WI: Napoleon vs Ottomans

It's more that it closes the overland route through the now-Suez canal. There was still a way to discharge things, and even if not for massive amount of goods, it still really helped for communication.

Closing Egypt forced them to use the Cape of Good Hope route, which significantly slows communication.

Also, he was hoping to (and did) find the Pharaoh's canal to go from the Med to the Red Sea. It's important to see Mysore was still around and could have provided a counter weight to the British and a beach head. French India had been massive not so long ago by then
Did the British really use Egypt that much for anything relating India prior to the opening of the Suez Canal?As for finding the Pharoah's canal,he's being an idiot.He still has to repair the damned thing,not to mention,the canal can't transport ships that large.Final thing is that his ships still can't reach India with the Royal Navy around.
 
The royal navy may be stronger but can it protect both India and the Home Islands? Dont forget that you cant just sent the whole of the british fleet to the Indian Ocean.
 
The royal navy may be stronger but can it protect both India and the Home Islands? Dont forget that you cant just sent the whole of the british fleet to the Indian Ocean.
Yes,because the French can't possibly have that many ships in the Red Sea either.Not to mention,the French Navy's still complete trash.How France can even get a fleet in Red Sea is a big question mark.
 
Yes,because the French can't possibly have that many ships in the Red Sea either.Not to mention,the French Navy's still complete trash.How France can even get a fleet in Red Sea is a big question mark.

I agree with that. What i disputed was the statement that if the French made it to the Indian Ocean they would be stopped by the Royal Navy. But if the french could magick their fleet there - or rebuild/build a canal which is just as unlikely - they might get the superiority. They dont need a home fleet as they have the strongest army on land while Britain cant move all of her Fleet as without it it would be defenseless.
 
I agree with that. What i disputed was the statement that if the French made it to the Indian Ocean they would be stopped by the Royal Navy. But if the french could magick their fleet there - or rebuild/build a canal which is just as unlikely - they might get the superiority. They dont need a home fleet as they have the strongest army on land while Britain cant move all of her Fleet as without it it would be defenseless.
I do believe that Royal Navy presence in the Indian Ocean is also extremely strong.
 
Getting the European powers to work together is like herding cats. You are also really underestimating how many crowned heads of Europe were really terrified by the French Revolution and what Napoleon represented: a commoner who seized power from a dynasty and made himself an emperor.
 
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