Board Thread:Timeline Discussions/@comment-4740744-20160823234116

Hello, everyone. Today I'm going to discuss my new theory on The British Ain't Coming that I have pondered over for quite a long time. This relates to how France turns out without Napoleon. My main source is this video on AlternateHistoryHub, along with knowledge accumulated from previous research.

Background Information
So, a bit of background information. In OTL, Napoleon di Buonaparte was born on the island of Corsica. He adopted the more French-sounding name Napoleon Bonaparte, and joined the French military, quickly ascending in rank and popularity as a skilled general for the fledgling French Republic.

Prior to 1755, Corsica was part of the Republic of Genoa, an Italic state. From 1755 to 1769, Corsica became an independent republic before being conquered by France. In this timeline (TTL), however, the Corsican Republic is crushed by the Genoans, and so remains an autonomous part of Genoa to the present day. The reason was because OTL Corsica's main sponsor and ally was absent: the British. As a result, Napoleon becomes a Genoan politician, and would have no interest in what was going on in France whatsoever.

Instability in France
Because Napoleon was the one to bring order and power to France, France's problems and chaos would continue as loyalists fought with nationalists (not to mention other factions as well). For example, the Catholics were simply alienated by some nationalist policies, so they side with the loyalists. France would become a weak and instable nation during this time period as factions continued to alienate and fight one another.

The French Civil War
It seems that Civil War would eventually break out in France. Seeing their opportunity to throw out foreign rule, French colonies in the Caribbean and Africa would delcare their independence. This could also give the explanation for the independence of Louisiana and Canada. French India could either declare independence, be conquered by another colonial pwoer, or join the Maratha Confederacy. Even French Guiana could declare independence, or be conquered. Coming to the aid of fighting Catholics, the Papal States would declare war on the French Republic. Many Italic states, which are also mainly Catholic, would declare war as well. The Republic of the Netherlands would end up siding with the nationalists, since they are a republic; this would be important, since they are the chief European power in TTL. The Holy Roman Empire would side with the Catholics, including Prussia and Austria. Even Spain and Portugal, largely Catholic kingdoms, would side against the nationalists. Similar to the former French colonies, English-speaking Anglia would declare its independence.

The Papal States might lose Avignon to the French. Spain might advance into the French Basque, and possible even take the whole Aquitaine. The Netherlands would advance from the north, conquering OTL Belgium, Luxembourg, and Nord-Pas-de-Calais (since all of these were French at the time). The Sardinians would keep their hold on Nice, and move into Provence. The Holy Roman Empire would take Alsace-Lorraine, either incorporating it into Baden or creating an independent duchy. The Dutch might even expand eastward as they fight the pro-loyalist Prussians.

Surrender of the Nationalists and Aftermath
Eventually, with so many belligerents supporting the Royalists, not to mention Royalist numbers, the nationalists would surrender. The Reign of Terror would end, and a monarch would be installed. France is left in ruins form the civil war, having lost pretty much all of her colonies. Alsace-Lorraine would remain part of the HRE; Belgium, Luxembourg, and Nord-Pas-de-Calais would become Dutch; and Anglia is independent. Slowly, France would rebuild. And so history would continue on... 