By this point of the War of The Spanish Succession, the French had already lost at Blenheim and Bavaria had fallen to the alliance; but France was still in a decent position, they seemingly had the advantage in Italy and held most of the Spanish Netherlands, only having the disadvantage on the Spanish front. Ramillies changed everything, the victory allowed Marlborough to conquer most of the Spanish Netherlands, and later attempt and invasion of Northern France; Vendome was called from Italy to take command of the Netherlands front, this allowed Prince Eugene to easily relieve Turin and conquer all Bourbon possessions in Italy with an impressive speed, which would later allow him to lay siege to Toulon, provoking the French to destroy most of their Mediterranean fleet, even though the siege failed.
During the battle, there was a moment, where Marlborough was being chased by French dragoons, his horse was shot and Marlborough fall, though he was lucky, since he escaped unharmed. The POD is Marlborough suffering serious damage from this fall, making him unable to escape, either dying right there or being captured and dying in the aftermath of the Battle.
The British cavalry by this point was starting to break formation, thanks to a French countercharge, and Marlborough gave his cavalry the motivation it needed to withstand the French charge till reinforcements arrive. Let's assume that the moral blow of the death/capture of Marlborough is enough for the French charge to have more success with its charge, thus the French cavalry won't be progressively forced back once allied reinforcements arrive, and its right flank won't break; French reinforcements arrive and the allies are overwhelmed . At the end, the French eventually win the battle, it wouldn't be an outstanding victory, as it was for the allies OTL, but an important one, nonetheless. Allowing the French to consolidate their position in the region and start to advance progressively.
Things to take into consideration:
- Louis XIV was actually planning to make peace by this point, but he clearly wanted a favourable peace. I'm not sure if he would start peace talks by this point or if he would push his luck and wait for the siege of Turin to be over.
- Since the battle was not lost Vendome won't be called from Italy. I don't know if Turin would fall in this TL, but it has a good change to be a victory. Vendome was probably the most experienced general at dealing with Eugene, he constantly halted his advance through Lombardy, something which his replacement, the Duc of Orleans, completely failed to do; he knew how Eugene operated and managed to repulse him multiple times. Adding this to the fact that with a victory at Ramillies, more troops could be disposed to the Italian front, he could probably prevent Eugene to relieve Turin. And even if he fails to do it, the defeat won't be nearly as disastrous, at least preventing something like the Siege of Toulon.
- If the war is prolonged even more for some reason, with the siege of Toulon being prevented. The French would have a slight numerical advantage in the Mediterranean Sea.
Given this conditions, would France achieve a better peace deal than in OTL? How could it look? Would France achieve victory in the Italian front? Would Villeroi be able to capitalize on his victory and take all of the Spanish Netherlands?
During the battle, there was a moment, where Marlborough was being chased by French dragoons, his horse was shot and Marlborough fall, though he was lucky, since he escaped unharmed. The POD is Marlborough suffering serious damage from this fall, making him unable to escape, either dying right there or being captured and dying in the aftermath of the Battle.
The British cavalry by this point was starting to break formation, thanks to a French countercharge, and Marlborough gave his cavalry the motivation it needed to withstand the French charge till reinforcements arrive. Let's assume that the moral blow of the death/capture of Marlborough is enough for the French charge to have more success with its charge, thus the French cavalry won't be progressively forced back once allied reinforcements arrive, and its right flank won't break; French reinforcements arrive and the allies are overwhelmed . At the end, the French eventually win the battle, it wouldn't be an outstanding victory, as it was for the allies OTL, but an important one, nonetheless. Allowing the French to consolidate their position in the region and start to advance progressively.
Things to take into consideration:
- Louis XIV was actually planning to make peace by this point, but he clearly wanted a favourable peace. I'm not sure if he would start peace talks by this point or if he would push his luck and wait for the siege of Turin to be over.
- Since the battle was not lost Vendome won't be called from Italy. I don't know if Turin would fall in this TL, but it has a good change to be a victory. Vendome was probably the most experienced general at dealing with Eugene, he constantly halted his advance through Lombardy, something which his replacement, the Duc of Orleans, completely failed to do; he knew how Eugene operated and managed to repulse him multiple times. Adding this to the fact that with a victory at Ramillies, more troops could be disposed to the Italian front, he could probably prevent Eugene to relieve Turin. And even if he fails to do it, the defeat won't be nearly as disastrous, at least preventing something like the Siege of Toulon.
- If the war is prolonged even more for some reason, with the siege of Toulon being prevented. The French would have a slight numerical advantage in the Mediterranean Sea.
Given this conditions, would France achieve a better peace deal than in OTL? How could it look? Would France achieve victory in the Italian front? Would Villeroi be able to capitalize on his victory and take all of the Spanish Netherlands?
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