared for one great offensive in Equador, quickly taking Guayaquil and heading to Quito when an army of 14,000 Peruvians was repealed by 5,000 Colombians in the mountains. The Victory news spread to Latin America and Chile invaded Antofagasta, the two front war was too destructive and Andres decided to quit before too late, giving up the Pastaza claims and Antofagasta.

Chile: The country remained... the same ? Other than the conquest of Antofagasta, there wasn't any other big developments in the Country.

Platinean Empire: The Platinean Empire remained Neutral during the Confederation War, Rosas decided to spend his time focusing on internal issues, in 1839 Slavery was abolished in all La Plata and, at the same year, La Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires was founded. Emperor Rosas also continued to Centralize his powers and the Nation as a whole, integrating the Banda Oriental.

Brazil: The Brazilian Empire reached the mid 1830s with more stability ever since Emperor Pedro reduced his interference over the Politics. But in 1836, due to a conflict related to Charque Tariffs, the Gaucho south of Brazil rebelled against the Crown led by Bento Gonçalves, Antonio de Souza Netto and the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi. The Gauchos achieved great successes against the local government forces and declared the "República Rio-Grandense" while Garibaldi went north to Santa Catarina and created the "Juliana Republic". In 1839 the Emperor dispatched an Experdition led by Luís Alves de Lima e Silva and 18,000 soldiers to restore order, during a battle at Desterro, the Italian commander and Nationalist Giuseppe Garibaldi was killed by an artillery shell, ending the Juliana Republic. One year later, Bento Gonçalves and the Gauchos were defeated in Porto Alegre and the Crown made peace the Gauchos reducing the tariffs over Charque meat, ending the Farroupilha War.

((Gaucho cavalry Charge against Brazilian forces during the battle of Laguna))
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While the order was restored in the south, tragedy struck Brazil, the Emperor D. Pedro I died of Tuberculosis, leaving his wife depressed and isolated, while leaving his 15-year old son D. Pedro II as Emperor of Brazil.

((D. Pedro I, First Emperor of Brazil, on his deathbed at the age of 41))

((D. Pedro II, Emperor of Brazil at the age of 15))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

England was the First Nation to adopt a Constitution, the Magna Carta. The last time a King became a tyrant, he had his head chopped off to a crowd after a bloody civil war, and the last time a King represented a threat to the Parliament, another one was invited to take his Place and was exiled. Britain did not like Tyrant Kings and Ernest I Augusts wasn't going to be an exception.

In 1839, the Chartist society was created, promoting Liberalism, and Universal Suffrage. By 1840 they had over 40,000 members, by 1841 they had 280,000, and the numbers were increasing. In 1842 the Prime Minister George Augustus banned the Chartist Societies, forcing them into illegality, but that didn't stop their growth.

((The Chartist demands in a underground poster))
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In 1841, a Strike of Textile workers in Liverpool was the excuse the government needed, the army was sent to crackdown and ended up with 8 dead workers and 21 injured. Worker's associations, Trade Unions, and Strikes were banned and previous worker's rights were reversed, George argued that they were hurting the British industry and it's competitivity against the French.

In 1843, the Freedom of Speech was attacked as many left-wing newspapers were shut down and their journalists were arrested. On the same year, the Whigs achieved a Majority in the House of Commons, the King and the House of Lords spoke in favor of a repeal the Reform Act of 1832 and calling new elections on the older system. This was heavily attacked by the Whigs and they called the people to protest, with the excuse that they were disturbing the order, several Whig leaders were arrested and many more lost their mandates. Coincidently the exact numbers needed to repeal the reform act. The House decided to start a vote to repeal the act over the next year.

In 1844, over one million protestors over all the country took streets against the increasingly Reactionary attitudes of the King and Parliament, including mostly Chartists and Liberals, but mixing in some Pelletists and Unionists. The police kept a close watch, preparing for the worst.

The Whigs postponed the votation, several times, and the more the time passed, the more angry the people became. Until in 12th of December the voting started, and the Tories won, causing riots and Unrest on the streets and a General Strike was called by illegal unions and the Chartists. The British Industry was paralyzed and in the 25th of December, a confrontation of workers and soldiers ended with a massacre as a while a batallion shoot at a crowd in York. The government tried to stop the news from spreading but the news arrived in London in January and the riots became a urprising.

The Whig parliamentarians resigned and joined the people, barricades were erected and the King dissolved the parliament, declaring Martial Law and sending the army. The military units were overwhelmed in Industrial cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

In Ireland, the Potato crops failed causing a massive hunger over the country, adding with the reactionarism and anti-Catholic atitude of London. The Irish Liberation army was formed in 1841 and used the revolt momentum to declare a Independence war that saw great support with the population (except for Ulster), in a matter of months, all Catholic-Majority areas were under the ILA.

((Starving Irishmen beg for food in a granary))

((The ILA assault British positions in Dublin))
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News soon spread to the Continent, and on the 8th of February the Parliament building was taken by the people, the Army refused to fire and turned against the King. King Ernest I Augusts fleed to Hannover, and a Provisional government was established. The British Revolution lighted a fire that was dormant for 15 years, and that Popular, Liberal, Nationalist fire would spread and burn Europe a 3rd time.

((The British Revolution of 1845, Revolutionaries storm the Parliament building.))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The once mighty Ottoman Empire was declining, the Serbian Rebellion was defeated in 1815 but it woke up the "Eastern Question" in the Balkans, the Ottomans ruled over a vast number of cultures and religions and nowhere was this more evident than the Balkan Peninsula.

((Ethnic map of the Ottoman Balkans in 1861))
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The Second rebellion happened in 1821 when the Greeks declared independence from the Ottoman Empire, after a long War and intervention of the European Powers, the Ottomans were forced to surrender Attica, Naxos, and Pelloponesus to the new Greek Kingdom.

((The borders of the new Greek Kingdom, 1832))
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But Grecce was nothing compared to the south. The Eylaet of Egypt was ruled by the Ambitious Mehmet Ali, the Governor of Egypt with Albanian descent dreamed on a independent Greater Egypt, and for that he modernized the Eylaet. He industrialized Egypt by incentivizing the Textile and Military industry, conducting a land reform and recruiting instructors from France. In 1812 the first test came when Egypt took Hedjaz from Arabia, in 1821 Sudan was Conquered, and in 1830 he turned against the Ottomans and by 1833 the Levant was transferred to Ali's Dominion, but he still remained a Nominal Vassal. Finally he declared independence in 1838, with the British at war in Canada and China, any proposal to intervene on Ottoman behalf fell on deaf ears to the Tories. Instead the French announced support for the Egyptians, looking to increase influence in the Mediterranean and build a future canal in the Suez. The war lasted another two years with the Ottomans invading Syria and successfully holding off Ali's army, Russia (now under Tsar Nicholas I) threatened intervention on Ottoman Behalf and putting the Holy Alliance next to another Napoleonic Army, the two sides agreed: Mehmet Ali would rule an independent Egypt, controlling Hedjaz, Sudan, and Levant would be split: Lebanon and all Land north of Damascus would be returned to the Ottomans, while the Palestine and Jordan would be under Egyptian Rule.

((Mehmet I Ali, Sultan of Egypt))
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The loss of Egypt and the Holy cities of Mecca, Medinah, and Jerusalem was a serious blow to the Ottomans, the defeats against Egypt and Grecce forced the reform of the Empire, the young Sultan Abdulmejid I continued his Father's reforms: Creating the first Paper money notes, adoption of an National Anthem and Flag, adoption of the French civil Code as a basis for law, introduction of Conscription as part of a greater army reform, and a Financial system based on France. He faces great opposition from the Conservative Ulema religious and wasn't able to fully implement the reforms, but it was still a step into the Modernization of the Ottoman Empire.

((Sultan Abdulmejid I, Nicknamed "The Reformer", after the Ottoman defeat against Egypt he undertook a large Modernization process of the Empire))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

Who killed Napoleon Francis Bonaparte, the Second of his name, the Emperor of the French, during the second French Revolution ? Do you think the letter of Napoleon III stating that Soult would not March against the city (dubious considering what he did in Barcelona) was real or a forgery ?

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The second Ministry of Thiers was one where he started to drift the Liberaux more to the right, at least about the Cultural policies. Francocentrism was a rising phenomenon to the French people and the Liberaux didn't want to lose their voters. With the only two parties of France becoming Francocentric, the German Matthias Wegner created the "Federalist Party" or "Parti Federalisté", the party was centered in a pro-Minority and Liberal agenda. The party would see a large rise on the number of supporters, but the fact that their agenda was based to fight Francocentrism prevented it from growing beyond the Minorities of the Empire.

Thiers' second term started with a increased number of Liberaux in the senate (58-42) but still far from a majority. France was under a ongoing change, since 1830, The French started to distrust the Minorities as they believed that they would backstab them and declare independence at the first opportunity, and it just worsened after the Rhineland Strike and the rise of Pelletism (that was increasingly being associated to minorities and the Germans in special, due to it's pro-Minority positions). Discrimination by law was a trend, French was forced in the curriculum on the Rhineland, Piedmont, Flandres, and Catalonia. Local history was ignored and French History was prevalent, in special the idea that they were the same Frankish culture with Charlemagne's Empire being the Predecessor of Napoleon, enforcing a Neo-Carolingian culture. Slowly, but surely, the Minorities were forcefully assimilated and stripped of their identities, with this process being quite efficient on Wallonia, the Alsace, Sarvoie, Romandie, and Rousselon.

Thiers' was indifferent to that, the Liberaux would still have the votes of the minorities as they didn't leave their Francocentrism evident, and would keep the votes of the French. It was favorable to keep it that way, some French Intelectuals even calculated that the "Germans would be speaking eating cheese, Bagguetes, and a Good wine by the end of the century". But no one asked the Germans what they thing about this "Neo-Frankish" culture that was being imposed to them. Especially to Matthias Wegner, a German from a wealthy background. He used his wealth and influence to call a conference of Nationalists and leadership of the 4 minority areas of the Empire: Flandres, Catalonia, Rhineland, and Piedmont. They met in Luxembourg, the location wasn't revealed due to fears that the Gendarmes would accuse them of conspiracy and arrest them, but modern historians believe it happened in the house of a wealthy merchant called "Heinrich Stauffer". The meeting was the first time the Minorities of the Empire united under a single voice against the National Assembly in Paris, creating the "Parti Federalisté" (as they had to submit the party name under the Official language). A Party created to fight for the rights of Minorities, against the Frankification, against the Assimilation, and generally for the autonomy of the Rhineland, Piedmont, Flandres, and Catalonia as autonomous regions of the Empire.

That... didn't fall in good ears, the Liberaux and the Conservateur both agreed that this party couldn't be allowed to grow. In 1844 the Parti Federalisté was banned from participating on the Elections, claiming they were "calling for Unrest and resistance against the Empire". The Party was banned from the National Assembly and this would be the main cause of the 1845 revolution in France.

Meanwhile the Empire adventured in the oceans, the treaty of Waitangi was signed with the Maori tribes and secured dominion over New Zealand, dominion was also secured in New Caledonia and Tahiti. The Merida Monarchy was put under the French influence in Madagascar. With the Victory of Mehmet Ali in Egypt made it a der Facto Protectorate of France, a treaty was made in 1843 to create the Suez Canal Company, made by Ferdinand de Lesseps. France and Egypt would fund a canal to connect the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, splitting the shares by 70-30, the treaty was very unfair for Egypt but they couldn't get a better deal. The effective construction of the Canal would still take another decade.

Meanwhile in the Tulleries, the Emperor was in his 30s and grew used to rule, his rule was considered Liberal for the standards of the Era, he usually abstained from the Politics to take care of his family. His son and heir Louis-François Napoleon was growing surrounded by Tutors, he inherited much of the personality of his father and it would take some time to know his policies. Adelaide was with her Mother all the time, playing with her all when she could. She was also very educated in literature and was considered one of the smartest women in Europe. He gained twins in 1842: Josephine and Louise, as a homage to the two previous wives of Napoleon I, the first died in 1818 and Marie Louise was still alive at the age of 53, she remained in France and continued to help her son, advising him with dynastic policies and tutoring of his children. The Emperor continued going to public events over all the Empire, his popularity and charisma made him a unifiying figure during an era of rising Nationalism.

The 1844 elections came and Thiers didn't want a second term, many Minorities abstained as a protest against the ban of the Federalisté. But the victory came to the Conservateur after they got the Assembly back, the most controversial figure of French Politics was appointed: Marshall Jean-de-Dieu Soult.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The 1845 Revolutions or the USA ?

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

It didn't take long for the British revolution to spread to the Continent, for the past 15 years the continent was silent and repression became harsher. Especially in Austria and Russia, the two nations became police states that brutally repressed Liberals and Nationalists. But in 1835, Franz II, the last Holy Roman Emperor, died and left his mentally debilitated son (due to the centuries of incest) Ferdinand I as Kaiser. Luckily he prepared for that and left Chancellor Klemens von Metternich as the der facto Emperor as he presided a diet that ruled the daily affairs, Ferdinand could not challenge that, actually his only clear order was "I am the Emperor and I want Cookies !"

(Metternich c.1840)​

Metternich heavily suppressed Nationalists and Liberals, but his system collapsed in 1845 when the news that the King Ernest I Augusts lost his throne to the people. Inspired Liberals went to streets, demanding the end of censorship, freedom of speech, and a parliament elected by Universal Male Suffrage. Similar things happened as Lajos Kossuth made a speech in the Hungarian diet, demanding similar rights and larger Autonomy for the Hungarians. When they were ignored by Vienna, the Hungarian diet became uprising and the Empire fell in Civil War.

In Italy, the Pope Piux IX fleed Rome and left it to be ruled by Italian Nationalists and Liberals, in the south, the Kingdom of Murat II was quick to embrace Italian Nationalism as Murat's son and current King was a Liberal that believed himself destined to unite Italy. The troops of Murat marched over Rome as Liberators, he was proclaimed the "King of the Italians". His army continued to March north to take Tuscany, while Milan was revolting again, this time the revolutionaries declared support for Murat and used the civil war to invade the Austrian Empire. Local revolutionaries took Venice and proclaimed the St. Marco Republic, both these nations attacked the Austrians, while the Austrian army was composed of several minorities, including Italians that wanted the "Risorgimento". Several ranks of the Imperial Army defected to the Italians, the Italian War of Independence had begun.

((Italian Carabineti charge the Austrian Forces))

((Volunteers from the South fight against the Austrian Forces))
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Nationalism was passing through Europe like a Hurricane, and it's eye was over the Skies of Germany. Nationalists and Liberals were at their strongest there, revolutionaries overthrew several counts and dukes from the old Holy Roman Empire and convened in Frankfurt to declare the Unification of Germany, creating a flag and even an anthem. The declaration by the Frankfurt Assembly caught everyone by surprise, no one could send forces to restore the order in Germany as they were dealing with their own Revolutions. A Constitution following the Principles of Liberalism was created, but there was a problem: Who would wear the crown ?

((German Revolutionaries take the streets over all German States))

((A Pan-Nationalist painting depicting "Germania", the living Representation of Germany))
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Meanwhile, the Austrian Empire was under a collapsing spiral, the Hungarian forces rebelled and organized themselves, saying a collective "no" to Vienna, the Hungarian soldiers followed the Italian example and defected from the Army. In Galicia, the Poles started an uprising, the peasants killed landlords and started a rebellion in Krakow, the polish rebellion spread north, a second polish uprising started in Russia with a even greater support from local Nobility in both Galicia and Russian Poland, it would later spread to Lithuania and West Ukraine.

In Vienna, the Police opened fire at the students at orders of the Chancellor Metternich, Archduke Ludwig came to beg Metternich to renounce for sake of the stability of the Empire, Metternich refused, he claimed he would not allow a mob and a mentally disabled King to ruin the Empire. He also claimed that General Radetzky, Commander of the Austrian Forces and War Hero of the Napoleonic Wars, would restore the order in Vienna. But news would arrive in late March that Radetsky was killed in battle against the Italians, in Sacile. After these news, Metternich resigned and fleed to Stockolm.

((Revolutionaries taking the streets of Vienna))
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The resignation of Metternich didn't restore the order, the defeats against the Italians, Poles, and Hungarians forced the Royal Family to flee from Vienna. The Empire was on the brink of the collapse.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

While the Austrian Empire was collapsing and Central Europe was in revolt, things weren't as chaotic in Western Europe, Liberalism was either already embraced (France) or recently crushed (Iberian Nations). But for the Emperor a greater problem was rising: Nationalism.

The ban over the Federalisté and the appointment of Marshall Soult as Prime Minister was the last straw for the Catalans, the local Catalan parliament declared independence from the French during the innaugurational speech of the Marshall in January of 1845. The Army units in Catalonia were overwhelmed and the Catalan soldiers defected for the people, the Navy of the Mediterranean was stationed on the port of Toulon at the time, they were sent to prevent a rebellion in the Balearics, they successfully secured the island. Over 88,000 Units of the 3rd and 4th Corps were sent to restore order, but the French suffered a humiliating defeat in an ambush during the crossing of the Pyrenees. It was the first defeat of the Imperial Army since 1813.

The Victory of the Catalans during the Pyrenees pass, inspired the other minorities. The people went to streets in Turin in May and the protest turned into a uprising inspired in the rest of Italy, the city was taken and the Republic of Piedmont was declared, the army of the Kingdom of Italy finished the conquest of Tuscany in June and sent forces to help the 3 northern Republics. Napoleon III called this "The greatest betrayal I've ever suffered" when Murat's troops arrived in Turin.

Over the Rhineland, several Nationalist leaders went to Frankfurt to represent the French-dominated lands and to beg for a Intervention to free the Germans from the ongoing Frankification, but just like the rest of the issues, they were ignored and were buried by the endless debate in the Assembly. The strong French dominion over the Rhine, the high French population, the growing success of the Frankification policies, and the prevalence of cooler heads and moderates like Wegner, prevented an uprising, similar issue happened over Flandres, Girona-Roussilon, Sarvoie and Wallonia.

Soult was never a man of words, but one of action. He refused to negotiate with the Italians and Catalans, and Mobilized for war, Jerôme Bonaparte, Marshall of France and uncle of Napoleon III, was put in charge of crushing the Catalan rebellion. While the Emperor himself decided to lead the Italian offensive, he decided to follow the legacy of his father. A Napoleon would March to Italy again.

In Iberia, the Liberals were still crippled by the Miguelista and Christino wars. The few protests that happened were crushed with no compromise.

Further North, the Dutch people was increasingly more connected with their German cousins in the East, ever since they joined the German Confederation in 1830, the Pan-Germanic movement grew stronger after the Napoleonic Wars, the loss of Flandres taught the Dutch people that they would not be able to survive another French invasion. The Dutch forced King William II to draft a Constitution and a Parliament, but the Revolution only further Strengthened the Pan-Germans that sent delegates to the Frankfurt Assembly.

((King of the Netherlands, William II of the house of Orange-Nassau))
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Meanwhile, in the North, the Kingdom of Prussia also had its fair share of Liberals and Nationalists, with Austria collapsing and Russia fighting a large Polish rebellion, Prussia took the leadership role of the Holy Alliance. The Liberals were satisfied with moderate reforms: A Parliament elected by Universal Male Suffrage for men above 21, but the parliament wasn't as powerful as the French one, instead the King continued with a great amount of powers, with little difference of an Autocracy. And to satisfy the Nationalists, the first appointed Chancellor was Frederick von Bismarck, a Conservative Monarchist, but also a Nationalist that dreamed with the German Unification, he was also the Prussian Representative in Frankfurt so that helped.

((Bismarck, at the mere age of 30, was the Chancellor of Prussia, second only to the king.))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

What do you think should be the destiny of: France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Germany ?

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

King Murat II wasn't a fool, one thing is invading a collapsing Empire with help of local minorities, the other is invade the most powerful nation of the Continent. He didn't declare war over France or Austria, instead he entered negotiation talks from the moment that the Republic of Sardinia was declared. It would be a smart tactic that saved his neck from the worst, a secret deal with the French was made in August 1845: Murat would keep his Italian Kingdom with Tuscany, Lazio, Sicily, and Naples, but the city of Rome would be returned to the Pope, and all claims over French-Controlled regions would be forfeit. With the retreat of Murat's Kingdom, the 3 Northern Republics accused him of betrayal of the Italians, the 3 Republics declared the Unification of the Republic of Italy with Capital in Milan.

Napoleon III was in charge of over 140,000 troops including 20,000 Imperial Guards. His forces crossed the Aosta Valley similarly to how his father crossed the Alps 45 years earlier, Napoleon III wanted to prove himself a great commander like his father and took personal command of the Army. He was a great tactical commander and was raised by his own father for that, the Italians organized the Third liberation army with about 72,000 soldiers to try to stop Napoleon while a peace was achieved with Austria. The Italians were defeated in a matter of weeks and Milan fell to the French in October, causing the surrender of the Italian Republic.

In Austria, Emperor Ferdinand and the Court fleed Vienna, going to Moravia. The revolutionary Students of the Paramilitary "Academic Legion" took control of the city and demanded the abdication of Ferdinand and the creation of a constitutional monarchy under Franz Joseph, the nephew of the Kaiser. Under the influence of Reactionary ministers that assured the Kaiser that they could defeat the Liberals of Vienna, the Hungarian Uprising, and the Italian invasion that was already halted in Trieste, Ferdinand refused. Instead the Liberals invited Franz Joseph to be their Kaiser, he accepted. Meanwhile Bohemia remained loyal to Ferdinand.

Meanwhile, the stagnation of the Frankfurt Parliament would be their downfall, the crown of Kaiser was offered to Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia, but he refused it, claiming that "Only God can appoint the Kings". Prussian troops invaded the city of Frankfurt in September, capturing and dissolving the Parliament. Wilhelm used the dissolution of the parliament and the Austrian crisis to put Prussia finally into the leadership role over the German Confederation.

The Catalan uprising was defeated in a month after Jerôme's campaign, the state of Catalonia is put under Martial law, the Constitution was suspended locally by Jerôme.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

Denmark was also a target of the revolutionaries, in the German-Majority duchy of Schleswig, a letter was drafted by the local revolutionaries, demanding the integration of the duchy into the German Confederation, similarly to Holstein. The refusal of King sparked a rebellion in Schleswig that was soon followed by Prince Frederick of Noer in Holstein. In Prussia, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV died of a stroke at the age of 50, his brother Wilhelm became king Wilhelm I, a Conservative but open to classical liberalism and especially Nationalism. Under the influence of his young Chancellor Bismarck, he intervened in support of the German Duchies on behalf of the German Confederation. While Sweden-Norway sent vital logistical support to Denmark, including a volunteer Corps. The Ducal War, or the 10-weeks war, had begun.

Even with the support from Sweden-Norway, the Danish forces were defeated by the Prussians due to their own internal instability. (PoD) The duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were put under Prussian suzerainty, using the Crisis in Austria and it's surrounding countries, The Kingdom of Prussia sent troops and restored order on several Kingdoms of Northern Germany, and used the British revolution as pretext to put Hannover under control of Berlin.

The Kingdom of Hannover became a free-for-all between supporters of Ernest Augustus, Pan-Germanic Nationalists, and Liberals. The British Revolution forced the King to flee to Hannover, but his Reactionary policies were already very known by the locals and they didn't want the same Dynasty controling their nation, causing an uprising in support of the Frankfurt Assembly, while less radical elements wished the abdication of Ernest Augustus, while allowing his son to rule under a Constitution.

The 3-way war was used by Wilhelm as justification for an intervention, since Hannover was lacking a real army (the army was split fighting for each faction), the intervention was solved in 2 weeks and Ernest Augusts fleed to exile in Lisbon.

While Prussia took control over North Germany, the Austrian Empire continued in their crisis, Ferdinand I was forced to abdicate and Franz Joseph I became Kaiser, but sadly that didn't improve the Imperial situation, Hungarian forces took the city of Vienna and gave a crippling blow to the Prestige and Morale of the Austrian Empire. Franz was forced to accept the Hungarian Demands: The Kingdom of Hungary would become an Independent Nation from the Austrian Empire and gained control of Croatia. The Galician Provinces also won their independence as the "Kingdom of Galicia-Londomeria", but soon they would see that their independence would be nominal, as they just exchanged overlords with Russia. The Austrian Empire was now (after defeat of the Italian Republic) made up of: Bohemia, Austria, Venetia, Istria, and Slovenia.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The dust was settling over Europe, in most of the countries Absolutism was over, Constitutions were enacted in several Nations. Old Empires fell, and new Nations were born, but there was still one thing to settle in Germany.

With the collapse of the Austrian Empire and the Frankfurt Assembly, the dream of the Prussian King Wilhelm I became true. The "Preussen Reich" used the chaos of the revolution to solidify their rule over Northern Germany, from Saxony to Schleswig, from the east bank of the Rhine to East Prussia, Wilhelm used that to call for conference in Erfurt on the 18th of March of 1846 between the several princes under the control of Prussia, the Chancellor Frederick von Bismarck presided the historical session. The Conference created a Federation of German States centered on Prussia and Berlin, with a Parliament with Representatives of the states elected by the Prussian suffrage, the King of Prussia would be the President of the Federation and his son Heinrich as successor, the North German States agreed and left the German Confederation, first step for German Unification was taken.

((Flag of the Northern German Federation))
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When the news reached Vienna, Franz almost fell from his chair, but he was expecting such a move from Prussia. The loss of the Slavic Territories brought an new mentality to Vienna, the only way for the Austrian Empire to regain prominence was to follow the Prussian way. Franz backstabbed the Liberals after the army returned from Italy and Hungary, rolling back from Constitutionalism and crushing the Liberals, appointing the harsh and efficient Prince Felix of Schwarzenberg as Minister-President of the Empire. He quickly restored the order and stabilized the rest of the Empire, he also shared the pragmatism of Franz: The only way to the Austrian Empire to rise back as a Great power, was using Pan-Germanism.

((Minister-President Felix von Schwarzenberg, called as the Austrian Bismarck))
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With the North German States leaving the Confederation, the Conference of Munich was called by the Austrian Empire a month after the Erfurt Conference. The Austrian Empire was the dominant state of the meeting, but as opposed to Prussia they had a rival, the Kingdom of Bavaria refused to enter into an Austrian-Dominated Union as they would become der facto puppets, but Felix used the Austrian Military, Industrial, and Political superiority to outmaneuver the Bavarian delegation and get the support from Baden and Wurttenberg, resulting in a reluctant approval from the Bavarian Kingdom and the Creation of the Southern German Federation.

((Flag of the South German Federation))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

As things settled in the Continent, the Revolution left the Continent with an new order: The most powerful Central European nation collapsed and several duchies and counties were absorbed into 3 new nations formed based on the idea of Nation-State that united several peopled based on a single culture, language, and customs. The German Confederation was split in two new rival powers that looked for the unification of the Germanic peoples. Italy was an new Nation led by the son of Joachim I Murat, while the city of Rome and Northern Italy were still under foreign control, the new kingdom reorganized itself under a Moderate constitution and waited for their chance to complete the Risorgimento.

The French Empire survived revolution and became stronger, the rebellions were crushed and the old duchy of Milan was put under Vassalage of Paris. The rebellions provinces were put under military control and the constitution was suspended over Piedmont and Catalonia, with the military cracking down heavily on Nationalism and intensifying the Frankification policies, prohibiting the teaching and use of the Italian and Catalan by official institutions. The national identity of the locals would be crushed for at least a Generation. The Germans of the Rhineland and Flandres weren't punished as harshly, but Soult's Hardline policies also affected those regions. The Partí Federalisté was hunted down and much of the leadership, including Matthias Wegner, would be arrested with rushed and unfair trials, where their lawyers were not allowed to intervene. Wegner famously said "History shall remember this moment, when the French silenced their own citizens."

But in Britain, the Assembly was called for an new Constutution. Sadly they suffered the same as the Frankfurt Assembly: Partisanship and endless debates prevented anything from getting done. Pelletists and radical Whigs wanted a Republic while the Moderates (a wide range from Moderate Whigs and followers of the ideas of PM Robert Peel and his moderate Conservatism) wanted just an new King. The inefficiency allowed the Irish armies to take the entirety of the Emerald island and forced the hand of the Army. Led by the ex-Prime Minister Arthur Wellesley, the Army units of London entered during an session of the Assembly and Dissolved the provisional government, effectively seizing control of the Government.

With the Military leadership, Wellesley was decided to crush the Irish rebellion, ordering an blockade of the Island and preparations for an invasion. The Navy quickly crushed the Irish ships and worsened the situation of the Irish Famine by blockading food imports and strangling the Economy. The invasion force was sent and took the city of Belfast back, the Irish rebellion was about to fall...

But then a hope came from the south: The French Imperial Navy (using some of the most modern ships of the world), arrived at the coast of Munster, disembarking several thousand troops and vital supplies, led by the French Marshall and brother of Napoleon, Jerôme Bonaparte. The arrival of the French troops halted the British advance to Dublin and the Royal Navy refused to engage the French ships and cause a war with the most powerful Nation of the world while Britain was in crisis. Forcing Wellington into the negotiation table.

The Irish won their independence but now how the ILA wanted: The Duchy of Ulster would remain under British control, Ireland would become a Kingdom under Jerôme I Bonaparte, and they would not get reparations from the British and instead had to compensate the loss of British Companies. It wasn't a good deal but it was the best they could get.

((The division of Ireland after the Treaty of Paris))
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Wellesley didn't plan to be a Cromwell, he didn't wish to be an uncrowned King. After the Irish war, the Assembly was reopened in November and on the 7th of December of 1845, the Assembly invited Leopold George of Saxe-Colburg and Gotha, an fairly Liberal Prince, to take the old crown of Ernest Augustus. He accepted and converted to Anglicanism soon after, he arrived in London on the 23th of December and became King George V on the Christmas.

((Portrait of George V at his younger years))​

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

America was finally in control of the Democratic Party, and President Harrison was quick to make use of that. He adopted the "American System", an set of economical ideas made by the Kentucky Senator Henry Clay that would guide the Democratic Party for a decade. The idea was to increase Tariffs to boost the industry, increasing Federal funding for infrastructure projects, and recreate the Bank of America. All but the latter was enacted by Harrison's government.

((Henry Clay, the creator of the American System, based on the American Economic school of Alexander Hamilton))
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The plan worked, the economy was rising again. But when foreign policy came, it was when the Whigs took back the White House due to the crisis over the Southwest.

The Mexican Empire admitted a great number of American settlers as part of the Emperor's effort to tame the North of the country. But these settlers came with their slaves and culture that came into shock with Mexican laws. For a time the government tolerated it as the Americans settled in Tejas, but in 1843 the Emperor changed his mind, planning to Abolish slavery over the eastern side of the Rio Grande. Knowing of those plans after a leak, the Settlers prepared a defense, buying artillery and weapons from the other side of the border. On the 2nd of October, a Mexican regiment marched to Gonzales to capture a Texan ammunition depot and a canon, when ordering the local militia to hand it over, the commander replied "Come and Take it !" The militia shot the Mexican forces and the first battle of the war started.

((The Flag made by the locals and the first flag of the rebellion))
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The Mexican forces were routed and the news spread over all Tejas, militias rose and overwhelmed the Mexican Garrisons. A convention started in Austin with delegates from the Tejas, and on the March of 1844 the Republic of Texas was declared.

((Flag of the Texan Republic adopted after the War))
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The Mexican Emperor Luíz II marched the Imperial Army to the north under his Personal leadership. The Emperor sadly was an incompetent General that wanted to copy his Uncle Napoleon I Bonaparte. He led the army north and met an small Texan force in the old fort Alamo, for 2 weeks the Texans fought until almost all of them died. "Remember the Alamo !" Became the War Cry of the Texans as they organized an army led by Sam Houston.

((Sam Houston, General and First President of the Texan Republic))
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The Texans met the French Emperor in San Jacinto, where Houston and the Texans made their stand against the Imperial Guard. Houston emerged triumphant and captured the Emperor while he tried to escape back to Mexico. Carlos Luíz Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of Mexico, had lost and signed the Treaty of Velazquez, giving the Independence of Tejas in exchange of his safe Return to Mexico City. He came back disgraced and Texas was independent.

((Map of the Texan Republic))
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Two factions fought for the destiny of Mexico: Nationalists wanted an Independent Texas and the expulsion of the Natives, while Sam Houston and the Unionists wanted to apply to join the USA as a State. The latter won and a letter was sent to President Harrison the application of the Texan Republic to join the USA. Harrison recognized the Texan Republic but the Democrats were opposed to annexation, claiming it would break the balance of slave and free states and put more fire into the slavery debate. In the 1844 elections, the Democrats led by Henry Clay were defeated due to their "defeatist atitude" as the now President James K. Polk claimed. The Whigs were back and the first act of Polk was his main campaign promise: Achieve the Manifest Destiny and bring America to the West.

((James Knox Polk, one of the most successful US Presidents, his internal and external promises were all achieved in a single term))
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Polk reduced the Trade Tariffs and created an Independent Treasury System, but his greatest success was military. Just after the inauguration, he signed his first decree by accepting the statehood of Texas, something that was protested by Mexico, Luíz Mobilized the Mexican forces and threatened war if an annexation happened. Still, Texas became a state in 1845 and the USA and Mexico were on the brink of war.

An last attempt was made to prevent the War, the USA proposed the "Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo", where the USA would buy about Half of Mexico.

((The territory that would be given to the USA in the Original Treaty))
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It was no surprise that the Emperor refused that, but instead of war he made another proposition, splitting the land over the Rio Grande in the East and in the 36* 30' parallel in the north, with everything north and east of it being given to the USA and the rest would be recognized as part of Mexico.

((The Revised Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo))
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Intense negotiations followed and the treaty was sent to the US Congress, it was approved as a Compromise: The land cession would be just large enough to satisfy the Whigs while not breaking the balance of Free and Slave States as radically as the Democrats expected. It was approved by a 2/3rds majority and overrided the Presidential Veto, expanding the USA further West and securing the borders with Mexico. Period.

Polk wasn't finished Yet, ever since the Canadian Independence, British Control over Columbia started to decline, and using the Revolution in 1845 he demanded the Oregon County from the British Military Government under the 54th Parallel. In no position to fight, the British gave up control of the entire Oregon County to the USA.

Polk didn't fully take his claims over Mexico, but he left the Presidency as a one-term president in 1849 and it was the time of the Democrat Zachary Taylor to be President.

((Zachary Taylor, Ex-General of the US Army and the Second Democrat in the White House))​

After the Expansions, the balance of slavery was broken and Taylor entered the 1850s sitting on a Gunpowder Barrel about to explode.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

I created a Discord channel for this TL, link shall be posted here and in the Prologue: https://discord.gg/bpKzwa7

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The end of the Revolution brought more devastation to the West, the Polish uprising was crushed with the Brute Force of Russian arms. The Tsar and Autocrat of All-Russias, Nicholas I, intensified the suppression of Polish Nationalism and the Russification policies over the Ruthenia and Ukraine, never again would the Poles rise in revolt, and if they did, they would be alone.

The Tsar turned his eyes South, the Collapse of the Austrian Empire created a Kingdom in Galicia, and the Tsar was quick to intervene. Russian forces crossed the border and destroyed all resistance of the newly independent nation, the Kingdom was forced to accept the Protectorate from St. Petersburg.

The Tsar had inaugurated an new policy for the Russian government: Slavophile or Pan-Slavism. The idea that Russia was destined to rule all the Slav peoples under the Tsar and Autocracy. Now that the poles were crushed and the only other nation that could challenge a Balkan offensive by Russia was gone, the bear just needed a reason.

He got one when the Revolution managed to spread southeast, the Nationalist powderkrieg in the Balkans exploded when the news of the Austrian collapse reached Konstantinnye. The Ottoman Censorship wasn't enough to prevent the news from spreading to the Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia, where the people was inspired by the Hungarians, Italians, and Germans. The Wallachian Prince George Bibescu started a rebellion against Ottoman rule and was soon joined by the Moldavian Prince Milkhail Sturdza. The two Princes went to war but they knew that they would stand no chance against the newly reformed Ottoman Army, not without outside help at least.

((The two princes of Moldavia and Wallachia respectively))
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The Principalities still went to war and they achieved success during the beggining of the campaign in mid-1846. Encouraging Russia to intervene, sending weapons and volunteers to the rebels. When the Ottoman army captured and executed a Russian officer at the battle of Constanta, the Tsar used it as Casus belli for war and declared it on the 6th of February of 1847.

The Russian Black Sea fleet attacked the Ottoman navy by surprise in the battle of Sinop, the Turkish navy would burn and sink with minimal Russian casualties, bringing them control over the Black Sea coast.

((Ottoman fleet at the battle of Sinop, burning on the background))
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The Bear launched two offensives, one with the mission of taking Kars and advance in Trebizond, and the main one would push south into Bulgaria and advance along the coast to Konstantinnye. The Kars offensive was a resounding success with the Ottomans pushed out of the Caucasus, but in the West the Turks managed to create a strong defensive line over the Danube. But eventually the line was broken and the Russians reached Varna, the Ottoman collapse was about to happen.

((Siege of Kars))
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But the French thought otherwise, not wanting the Russian Control of the Balkans, the French threatened war if the Russians didn't seat down in a peace meeting in Paris. On the 19th of December of 1848 the Russians declared a ceasefire at the gates of Konstantinnye. The Paris conference agreed on a Peace Treaty: While Russia didn't achieve their dream of controlling Tsargrad or expelling the Turks from the Balkans, the two Principalities of Moldavia and Walachia would be independent and recieve Constanta and Drobudja, Cyprus would be annexed by the French as Naval Base, Bosnia would be under Hungarian occupation, Kars would be given to Russia, and Russia would be allowed free and unlimited access by the Strait of Bosphorus. The Tsar would need to wait another decade or two for his dream thanks to Napoleon III.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

The end of the 1845 Revolutions created 5 nations and destroyed an Empire, while the New Nations stabilized themselves and the barricades were demolished, a great Congress was called in Manchester, several representatives from all the way to New York. Pelletist thinkers, from Philisophers to Union Leaders, all went to the same place to decide how the ideology would evolve.

Two new variants appeared from Mainstream Pelletism: National Pelletism made by the Hungarian Markos Lakatos argued for a Mix of Pelletism, Totalitarianism, and Nationalism, claiming that such a nation would be stronger than an average nation. On the opposite field was William "Billy" Hunter, the British representative, he instead said that Pelletism and Democracy could co-exist, in a form of a gradual change in society and allowing small private propriety.

Meanwhile an new movement gained proeminence in the Congress: Proudhonism or Anarchism, opposing the very idea of a State and a Authority, instead supporting Mutualism as a basis of Economy. He also supported that Anarchism and Pelletism should be united against a "common foe".

((The First International Congress))
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Over the Continent, another ideology was rising: Lustenbergism, made by Antonin Lustenberger, a wealthy middle-class man in Munich. An ambitious mix of Absolutism and Egalitarianism, with the ideal state being administered by a Meritocratic elite with the ending ideal of world unification, but even Lustenberger himself agreed that it was a impossible goal, and instead called for unification of ethnical and cultural groups. While the idea was still in early stages, one man saw potential on it: The son of the Tsar and Autocrat of all-Russias, Pyotr Romanov.

Meanwhile, Hungary was a Kingdom with no Crown. After the independence, representatives from all the Nation met in Buda to decide to who give a crown: The Hungarians wanted to crown one of their local Nobles, but the Romanians, Slovaks, and Croats blocked what they saw as an attempt to give supremacy to the Magyars, instead they supported a foreign Hapsburg, considering Prince Maximillian but he was still underage. A Russian Prince was considered by Transylvanian Romanians, but the Hungarians and Croats saw that as an attempt to turn Hungary into a puppet, citing the invasion of Galicia as an example. The stalemate paralyzed Hungary for 5 years until Maximillian turned 18 and was invited in desperation by an unanimous vote, he would become Maximillian II von Hapsburg-Lorraine.

In Italy, Murat II would call for a Italian Congress in Naples, when he was crowned King of Italy and a Liberal constitution was created: Freedom of Speech, of Press, equality under the law, universal male suffrage, and several other Liberal demands. But in 1847, Murat II died and his brother Lucien I Murat, was crowned as King of Italy.

((King Lucien I))
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Ireland was born during a starvation crisis, and now Jerôme I Bonaparte, King of Ireland, had to deal with it. He approved a Constitution similar to the North German one, keeping the Powers of the Monarch while creating a Parliament. The first Royal Decree was to ban exportation of food for 2 years, while importing tons of potato crops from all Europe. The granaries were opened to the people and food prices were frozen. By 1850 the starvation was over, at the cost of 190,000 dead, but modern Historians agreed that if wasn't for the actions of King Jerôme, it would be much worser for the Irish people.

 

[Kaiser of Brazil]

You may thank @Rheinbund for this: