The Kingdom of Purity: A French TL

In OTL, France didn't aid the colonists in their war against Great Britain because they thought that America would be a great ally and all that. No, they did it because it would weaken Great Britain, their worst rival, especially after the British got really powerful after the Seven Years' War.

Great Britain gave away Canada because they had lost a war in which the French had gained several decisive victories- the French were in a really good position during the peace talks. They also had lost all of their lands in India to France- now, what do you think the British care about more? The cold forests of Canada, which had a bunch of French speakers and French people anyway, or the rich and lucrative lands of India? Kind of like after the Seven Years' War, Britain offered to give France back Quebec in exchange for the sugar islands in the Caribbean. The French declined because the sugar islands were more profitable.

In OTL, France had the money to deploy troops to the Colonies and chose to not deploy them to Canada to take it for themselves either. In 18th and 19th century warfare, most of the time you would capture a place that your enemy liked and once the war was over, offer to give it back in exchange for a different place- one that you like. The French could have captured Canada and demand it to stay in French hands if they wanted to, but that would mean France vs Britain only, as the Americans were too busy trying to get the Brits out of the colonies themselves. The alternative was sending French soldiers to India, where their strong Mysorean allies would be able to help capture one of Britain's most important colonies.
So, another Louis making same thoughtless decisions, why would it be different from
OTL's France, I just don't see the logic there .
 
Say that to France between 1791 and 1792, when in OTL, it really was a constitutional monarchy. I've changed the situation so that a constitutional monarchy would be able to really survive. You have weak and cowardly nobles that deserve punishment, brave peasants that deserve a reward, and a sensible and smart king that really wants to push for reforms in his kingdom which is dying day by day due to debt. (tongue twister! :p)

If it were that easy, why would he want to share his power with peasants and all that, do you really think he could rely on anyone to carry out reforms that would step on nobility and clergy's toes?
 
So, another Louis making same thoughtless decisions, why would it be different from
OTL's France, I just don't see the logic there .


Same thoughtless decisions? No, no, this Louis is much different from OTL's Louis XVI. First off, this one delayed in assisting the Americans in their war against Britain. It doesn't sound like that much of a difference, but what do you think will make you look better: deciding to help a nation in their war right after the turning point, when the war had just started going well for them (OTL), or helping a nation at their lowest point, when they were desperate and about to be defeated (TTL)? By doing such a thing, you get quite a bit of a good position when the peace talks come around, not to mention the capture of Britain's richest colony- one that they valued very much. To think that France would ask for nothing from Britain like they did IOTL after such important things isn't very smart. Let's say someone has five lollipops. You take one of their lollipops- it's their favorite one. They want it back, so you decide to give it back if they will give you your favorite one. Doesn't it make sense?

If it were that easy, why would he want to share his power with peasants and all that, do you really think he could rely on anyone to carry out reforms that would step on nobility and clergy's toes?

Easy? Once again, no. I do not think that having one of Europe's strongest land powers invading you and mass recruiting thousands of peasants through propaganda and driving the invaders out of your very homelands is called "easy". The reforms that he carried out were made not by the peasants, but agreed upon by several French ministers and officials, with the addition of himself. This is not peasants taking over the government and getting rid of the privileges of the nobility and the clergy. This is the royal government punishing the upper classes for their cowardly and poor behavior in the war, as well as rewarding the lower classes for signing up for the war and their brave actions in the war.
 
he even defeated the British in 1782 and dictated terms to them in the peace thereafter.


I see. Alright, thank you for this information. I will most certainly read up about him when the time comes for the inevitable war between the British and the Mysoreans/Marathas.
 
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