WI France attacked the Ottoman Empire for Egypt during ARW?

Rather than declaring war on the British and helping the Americans,what if they decided to have a go on the OE instead while the British are distracted?How successful would be such an attempt,and more importantly,would they have enough funding to do this(their finance was already pretty bad by this time).
 
I dont see this happening under a royal france.

The ottomans were a valuable ally of convinience to distract the habsburgs and i dont see a royal france doing anything to weaken them.
 
If france really does that well then the habsburgs and russians would probably act against the turks,would be interesting to see a premature fall of the ottoman empire and its effects.

I still hold the position that france would go bankrupt anyways but a stronger russia and austria could have interesting effects on this timelines version of the napoleonic wars even if napoleon isnt the one leading them.
 
Will the economic benefit of taking Egypt,Palestine and Syria butterfly the French Revolution or would the cost of maintaining these places drag it into further debt?OTOH,even if they do get dragged into further debt,I'd imagine the Assembly of Notables would be more inclined to raise taxes than in OTL.
 
Will the economic benefit of taking Egypt,Palestine and Syria butterfly the French Revolution or would the cost of maintaining these places drag it into further debt?OTOH,even if they do get dragged into further debt,I'd imagine the Assembly of Notables would be more inclined to raise taxes than in OTL.

Or they suffer victory disease and fail to see any problem in the system,who is going to reform a system that just allowed them to smash one of europes great powers?
 
Or they suffer victory disease and fail to see any problem in the system,who is going to reform a system that just allowed them to smash one of europes great powers?
The folks were pretty stupid,but the debt crisis was clearly evident by 1786.Something would have to be done.All in all,the government will probably be more popular than OTL.The bourgeoisie might actually benefit from the venture and be in a more satisfied position than in OTL.
 
Actually not yet, the Hapsburgs and Russians were at the times at odds. And the Hapsburgs had trouble in Bavaria to deal with, which was also occupying Russia's mind, as they were ready to intervene in Bavaria on Prussia's side. At the time Russia had recently defeated the Ottomans and weren't going to just relaunch war against the Ottomans. But I'd imagine we'd see an earlier Russo-Austro-Ottoman War with a more dedicated Austrian war effort and a stronger Russian push for the Greek Plan. SO as long as the Bavarian War of Succession doens't erupt into a European War, which it could have. Then the Ottomans are screwed within the decade. If the Bavarian Crisis turns into a Continental War the Ottomans are going to hold their ground in the Balkans for a few decades, but still ultimately the Ottomans collapse earlier.







As to the economic question, the Egyptian Expedition will cost France and the economic benefits will not be immediate, but the revolution might not happen if Louis and his Ministers force the correct reforms on the nobility. And the Debt Crisis was evident far before 1786, in fact for the all of LOuis' rule his financial ministers were attempting to fight the debt.
At any rate,the government will probably be more popular than OTL given it's success.
 
Yes and no. The seizure of Egypt would play well with the merchants, meanwhile the seizure of the Holy Land would play well with clergy and the less educated, more religious poor folk. But I see the middle class (not including merchants) not liking it.

But the merchants are the ones who vote in the Estates General,right?This is assuming it got to the point where it's as bad as otl.Another thing is that they can sell land in the conquered lands to partially recuperate their losses.
 
The Merchants amount others vote, yes. But it would probably be better for there not to an Estates General and instead for Louis and his ministers to force reform on the nobility without the Estates General. The French government could sell land in the nobles, rich land owners, etc. But I doubt it would cover the costs of the operation, yet it would help.

The will no doubt have access to Egyptian grain and a place to unload their excess population when the famine breaks out.
 
In the event that the attempt was successful,how would the new lands be administrated?As three different colonies,or as one big viceroyalty?Where would the capital be?In administrated as a single viceroyalty,I'd imagine the capital will probably be somewhere in Palestine given the centrality of the location.Jerusalem would have been ideal,if not for the fact that it's not a port.Probably Haifa?
 
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I don't think this is so farfetched as some might believe.

But Austria and Russia had been moving into the Ottoman territories for years. Only Prussia stopped Istanbul from being conquered by one or both by 1790 timeline.

France, nominally allied to Austria by marriage, had unusually good relations with Austria at this time and Britain was plainly busy.

I suspect France would not have attacked Anatolia but perhaps an early invasion of Algeria and/or Egypt.

The Ottoman was a rotting corpse propped up by Europeans whom didn't want a real rival seizing it.

In many of my timelines, I have Prussia being ripped apart in the 7 Years War, leaving Austria and Russia to tear up the Caucusus, liberate Rumelia (Ottoman Europe excluding Greece) and Greece, reconquer and rechristen Constantinople, as Egypt declares independence and conquers Syria, Persia overruns Mesopotamia while France and Spain attack Morocco and Algiers.
 
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