Orleanist France

On 24 February 1848, during the February 1848 Revolution, King Louis Philippe abdicated in favour of his nine-year-old grandson, Philippe, comte de Paris. Fearful of what had happened to Louis XVI, Louis Philippe quickly left Paris under disguise. Riding in an ordinary cab under the name of "Mr. Smith", he fled to England. The National Assembly of France initially planned to accept young Philippe as king, but the strong current of public opinion rejected that. On 26 February, the Second Republic was proclaimed. Louis Napoléon Bonaparte was elected President on 10 December 1848.

The abdication of King Louis Philippe was a turning point in French history, as it saw the end of the rule of a dynasty descendant of Hugh Capet. What if the monarchy of France never came to an end? What if Louis Philippe never abdicated? What would the world look like with an Orleanist France?