Reds vs. Blues, an alternate Cold War

Preface

Yes, after many, many (many) months (if not years :eek:), Analytical Engine presents a new timeline. Hurray! Since I finally have the time to actually write the damn thing, having finished my exams for this year (phew!), I might as well get started.

Anyway, back to my much alluded to timeline. I’m going to skim through the 19th century fairly quickly, though I will revisit various areas and themes in later posts to help pad out the details. This will be a mixture of prose, snippets from alt-historical textbooks, newspapers etc., and the odd bit of dialogue here and there.

Since I know how much you lot love your election related timeline, fear not- for my TL will include some UK election night specials later on ;). More on that story later.

Also, there will be maps.

And so, without further ado, Mechanical Welshman Productions proudly presents,

Reds vs. Blues, an alternate Cold War
 
Act the First
Chapter 1

In which the PoD is announced, and also containing a brief exposition of events from there to the end of the 1870s, particularly focusing on areas that deviate from OTL.


1867 (PoD) – Despite his best efforts, William Seward, Secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson, fails to negotiate the purchase of Alaska. Despite making favourable initial offers to St. Petersburg, he cannot get the support he needs in congress to actually go through with it. By the end of the year, dejected and his health deteriorating – partially a result of his attack in April 1865 – he gives up.

1868 – What becomes known as the Meiji Period begins in Japan. The Shogun’s government resists the Emperor’s attempts to modernise, but Mutsuhito[1] is unshakable. In 1869, the yen is first minted in Japan, replacing 1,694 different denominations[2] used by the various clans, magistrates and shogunate retainers during the Tokugawa period – it becomes the sole national currency within a decade.

Isabella II of Spain is overthrown in a revolution. The Khanate of Bukhara becomes a Russian protectorate.

1868-1870 – Reconstruction comes to a close in the US, as the last few Confederate states are admitted back into the union.

1868-1872 – Cuba revolts against the Spanish government[3], frustrated at high taxes and colonial mismanagement. The revolt is finally put down by promises of reform, and by military force where needed.

1869 – An uprising occurs in Haiti. The *Red River Rebellion occurs in what later becomes *Manitoba, partially as a result of Prince Rupert’s Land being transferred to Canada.

1870 – *Manitoba becomes a province of Canada, mainly as a result of the *Red River Rebellion. Napoleon III withdraws the French garrison from the Papal States, which leads to Italy annexing it soon afterwards; the Italian capital is later moved to Rome.

The War of the Triple Alliance ends this year, with Paraguay only maintaining its independence by the skin of its teeth, and thanks to American diplomacy. However, it is forced to surrender a lot of its territory[5].

1870-1871 – The *Franco-Prussian War occurs, partially due to fears over German unification, and partially due to the candidacy of Leopold Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen (elder brother of the Prince of Romania) for the throne of Spain. However, France loses, and is able to prevent neither from occurring. Humiliated, with the Prussians reaching all the way to Paris, Napoleon III is forced to abdicate in favour of the *French Third Republic, and Alsace-Lorraine is annexed by the newly-established German Empire[6]. The rule of Leopold I of Spain does lead to a resurgence of Spanish power and prestige, however.

1871 – King William of Prussia is crowned as Emperor of Germany. Buoyed by recent successes in opening up Japan, an American fleet is sent to Corea[7]. British Columbia joins Canada.

1872 – The Dominican Republic becomes a Spanish protectorate[8].

1872-1874 – A Carlist revolt unsuccessfully attempts to wrest the Spanish throne from king Leopold.

1873 – The Honourable East India Company, which has ruled India for more than a century, is dissolved. Prince Edward Island joins Canada. The Khanate of Khiva becomes a Russian protectorate. The Dutch begin their very-lengthy and equally bloody campaign to subdue Aceh.

1874 – The end of the civil war (1867-1874) in the Malay state of Selangor results in it becoming a British protectorate. Sembilan also becomes a protectorate during this year, to help secure the tin-producing region for Britain.

1875 – An uprising occurs in Bosnia by Christian peasants, over taxes levied by the Ottoman state. This unrest eventually spills over into neighbouring areas. The *Treaty of St. Petersburg assigns Sakhalin to Russia, and the Kuril islands to Japan.

1876 – Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. The city of Quetta [in OTL Pakistan] is occupied by the British. The Khanate of Kokand is annexed by Russia.

1876-1877 – The uprising that began in Bosnia the previous year spreads into Serbia. However, Ottoman forces are able to crush the rising before the Russians are able to come to their aid[9]. Combined pressure from Britain, France and Austria force the Russians to back off, but they do negotiate the independence of Romania, under Russian protection. Meanwhile, Serbia comes under nominal Austrian protection, and Bulgaria[10] is granted some autonomy.

1877 – The bankrupt South African Republic is annexed by Britain, becoming the Transvaal Colony.

1877-1879 – The *Second Anglo-Afghan War occurs, due to a diplomatic incident involving increasing Russian influence over the court of Shir Ali Khan, ruler of Afghanistan. British forces from India invade the country and Shir Ali flees, dying a year later in exile. When Russian aid isn’t forthcoming, his successor, Yaqub Khan, is forced to allow Britain a diplomatic mission at Kabul. Though the new Emir originally agrees to align his foreign policy with British interests, the British consul is forced to flee from a mob, and Britain again occupies Afghanistan, although temporarily, and cart Yaqub Khan off effectively as a prisoner. [11]

1879-1882 – The *War of the Pacific occurs between Chile and an alliance of Bolivia and Peru. The two countries established a secret treaty, guaranteeing the other’s territorial integrity in 1873. Bolivia had previously signed a treaty with Chile, in which it agreed to share the tax receipts from the export of minerals excavated between the 23rd and 24th parallels, though in 1874 this was ameliorated, in return for Bolivia not raising taxes against Chilean businesses. Things then heated up when the Bolivian government tried to raise taxes against a Chilean nitrate company, despite protests. Chile subsequently declared war, and Bolivia called on Peruvian aid. Despite initial victories, including the occupation of the port of Antofagasta [12], the Chilean advance ground to a crawl. Eventually, peace was declared, in which Bolivia retained a strip of coastline, and Chile annexed all of the gains it had made[13].

1882 – France establishes a protectorate over central Vietnam (which they call Annam) and annex Tonkin as a colony[14].

1883-1885 – The First Sino-French War occurs. China’s fears over losing its traditional influence in Vietnam eventually lead to war. Overtures had been made since the previous year, when France established its protectorate, but the French were having none of it. Despite defeating the French advances into China proper, the Chinese commanders are unable to defeat the French in northern Vietnam or at sea, where their ships are hopelessly outmatched, and are forced to concede to the new reality. However, hostility between China and France still boils, due to French bombardment of coastal ports, including the shipyard at Foochow, which was built with French aid. [15]

1884 – Britain establishes a protectorate over the rump Burmese state[16], carving out a semi-autonomous Shan state in the east. During an international conference, the Greenwich Meridian is as the initial meridian for longitude, though it takes some time for it to be universally adopted. The Turkmen city of Merv is annexed by Russia.

1886 – A Franco-Siamese treaty formalises the border between their respective territories. Spain establishes control over northern Borneo, to help pad out their control over the area – a treaty signed two years later defines its border with Brunei.

1887 – After a period of negotiation, the Sultanate of Johor agrees to relinquish control over Pahang, which is established as an independent sultanate under British protection. Pahang, along with Selangor and Sembilan later join together as the Federated Malay States in 1896.

1888 – Brunei becomes a British protectorate, and is fixed at its current borders[17].

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[1] Emperor Meiji’s personal name.
[2] And you thought the HRE was bad. :p
[3] Equivalent to the OTL Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), but rather shorter.
[4] Though the proper title is First Lord of the Treasury. The first OTL prime minister to actually hold that as their official title was Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (Liberal PM 1906-1908).
[5] Even more so than IOTL, with Argentina gaining a bit more land, thanks to the American delegation being a tad less sympathetic to Paraguay.
[6] Yes, I know that this is rather convergent, but it is only a few years after the PoD. There hasn’t really been enough time for butterflies to improve French military doctrine enough to significantly change the outcome. Superior organisation (for the Prussians) beats brazen jingoism (for the French) more often than not.
[7] TTL’s spelling of Korea, and common to many AH.com TLs.
[8] Buenaventura Báez, many-time president of the Dominican Republic, and his compatriot, Pedro Santana, had been trying to do something like this with Spain, the US et all IOTL too, with the intention of furthering their personal power.
[9] This is the first big butterfly of the TL. Unlike IOTL, where the Serbo-Turkish War (1876-78) lead to the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78), the independence of Serbia and Montenegro, and the Treaty of San Stefano, in which the Russians attempted to carve out a huge Bulgarian state out of Ottoman Europe, though this was moderated by the Treaty of Berlin (1878).
[10] Roughly the area of the Principality of Bulgaria formed under the Treaty of Berlin IOTL.
[11] This is quite similar to OTL, though the war starts and ends a year earlier. Also, the consul is killed in OTL, rather than managing to get away. Similarly to OTL, after Britain withdraws ITTL, Yaqub’s cousin, Abdor Rahman Khan, returns from exile in Central Asia to become the new Emir, who, also as per OTL, is very much a shrewd operator.
[12] This bit is as per OTL.
[13] The OTL peace treaty left Bolivia without a coastline at all. Peru, unlike OTL, also gets off scot free in terms of territorial cessions.
[14] A year earlier than OTL.
[15] This bit is more or less as per OTL, though China is even more hostile towards the French as a result. More on that later.
[16] Unlike OTL, where it is annexed outright.
[17] Much, much bigger than IOTL, mind.
 
Since I have the second part ready, might as well post it too

Chapter 2

In which the butterfly effect starts to become more pronounced, the quest for empire grows and Africa is carved up.


1867 – Diamonds are discovered in an area just north of the Cape Colony.

1868 – After Abyssinia imprisons European diplomats, an Anglo-Indian military intervention forces their release, after bribing local notables into allowing passage. Tewdros II commits suicide soon afterwards, to avoid capture.

Lesotho is annexed to the British crown. Earlier, the Orange Free State annexed some Sotho land to the north, to open for settlement.

1869 – The Suez Canal is opened.

1869-1880 – The Italian Rubattino Navigation company buys up land around the village of Assab, in northern Abyssinia. This provides the Italians their first foothold in the region.

1871 – In order to protect the diamond-bearing areas, Britain establishes a protectorate over the western Griqua. Gold is also found in southern Africa in this year.

1872 – The Dutch abandon their forts in the Gold Coast, which are taken over by Britain. Yohannes IV becomes emperor of Abyssinia, after an interregnum.

1873-1874 – British forces attack the Ashanti kingdom, but are unable to force capitulation.

1875 – The Egyptian government sells its shares in the Suez Canal to Britain, due to increasing debts.

1875-1876 – Egypt invades Abyssinia. However, despite occupying the city of Harer and much land along the coast, Egypt never manages to press much further inland.

1877-1878 – A series of conflicts between British settlers and Xhosa tribes occur, which eventually results in the defeat of the latter.

1878 – Britain establishes an outpost at Walvis Bay, and annexes much of the surrounding area.

1879 – Annoyed at Zulu refusal to accept a protection arrangement, British forces invade and subdue the once powerful state. Despite some embarrassing initial setbacks, superior British technology eventually overwhelms the once proud Zulus, and forces them to surrender. [Side note – the son of Napoleon III doesn’t go to adventuring South Africa ITTL, instead getting himself recklessly killed somewhere else]

1880 – Griqualand East formally becomes a British protectorate[1].

1880-1881 – The Boers of Transvaal rise up against the British, eventually restoring the independence of the South African Republic.

1880-1884 - Attempts to disarm the Sotho people of their firearms leads to an uprising between 1880 and 1881 (the so-called *Gun War). Eventually, the kingdom is re-established as a protectorate.

1881 – France imposes a protectorate over Tunisia, with tacit support from Britain, and despite complaints from Italy.

1881-1897 – A revolt occurs in Sudan by an Islamic scholar claiming to be the Madhi, a savour-figure; he and his followers carve out a large state in the region. In support of their Egyptian “allies”, British forces garrison Khartoum in 1884. Despite a heroic effort, this is ultimately futile. In typical British style, it is immortalised anyway, and becomes a rallying call for the reinforcements on their way along the Nile. The Madhist uprising is finally crushed by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1897[2]. As a result, Sudan formally becomes a co-dominium between the two powers, though British administrators effectively govern the whole region. Southern Sudan is later split off as Equatoria, which becomes a crown colony.

1882 – Britain establishes a protectorate over the Boer republics of Stellaland and Goshen, to forestall their annexation by Transvaal; the latter unites with the former in 1885. Following Egypt’s increasing debt crisis, Britain establishes a protectorate over the country, despite French objections.

1882-1898 – France wars against the various Mande tribes in West Africa, to secure territory there, and press east, intending to carve a swathe all the way to the Red Sea.

1884 – Britain establishes a colony over Namibia, with Walvis Bay as its capital, forestalling German designs on the area. Soon afterwards, a protectorate is established over the Boer/Baster republic of Rehoboth; many of the so-called Basters later join up as irregular troops to help subdue the more unruly inland tribes.

Germany establishes the colonies of Togoland and Cameroon.

1884-1889 – Germany establishes colonies in Tanganyika and Wituland, despite the objection of Zanzibar (which technically rules the area) and Britain. Initially, Germany and Britain agree to recognise Zanzibari rule over a strip 10 miles deep along the coast, and divide the interior between themselves. Britain establishes the *East Africa Company to rule its interests. Germany arranges a lease with Zanzibar over the coastal strip, though mismanagement provokes a revolt amongst the locals; this prompts the German government to turn the territory, originally run by a company, into a crown colony. Eventually, the *Helgoland-Zanzibar treaty is signed between Britain and Germany[3]. Britain agrees to swap the island of Helgoland to Germany, in exchange for the latter ceding all claims to the northern parts of the Zanzibar coast, and Wituland, which later becomes a crown colony[4], and the two lay down a border between their two territories.

1884-85 – A series of conferences are held in Berlin, at the behest of the new Kaiser William I. As a result, Africa is carved up into numerous spheres of influence, and the *Congo Free State is established, under King Leopold of Belgium.

1884-1886 – Capitalising on the weakness of Emperor Yohannes IV, Italy establishes further control over the northern coast of Abyssinia.

1884-1887 – Britain establishes protectorates over the minor Somali states along the coast, between Saylac and Bandarbeyla[5].

1885 – Egypt is effectively forced to abandon its holdings in Harer (Abyssinia) and Somaliland, partially due to the on-going Sudanese uprising.

Britain establishes a protectorate over the south of what is now Bechuanaland. This is extended to its full size by 1891.

1886 – The *Royal Niger Company is chartered, and swiftly gains monopoly on trading in the area around the lower Niger river.

1887 – Russian traders in Abyssinia establish an outpost at Tadjoura Bay. However, this is later bought out by the French, who are expanding into this area.

1887-1896 – Britain establishes protectorates over the various Rift Valley States [including Rwanda and Burundi ITTL].

1888 – The *British South Africa Company is established, to further British influence in southern Africa. A treaty is signed between France and Britain, defining the border between their holdings along the Somali coast.

1888-1893 – During this period, Italy secures protectorates over various Somali states, to the south of the British sphere of influence. Italy secures a lease, partially thanks to British influence, on Zanzibar’s coast east of the Juba River in 1890[6], including the port of Mogadishu. By the turn of the century, this was turned into an outright cession.

1891 – Swaziland becomes a British protectorate[7].

1892-1897 – Civil war erupts in Abyssinia, between Yohannes IV and his main rival, Menilek, King of Showa. Italy decides to back (along with the Russians) Yohannes IV with arms, in exchange for further concessions in the north. However, both the Emperor and Menilek are killed during the fighting. Capitalising on the chaos that ensues, Italy decides to pounce. Using a combination of diplomacy, military force, bribery and outright deceit, it eventually secures control over the region. However, Italian rule runs very thin in some places for a long time. With no real claimant to the throne, King Umberto of Italy is declared Emperor of Abyssinia in 1899. At around the same time, the Italian government establishes a company to promote settlement in northern Abyssinia.

1894-1896 – The Russians establish a protectorate over the region between Raheitia and Khor Angar[8], beating the Italians to the punch.

1894-1895 – The *Moroccan Crisis occurs. Spain establishes a protectorate over Morocco in 1894, with German backing[9]. However, France, which had been eyeing the area for itself, hotly disputes this. An abortive uprising against the Spanish prompts them to annex the area as a colony. France seizes on this, and offers support to the deposed Sultan and his forces in exchange for influence. To try and avoid a confrontation Britain, Belgium, Italy and (highly cynically) Germany offer to mediate a peace between the two sides. Eventually, a compromise is reached – the northern Rif area and the far south become direct Spanish colonies, whilst the Sultan is restored to a rump Morocco, which becomes a Spanish protectorate. As a sop to the French, Tangier is declared an international city and a free port, which quickly gains a reputation for its smoke-filled back rooms and shady dealings.

1896 – A customs union is established between the British colonies in South Africa, and the two still independent Boer States. Though supposedly recognising their independence, both states are rendered into economic satellites of Britain – it does, however, help to lessen tension between them[10].

1897 – French expansion from the east has already reached Darfur, which has become a protectorate. Backed by Italy (still narked at having lost out in Tunisia), which is making headway in Abyssinia, Britain forces France to back down, though it recognised French dominance in Darfur.

--

[1] IOTL, it would be annexed outright by the Cape Colony in 1879.
[2] A year earlier than OTL.
[3] A year earlier than OTL. Germany is more forward in expansion in eastern Africa, having been piped to the post in Namibia.
[4] Something of a butterfly here – IOTL, Wituland is simply annexed to British East Africa.
[5] Covering more territory than OTL British Somaliland.
[6] 1892 IOTL.
[7] Something which wouldn’t happen until 1903 IOTL, following the Boer War.
[8] Yes, I know, I know, but I just couldn’t resist. :D
[9] An idea I borrowed from the TL “A Prussian on the Spanish Throne”, with apologies to its author.
[10] Aided by the fact that, ITTL, the Germans don’t hold any territory nearby.
 
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Deleted member 67076

Hmm... alot of this seems rather congruent to OTL.

My main grievance is Dominican Republic becoming a protectorate of Spain, not even a decade after the Restoration War. Literally no one but Baez would support that; doing this would be seen as a brazen attempt at selling the country... again. I'dexpect for him to get ousted and killed after ppulling that.

Still, keep this up. It looks interesting. :)
 
Hmm... alot of this seems rather congruent to OTL.

That's not going to last for long. ;)

My main grievance is Dominican Republic becoming a protectorate of Spain, not even a decade after the Restoration War. Literally no one but Baez would support that; doing this would be seen as a brazen attempt at selling the country... again. I'dexpect for him to get ousted and killed after ppulling that.

I'll give you that, but OTL is full of rather implausible things. I never said it would be the most stable of solutions, though - more on that later. ;)

Still, keep this up. It looks interesting. :)

Thankee.
 
Chapter 3

In which the Habsburg Empire grows larger, and further imperialism abounds.


1885-87 – Another uprising by ethnic Serbs in the Ottoman Empire prompts Russia to intervene on their side, while the Austrians jump in later. Another conference in Berlin forces the Russians to hold off their more outlandish demands for a vast, independent Bulgaria, but it does result in considerable territorial concessions to be made by the Ottomans. The area around Kars and Batum is annexed by Russia, and Bulgaria becomes a semi-independent Ottoman vassal. Meanwhile Thessaly is ceded to (non-combatant) Greece, and Montenegro is awarded additional territory. Cyprus is placed under British administration, though the island is still technically under Ottoman control[1]. During the uprising, both Prince Milan II Obrenovic and the pretender Alexander Karadjordjevic die; as the two families’ feuding becomes toxic, risking wiping each other out, a council of leading Serbs (very) grudgingly accept Franz Josef as their king instead, in exchange for considerable autonomy and Archduke Rudolf marrying a daughter of the Obrenovic family (who is, by now, the heiress); in addition, Austria occupies Bosnia, Herzegovina and the Sanjak of Novi Pazar[2].

1890 – William IV becomes king of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg[3].

1891 – The so-called Palmer Line[4] is established as the border between British India and Afghanistan, splitting the Pashto area between them, which later becomes the source of endless headaches[5].

1892 – Following political instability, stoked by American merchants and adventurers, Hawaii becomes a protectorate of Britain; however, though the US government does issue a (grudging) apology, it doesn’t formally recognise Hawaii’s new status until three years later, when a new treaty guaranteeing the same trading rights as with Britain to both the Americans and French is signed.

1893 – The United States mediates a border dispute between Britain and Venezuela, finding (mostly) in the latter’s favour. New Zealand becomes the first country or colony in modern times to allow women to vote on an equal basis to men, though they aren’t allowed to stand for election for another two decades. The Central American Federation is formed between El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, with its capital at Amapala, Honduras; both Costa Rica and Guatemala were given open invitations to join, but they have never done so.

1894 – Austrian forces assist loyalist Serbs in quelling a peasant uprising. Bulgarian forces invade and occupy Eastern Roumelia, which comes under the effective control of its forces, though still under formal Ottoman rule.

1895 – The *Sino-Japanese War occurs, after which China is forced to concede the independence of Corea, to transfer rule over Taiwan, the Pescadores Islands and the Liaotung peninsula to Japan, as well as paying a huge indemnity; however, due to Russian protests, they, as well as Germany and France, force Japan to retrocede Liaotung in lieu of an additional payment from China.

The Second Sino-French War occurs, concurrent to the war between China and Japan, in which France annexes the island of Hainan, and finally settles the disputed border between China and French Indochina.

A Russo-British agreement settles the part of Afghanistan’s northern border along the Pamir Mountains.

1896 – A customs union is established between the British colonies in southern Africa and the two Boer States; though supposedly recognising their independence, both states are rendered into economic satellites of Britain – it does, however, help to lessen tension between them

1898 – Russia leases the Liaotung Peninsula (including the port city of Luta (later Darien)) from China for 25 years, in order to possess an ice-free port in the Pacific, and also as an important railhead for a spur of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The *Tripartite Convention is held between Germany and the UK to partition between them the highly disputed Samoa Islands, which almost led to a shooting match; the US secured its claim to the Line Islands, with the UK dropping its (rather tenuous) ones[6].

1899 – A popular, anti-Western uprising occurs in China – often referred to as the *Boxer Rebellion in the west, for their use of martial arts – which is put down by the 8 Power Pact – UK, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan, Spain and Russia. As a result of the treaty, France, Germany and Britain all gain new outposts – Britain a long-term lease on territory adjacent to Hong Kong and of the port city of Weihaiwei; Germany, the city of Tsingtao and the Kiaochow Bay; and France the city of Kwangchouwan[7]; meanwhile, each of the 8 powers, along with the US, gain concessions in Tientsin and Shanghai. Much of the old city of Tientsin is partitioned into concessions for each of these powers.

--

[1] Rather later than IOTL, with the failure of the Serbian uprising during the previous decade ITTL.
[2] This idea is “inspired” (*cough*) by one of Bruce’s many, many maps of awesome. With apologies.
[3] Second son of William III, he died young of an illness IOTL, which was butterflied away ITTL. The eldest son committed suicide.
[4] Equivalent to the OTL Durand Line, though drawn slightly more in Britain’s favour ITTL – for example, Jalalabad is part of the Northwest Frontier Province rather than Afghanistan.
[5] Nothing new there, then…
[6] A culmination of butterflies here. OTL American Samoa is British ITTL, along with Tokelau, which it held IOTL. American merchants are still knocking about, though, just not with as many warships hanging around. Instead, they are concentrating on OTL eastern Kiribati ITTL.
[7] OTL Zhanjiang, Guandong province.
 
Also, map (1898):

World Map UCS (1898).png
 
I'm pretty sure Bolivia's coast was never that far north...

I based it on the Worlda 1885 basemap.

In retrospect, maybe I should have used an earlier one. If I find a confirmation on where it was, I will update the map.

There's going to be a bit of a gap for the next update, whilst I research a few things, and then the first Act will soon end. The posts of act two will be more varied in structure, and will cover the first part of the 20th century.
 
Chapter 4

In which begins an exposition on the 20th century, and the first act draws to a close.


1900 – *Australia becomes unified as a British Dominion, with its capital at Melbourne; the capital is later moved to Albury[1], which eventually becomes a separate territory, with land taken from both New South Wales and Victoria. In the following year, it becomes the first independent country to allow women the right to vote in national elections, though it would take a few years for each state to remove their blocs on this.

1901 – The British government, mindful of the growing Zionist movement amongst Jews, offers a large land grant in East Africa[2]. Though many Jews are adamant that they want a homeland in Palestine and nowhere else, many more agree to the offer, feeling that any homeland is better than none – the territory swells with Jewish settlers from across Europe, with many countries (such as Russia) offering financial incentives for them to emigrate to there (largely as a way to reduce their own Jewish populations).

1902 – The *Anglo-Japanese Alliance treaty is signed. Though less important in modern times, it provided the cornerstone of the anti-socialist element of the (yet to be established) *League of Nations for several decades[3].

1903 – The Nicaragua Canal opens[4].

1904 – Acre War occurs between Brazil and Bolivia, over the disputed province, following an abortive rebellion there the previous year. Norway becomes independent of Sweden, and chooses a minor Danish prince as its new monarch.

1904-05 – The *First Balkan War occurs, as a loose alliance of Bulgaria (backed by Russia), Serbia (backed by Austria), Montenegro and Greece attack the Ottoman Empire, weakened by an uprising of modernisers. The so-called Balkan Alliance wins several early victories, though they run out of steam in Ottoman Macedonia, as the Turks dig in. Eventually, the other Great Powers force the issue to the peace table; Serbia expands southwards, gaining the area around Nis and Pristina, along with Novi Pazar, while Austria annexes Bosnia-Herzegovina, placed under joint administration. Montenegro gains access to the sea, by acquiring the Kotor peninsula. Bulgaria obtains its independence, annexing the province of Eastern Roumelia in the process. Finally, Greece gains southern Epirus and lands up to Thessalonica, along with Crete.

1904-1906 – The *Russo-Japanese War results in the establishment of a Japanese protectorate over Corea and recognition of their holding of Port Arthur; poor connections for the Russian army via the Trans-Siberian Railway and distractions in Europe leads to Japanese victory, though they are not able to wrest Sakhalin from Russian hands entirely – instead it is partitioned along the 50th parallel.

1905 – Capitalising on the war in the Balkans, Italy invades and seizes Ottoman Libya. Austria-Hungary reorganises itself into Austria-Hungary-Illyria, as Croatia, Dalmatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are united with Serbia into a third kingdom.

1906 – New Zealand becomes a British dominion. The Grand Duchy of Finland becomes the first country to grant universal suffrage[5].

1907 – Newfoundland becomes a British dominion. The *Anglo-Siamese Treaty cedes what is later described as the *Unfederated Malay States to British control.

1908 – Cape Colony, Griqualand East, Griqualand West, Natal, Namibia, and Zululand unite as the Dominion of *South Africa; Zululand becomes something like a princely state, while the two Griqua provinces, and the various integral protectorates of Namibia – Damaraland, Hereroland, Namaland, Ovamboland and Rehoboth – become semi-autonomous territories.

1909-10 – The *Second Balkan War occurs, between the Habsburgs (largely Illyrian forces), Greece and Bulgaria on one side and the Ottomans on the other. Ottoman Macedonia is partitioned in the peace treaty, with the north going to Bulgaria and the south[6] going to Greece. The majority of Albania is annexed to Illyria, though additional lands in Epirus are added to Greece, along with many Aegean Islands[7].

1911 – Following numerous humiliating defeats by the European powers, the Chinese Ch’ing Emperor Liangchang is forced to accept the creation of a constitutional monarchy[8]. General Chiang Liao-ch’ih becomes prime minister, and assumes a great deal of power for himself. Tuva is made independent and placed under Russian protection.

1912 – Ireland is granted Home Rule, though after having to use the *Parliament Act to circumvent the House of Lords to achieve it; under this arrangement, the four traditional regions have a great deal of power – this helps to placate the Protestants in Ulster, who have a vast amount of devolution to their area, and an electoral system that ensures that they will have significant power in it[9].

1915 – Stellaland, Transvaal and the Orange Free State join *South Africa, having been in a customs union with them for several years. This prompts the eventual transference of the central capital to Kimberley, then a mining town near the border with the Free State, due to its a central location. The Boers are able to secure concessions allowing them (amongst other things) to maintain discriminatory voting practices, effectively disenfranchising the black majority.

The *Great War begins…

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[1] In New South Wales. The capital eventually absorbs nearby Wodonga, Victoria.
[2] A similar proposal was made IOTL, with Uganda. However, the culmination of butterflies ITTL means that the bulk of Zionism is interested in creating *a* homeland for the Jews, not necessarily in Palestine. There are still a small number of die-hards who want a homeland in Palestine or none at all, though these are a minority.
[3] Shh, spoilers. ;)
[4] Yet another stalwart of AH.com appears.
[5] Well, technically, though independence may vary. Batteries not included.
[6] Up to its OTL pre-WWI border
[7] Fewer than IOTL.
[8] Unlike IOTL, where the Emperor Xuantong is overthrown, and a republic is put in place.
[9] More on this later.
 
I'm highly interested.

Chapter 2

1884-85 – A series of conferences are held in Berlin, at the behest of the new Kaiser William II.
So both Wilhelm I and Fritz have died several years early...

1894-1895 – The *Moroccan Crisis occurs. Spain establishes a protectorate over Morocco in 1894, with German backing[9].
ISTM that little Willy, succeeding earlier, would have dumped Bismarck and started throwing his weight around much earlier. Backing Hohenzollern Spain against France seems a natural. He's been on the throne 10 years, instead of only 6.
 
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Chapter 4


...though additional lands in Epirus are added to Greece, along with many Aegean Islands[7].
[7] Fewer than IOTL.

What happened to the Dodecanese Islands? If Italy did not seize them, there is more scope for Greece.

....The Boers are able to secure concessions allowing them (amongst other things) to maintain discriminatory voting practices, effectively disenfranchising the black majority.

Blacks were largely disenfranchised in Cape Colony as well. The Boers and Anglos were little different on this account. Rhodes was a keen advocate of disenfranchising blacks.
 
Chapter 3
...Archduke Rudolf marrying a daughter of the Obrenovic family (who is, by now, the heiress)...

I wondered if this could really happen under Hapsburg house law.

There were restrictions about whom any scion of the family could marry, except morganatically. Marriage to a non-Catholic Slav would be very controversial, even for a junior scion. For the Imperial-Royal heir...

But her "royal" status qualifies her: "equal" marriages can be made
"with a member of another Christian house either presently or formerly sovereign..."; the Obrenovics would barely qualify.

Still it seems way too pragmatic for the stuffy Hapsburgs. Note the humiliations visited on Sophie Choutek.
 
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