These are the current PODs for the Royal Prerogative timeline. I am open to suggestions, comments, criticism etc. about these, and anything anybody can suggest, particularly in terms of those ever-present butterflies, would be appreciated and considered.
- James VI of Scotland is raised as a Catholic, not a Protestant. Subsequently, upon Elizabeth I’s death, the throne passes to Arbella Stuart, who many suspected of being a secret Catholic. Arbella marries William Seymour in 1605, the Duke of Somerset, and the reign of the House of Somerset begins. The persecution of Catholics decreases under Arbella’s rule. Civil war breaks out in 1611 between Catholic supporters of the Scottish Stuart line, recognising James VI of Scotland as the rightful king, and Protestants loyal to Arbella. In 1615 Arbella dies, and her son William III takes the throne and attempts, through the regency of his father, to broker peace. The civil war ends in 1619, having dragged the French and the Scots into the fighting. England remains Protestant, Scotland remains Catholic, and peace is restored.
- 1757-58: Frederick the Great seizes Prague, leading to Prussian domination of Austria. As a result, a unified Germany, under the name Greater Prussia, becomes a reality much earlier, in 1804. This unified Germany proves too strong for any French imperial designs,
- 1790s: Napoleon chooses to concentrate on Spain and the Ottoman Empire. With no Russian war to deplete his forces, Napoleon conquers the Ottoman Empire in the early 1800s. The Middle East comes under French domination, and Christianity begins to flourish there, to some extent displacing Islam and marginalizing Muslims. Eventually, an Islamic state in North Africa and Arabia develops, which still exists today.
- 1830s: English forces intervene in the Texas Revolution against the French-backed Mexican Viceroy, Santa Anna, and Texas becomes an English colony. Subsequently, the USA never expands to the Pacific. California becomes an independent republic after the 1848-1853 war between France and the USA, which also results in parts of Canada being annexed to the USA and the end of Franco-Spanish colonial dominance in the Americas.
- 1863 – Stonewall Jackson survives the Battle of Chancellorsville and takes a more active role in the Civil War (here called the Southern Rebellion); as a result, the war ends in a stalemate and the southern USA becomes an independent state.
- 1881 – Alexander II of Russia survives an assassination attempt in St. Petersburg and continues as Tsar until 1895. Nicholas II becomes Tsar after a long period of ‘Russification’, including an annexation of parts of Eastern Europe.
- 1905 – The Russo-Japanese war ends in a stalemate. Control over Korea remains a point of contention. Without the Treaty of Portsmouth, the militarisation of Japan is much slower. Japan becomes more embracing of Western powers and accepts Westernisation much earlier.
- 1913 – Following his arrest in India for leading a march, Mahatma Gandhi is beaten to death. His martyrdom encourages a full-scale rebellion in India. This is the catalyst for an alternate World War I. The Indian rebels are backed by France, while Russia and Germany back the English. The war spreads throughout Asia and Europe, and lasts until 1919 when a compromise is signed. English colonial domination of India ends, and India becomes an English Dominion and an independent nation fifteen years later. With no direct threat to Russia from Germany during the war, the Russian Revolution never happens. Japan remains carefully neutral.
- 1929 – there is no Stockmarket Crash, and Herbert Hoover remains as US President until 1937.
- 1936 – Adolf Hitler does not gain power in Germany when his rhetoric is condemned by the Pope and by the Prussian Emperor, Wilhelm II. Hitler then leads a failed movement in Austria and Bavaria to secede from Germany, backed by the French, which results in a war between France and Germany, with Britain taking the side of the Germans and Austria-Hungary the side of the French. The war ends in 1940 after the Treaty of Brussels is signed, redrawing the borders of Europe.
- 1949 – Holland withholds sovereignty to Indonesia due to the lack of any Pacific war or Japanese occupation to prompt a nationalistic call. The movement for independence grows throughout SE Asia, however, spurred on by prosperous India. In 1956 a coalition of European colonies – Indonesia, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, Malaya and others, declare their independence and pledge to stand against Western forces. The Pacific War begins and lasts until 1960. In that year, the Treaty of Bangkok establishes independence for the colonies. However, Japanese colonial interests remain strong in the region, and many of the new nations find themselves as virtual puppets of Japan.
- 1957 – The Space Race begins between England and France after the French launch an artificial satellite. This leads to an English moon landing in 1971, and continuation of space exploration by England, France, Germany, Russia, Japan and the United States.
- 1971 – The Apollo Spacecraft, the first American attempt to reach the moon, is lost with all three crewmembers. This permamently derails American attempts at space flight and leaves the Europeans and Japanese to fight over the stellar domain.
- 1990 – Saddam Hussein, the ruler of Baghdad, annexes the oil-rich Kuwait province and sparks a civil war throughout the Caliphate. The European powers do nothing, as Saddam is backed by the Russians. The Caliphate Civil War splits the country asunder.
- 2003 – In an effort to stave off international terrorism, England and the United States plan an invasion of the Iraqi region, believed to be a terrorist haven. The planned war, however, never takes place after the League of Nations refuses its permission. The leaders of the US and England are heavily criticised and eventually voted out of office.