This is a new TL that I am starting up; the main focus is the Kingdom of France through the 18th and 19th centuries. There will also be updates about other countries throughout the world, though the main focus is the rise and survival of a royalist France. By the way, the name of this TL comes from the motto of the Kingdom of the French (a constitutional Bourbon regime in France that lasted one year before it became a republic). The motto is "La Nation, La Loi, Le Roi", which becomes The Nation, The Law, The King.
The Six Years' War: 1756-1762
Prussia in the Six Years' War
In 1756, the Six Years' War began. Many historians referred to the Six Years' War as the first world war, for there was fighting throughout the entire world. In Europe, the rising nation of Prussia and the growing empire of Great Britain formed an alliance in the face of French and Austrian aggression against Prussia. In response to this, on the 29th of August, 1756, Frederick II, King of Prussia, invaded the German state of Saxony. The goal of the brave king was to take Saxony and use the Saxons to contribute to the war effort against Austria. After splitting his army to guard against Austrian and Russian invasions, King Frederick took his army with him to Saxony and decisively defeated the surprised Austrians and Saxons. By November, Saxony was occupied by Prussian troops, and Frederick quickly began making plans for the war against Austria, Russia and France. Surprised- and pleased- by the quick, successful Prussian attacks, Great Britain soon began shipping supplies and money to the Prussians. With British aid, King Frederick saw a very bright future ahead of him.
In 1757, the Prussian army won a bloody victory against the Austrians at the Battle of Prague. Soon after, however, Frederick was defeated by Austrian forces at the Battle of Kolin. This marked his first military defeat, and he was determined not to have another. The situation in Prussia quickly changed. The Russians invaded Memel later in the summer of 1757, and after taking the fortress, advanced further into Prussian territory. The Austrians were also pushing up, and a French army was quickly approaching from the west. The Austrians and French had attempted to reach an agreement that would give France the Austrian Netherlands if they would help the Austrians reclaim Silesia. However, with the situation looking grim for Prussia and bright for Austria, the Austrians rejected the offer, knowing they could take back Silesia themselves.
A victory against the French at the Battle of Rossbach was a good morale booster to the Prussian troops. Gaining momentum, King Frederick moved to confront the Austrians at the Battle of Leuthen. The night before the opening stages of the battle, King Frederick took a walk on his horse out in the dark, thinking about the future that lay ahead of him. Ambitious dreams and goals filled his head, and he smiled. Suddenly, King Frederick's horse stumbled onto a large rock and lost its balance. Frederick attempted to grab onto the reins of his horse, but his hand missed and he fell of his horse, with his head hitting the same rock that caused his horse to stumble and fall. In the morning, when King Frederick had not returned yet, Prussian scouts searched the area and found their king's lifeless body.
The Prussians were now in a state of panic. The army that was once under Frederick II was now confused, worried, demoralized, and overall, unprepared for a battle against the Austrians. The Battle of Leuthen commenced the morning after Frederick's death, and the Austrians scored a decisive victory. Without their great and prestigious leader, the Prussians were in a very precarious situation. The new king, Frederick II's nephew, now Frederick III, was only a thirteen year old boy. Prince Henry of Prussia saw the state of things and began advising the Prussians to begin peace talks. Following several more defeats inflicted by the French, Austrians and Russians, as well as the deaths, captures, and defeats of nearly all of the best Prussian generals, the Kingdom of Prussia sued for peace. On 1758, the 29th of October, a peace treaty was signed by Prussia, France, Austria and Russia. The Treaty of Dresden- which did not include the British- called for the reduction of the Prussian military and for Prussia to give war indemnities to France, Austria and Russia. The Prussians lost their control over Saxony, which was restored as an independent German state. The Austrians took Silesia from the Prussians, and a tiny bit more land further north was taken by Austria as well. Not wanting to lose anymore land, Prussia offered larger war indemnities to France and Russia. The two nations accepted, though this drained the already weakened Prussian treasury. By now, Prussia had lost their greatest king and their greatest generals. The Prussian economy was in ruins, and to add on, they lost Silesia and had a limit on the size of their army. Prussia was reduced to a second-rate power in Germany.
Alarmed at the sudden defeat of Prussia, the British grew wary as France shifted its attention and resources from Prussia to Britain.