|
Bonapartist
Holland
There
are some men in history who one feels deserved better than they received. Louis
Bonaparte is one such example. Although his son would enjoy the ultimate revenge
on Napoleon, and become Napoleon II, he certainly did a good job as monarch of
the Netherlands.
His
problem, though, was that he recognized the fact that the Netherlands would
collapse if they didn’t trade abroad.
So,
let us fiddle with the results.
1809-The
British do not invade Walcheren. As a result, Napoleon does not station troops
in the southern Netherlands.
1810-Napoleon
begins threatening Louis to stop letting his people smuggle with Britain.
1811-
A year later than OTL, Napoleon demands that Louis let him occupy the coast and
stop the smuggling. Napoleon demands that “you would have us believe that the
Dutch had a great ability. For smuggling, you do not say.” He increases the
demand; Louis must surrender Zeeland, Brabant, all colonial goods, and all
administration of the Dutch custom service must be done by French officials.
Louis, as in OTL, refuses. When Napoleon tells him that “you will find
in me a brother if I find in you a Frenchman,” Louis replies, “You will find
in me a Frenchman if I find in myself a king.” Louis, at the advice of his
adivsors, allies with England [1].
1812-
Here’s where things get interesting. The British land in July; Napoleon is
currently in Russia. There aren’t enough men to do much of anything, but the
Netherlands is held. “Holland is
worth a fleet” becomes a British saying.
Smolensk,
and Boredino are disasters.
Napoleon returns with 90,000 men to Europe from Russia, leaving two
hundred thousand dead on the plains of Russia. Artillery and cavalry are lost,
irreparable damage.
This
is no guarantee, mind. Metternich is still hesitant to go to war with the
French, although less so than OTL.
1813-Prussia,
meanwhile, undergoes its resurrection. British subsidies go to work, letting
Alexander field 110,000 men, and Louis 50,000. The campaign in Germany is more
or less OTL. Lutzen is a victory, and at the Battle of the Nations, everyone is
devastated. Louis’s army is busy liberating Berg and Westphalia. He gives his
brother, the King of Westphalia, amnesty, while occupying Kassel. In the “wars
of liberation” of 1813.
In
Italy, Eugene is betrayed by Murat, and he surrenders.
1814-Belgium
is liberated by the Allied forces. The Belgians appeal to Franz, Emperor of
Austria, to rule them. He tells them to “tie your fate to Holland. Perhaps
that Bonaparte will suit you better.”
The
allies enter Paris in April, despite the Emperor’s tactical victories.
The Congress of Vienna opens, to map the future of Europe.
1815-
The Hundred Days. British, Dutch, and a few Prussia forces defeat Napoleon in
Belgium.
The
Congress of Vienna
The
Congress of Vienna is the name given to the diplomatic conference there to
discuss postwar Europe. Here, the great diplomats of the age hammer out the
following:
1) There needs to be a strong country to act as a buffer to France. Louis
withdraws from most of Westphalia, retaining most of the Rhineland, including
OTL’s Rhineland Westphalia. They
also receive the Austrian Netherlands, because no one else has a clue about what
to do with it.
2)
In exchange for the loss of Rhenish territories, the Prussians get all of
Saxony. They withdraw from some of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, so more of Poland
goes to Russia.
3)
Austria gains Lombardy, a Hapsburg Duke in Tuscany, general hegemony in Italy,
and an alliance with Britain against Prussia and Russia, should it prove
necessary.
4)
Britain is confirmed in the possession of various colonies it took as its policy
of “filching sugar colonies”.
5)
Norway and Sweden get the same monarch.
1816-
A joint Anglo-Dutch expedition attacks Algiers, to end the piracy of the Bey.
Louis continues his liberal policies, earning him affection and support from his
German and Belgian subjects, who were afraid that a return to rule by anyone
else would restore reactionary movements.
1817-
Coal mining mushrooms in the Rhineland and in Belgium, thanks to the formation
of the Bank of the Netherlands, which in practice serves the entire Kingdom.
Belgium and the Rhineland produce 40% of Continental Europe’s steel by 1820
[2]. The armaments industries make a killing, selling guns oto revolutionary
armies in America.
1818-
Brussels lights its streets with gas lanterns, the first city in Europe to do
so. Britain has a mild recession, triggered by the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
The same holds true in The Kingdom of the Netherlands; they no longer
have preferential trade barriers.
1819-
Another expedition to the Barbary Coast. Steam vessels begin crossing the
Atlantic.
1820-
The Prusian Custom Union is formed. It links the economy of the Netherlands to
that of Hessen-Damasdt, Anhalt,
Schwarzburg and Sondershausen.
1821-
Napoleon dies. His memoirs lambaste his brother, explaining how if only Louis
had remained loyal, “we would have abolished the aristocracy, ensured liberty,
and brought peace to Europe.” How prolonging the war would have helped is not
clear, but Napoleon’s book lures many with its promises to every platform
imaginable.
1822-
Louis has a son, named Napoleon. Many view it as an attempt to repent for his
mistakes to his brother; in actuality, Napoleon is a fairly common name in his
family.
1823-
Louis debates constructing railroads in the Netherlands, but holds off until
1825. By 1840, however, it will have the finest system in Europe.
1824-
Bank Van Nederland is formed, based on the model of the Bank of France (and
through that, the Bank of England).
George
IV dies of a drinking binge. OTL he was an alcoholic form 1819 onward.
Butterflies here have exacerbated it, and he simply couldn’t handle it.
1825-
Arms exports to Latin America begin to die down, as Spain starts signing peaces
of exhaustion.
1826-
Hessen-Kassel, Nassau, Frankfurt, the Netherlands, Hanover, Oldenburg, and
various Thuringian states form the Western German Customs Union, to oppose the
Prussians. The Bavarians and Wuttemburg join the bloc in 1831.
1827-
The University of Dortumund opens, as part of the King’s investments in
education.
1828-
Louis XVIII, King of France, decides that nothing would distract the public from
his, ah, domestic problems. Russia begins the Russo-Turkish war, which concludes
in 1829. the notable gain is Moldavia and Wallachia as Russian protectorates.
1829-
The Greek War of Independence ends earlier than OTL. Greece is established as an
independent monarchy under King Otto of the Wittelsbachs.
1830-
The invasion of Algeria moves from blockade to conquest. While the French manage
to take Algiers, the people of Paris revolt. This is in part inspired by the
taxes, but also, in part, inspired by the censorship of presses.
Now,
with Napoleon, Prince of the Netherlands, that option is clearly out of the
question. But Napoleon’s son, *Napoleon, managed to live through the
tuberculosis hell hole of 19th century Vienna. His supporters whisk
him away.
There
is a brief uprising in Belgium, but it is put down easily enough; the Flemish
get to keep their language, and there’s no state religion. It’s also more
prosperous than OTL.
Tossing
more wood onto the merry bonfire, Poland rises up in revolt in October. The
Poles lose much support, but earn the sympathy of many people abroad, including
advocates of German nationalism.
George
IV dies, and Ernest Augustus assumes the throne.
1831-
In Italy, Republicans establish take over Umbria, and the Pope calls in Austrian
troops. Those who advocate liberal views in the new state are placed in prison,
and courts enforce Canon law on visitors. Several monarchs in Germany, notably
Hesse Karl, are forced to grant constitutions. To balance out Europe, Alexander
revokes Poland’s.
1832-
The First Ottoman-Egyptian War begins, a year later than OTL. Mehmed Ali
demanded Syria, which the Sutlan had promised him in return for support in
Greece. Since the Sultan lost, he feels, perhaps fairly, that he doesn’t need
to give Syria. He’s also worried about the Egyptian army [3]. In 1833, he’s
granted Adana and points south.
The English Crisis (placed
here)
1824-
George died of a drinking binge.
1830-With
his poor daughter dead, George IV dies. Ernest Augustus assumes the throne of
Britain.
The
British government is horribly out of date; the rotten boroughs give under
populated areas too much say, while Manchester has barely any. The people
support the Whigs, who favor reforming the system. But Ernest backs the Tories,
who, under Wellington, are against voter reform. Ernest at one point states that
the “current system is as near perfection as possible.” Wellington is
narrowly confirms as the head of the Tory majority in the House of Commons, and
he declares reform a dead issue. When
news of the vote reaches the populace of London, Wellington’s house comes
under attack. The Reform Bill does not pass the Commons, and an amended version
does not pass the House of Lords in 1832. Ernest refuses to make new peers, and
a general election confirms a Tory majority.
Needless
to say, in a Britain undergoing an economic recession, this does not go over
well. For the first time in British history, we have movements that conjure that
dreaded word….
“Revolution”.
The Bristol riots of 1831 are followed by the riots London riots of 1833, in
which 500 people die. The Tories gain control of the vote, as many Conservative
Whigs also feel that such riotous mobs do not deserve the vote; the middle class
is also left out in the cold, as well. As the Chartist movement begins in 1836,
demanding universal male suffrage, annual parliaments, and the end to the House
of Lords (More radical in this timeline because of no act in 1832).
The
Northern Star is created in 1835, argues that Englishmen have the right to use
physical force to defend their rights. Censorship increases to a level not seen
since the Napoleonic Wars. There are some People’s Parliaments being formed in
Britain. With a king accused of raping his sister, of killing men for sport, and
murdering sadists, it appears that Britain is on an unsteady course.
Things
reach a boil in July of 1840. An economic recession results in shorter work days
and pay cuts for miners in Wales. When they strike, they are shot. The Charist
John Frost leads miners in a plan. They shall take control of the mines for
themselves. They manage to take control of Newport, as some of the army is
deployed to the Netherlands.
1833-
Hanover gets a Constitution. The Deutscher Zollverein is formed,
consisting of Hesse-Karl, Bavaria, Wuttemburg, Wurzburg, Hessen-Darmstadt, the
Netherlands, Baden, Nassau, Braunschweig, and various minor states. Significantl,
Prussia does not enter. In this timeline, Prussia doesn’t dominate the
Zollverein; rather, the Netherlands do. (Should Prussia join?)
1834-
Mass construction of railroads begins. By 1840, there will be 700 Km of
railroads across the Kingdom. Unrest in the Netherlands leads to some actions
against Unions.
1835- Workers stage a revolt in Brussels, which is put down. Louis decides to focus on purchasing colonies abroad which could supplement the East Indies, and focuses on New Zealand. The Treaty of Waitangi confirms the Dutch control of the islands, and the north one is renamed Nieu Zeeland.
1836-
Jihad against the French in Algeria by Abd Al-Qadir. The French are forced to
recognize him as the ruler of the interior.
1837-
With the death of William IV Of England, the throne of Britain goes to Ernest
Augustus. He almost immediately starts opposing the reform bill, and generally
angering a great many people.
How
does he do this? For starters, he tries
1838-
The Second Egyptian War breaks out. The modernized Egyptian army runs roughshod
over the Ottoman armies.
1839-
Britain’s intervention in the Opium war breaks out. I realize this is probably
too close to OTL, but I don’t see how the Dutch will upset the balance of
trade enough to avoid the British production of opium for sale in China.
1840-
The Treat of London brings Egypt to peace. While the Great Powers recognize
Muahmmed as the head of a new dynasty, there are many disagreements. Austria is
opposed to its sterengthening because the government had extended concessions to
Austrian steamship companies. Prussia and the Netherlands were willing to tow
the Austrian line, although papers in Brussels spoke in glowing terms of the
victories of the Khedive.
France,
however, backs Muhammad Ali, the ruler of Egypt. He was born under the same
sign, in the same year, as Napoleon. More practically, bankers hoped to turn
Muhammad’s territories into a French ally in the Levant, with whom they would
have extensive trading concessions. As such, they favor the inclusion of Syria
and Lebanon, as well as Arabia, into the Egyptian dynasty.
Britain,
however, feared that the Egyptians would threaten India, and the city of London
would be deprived of advantages from an Anglo Turkish commercial treaty. The
Russians believed Muhammad was going to ally with the Shah of Persia; Muhammed
would gain Mesopotamia, and the Shah would gain support against Russia in the
Caucasus. The diplomats meet in London, where the French position is ignored
completely.
The
problem is that Napoleon, King of the French, is very embarrassed by this. More
to the point, he suffers from being his father’s son. He should have avenged
this insult. He decides to join
Parliament in proclaiming the occupation of the Rhineland, which is where
France’s natural border lies. The infamous Thiers Dispatch offers to buy it
from Louis, who refuses. Napoleon is quite insulted by his uncle, and goes to
war.
Meanwhile,
in Germany, writers flock to support the Netherlands. Louis suddenly decides
that he’s been a wonderful German all along, and gets popular and political
support form the other states. As the German song Watch on the Rhine goes, “
So
lead us with your tried command,
With trust in God, take sword in hand,
Hail Wilhelm! Down with all that brood!
Repay our shame with the foes blood!
Land
of our fathers, have no fear
Your watch is true, the line stands
here.
Thus
begins the first Franco-Dutch War, an example of unprovoked French aggression
against the Netherlands.
The
Netherlands can count on some Prussian support, but no Austrian. The British
agree to blockade France. The German states, however, rally to the Netherlands.
1825-
Europe’s first railway opens, between Brussels and Mechelen.
To
Be Continued
[1]
Roughly the number of the Walcheren expedition.
[2]
Large, yes. But in 1813, Belgium produced 25%.
[3]
Okay, I admit this is a simplification.
| 
