alternatehistory.com

What would have happened if the Ottoman Turks had gotten involved in the Seven Years War (1756 to 1763) and who would they have sided with?

Since the main thing blocking Ottoman participation in OTL was leadership instability and Turkish military weakness by this time, let's say that both of these aren't as big an issue and the Turks decide to use the war as a means to push back Austrian and Russian expansion into their holdings.

This of course would mean that they'd side with the British and Prussians. In OTL, the Prussians fought the French, Austrians, Russians and Swedes to a standstill in Continental Europe while Britain managed to seize control of many of France's colonial holdings.

With the Turks forcing the Austrians to divert resources to fighting them, I could see the Prussians doing better then in OTL and perhaps even gaining territory at the expense of the smaller German states and Austria. It could even lead to a German reunification in the late 18th century as opposed to it being in the late 19th century.

That of course could be good for the Turks as the Austrians and Russians would be forced to divert some of their resources in containing a stronger Prussia hence taking some pressure off the Turks.

As for the Turks themselves, anything could happen with them. They could perhaps lose the Crimea to Russia sooner then in OTL or perhaps with British support, the Turks hold their enemies off and make some minor territorial gains. It could even lead to a long term British/Ottoman alliance and with it, a degree of modernization of their military.

What do you guys think? Am I crazy? Do I have any good ideas?
Top