Ode to Empires [Alt Timeline]

[Ostheim]

ODE to EMPIRES
WW1 Alternate History




Scenario start date: January 1st, 1901

Principal Players

Entente: France, Russia

Central Powers: Austrian Empire, Prussia

London Pact: British Empire

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Description of planned 'lead up' to WW1

- Russia has temporarily turned its attention away from adventures in the far east and has begun to express irredentist views on Poland.

- Prussia wants to wrest Rhine Federation from the French sphere of influence as well as annex Frankfurt and Hesse.

- Austria is feeling its' oats and confidently guarantees to defend Prussia. Austria believes Russia to be frail militarily, but it is not really true.

- France is uneasy with the rising Central Powers to the east and a less than amicable relationship with the British Empire across the channel. France and Russia reaffirm their commitments.

- Austria makes diplomatic and military motions around Venice and in the Balkans, as well as strengthening their relationship with Tuscany. Politics on the Italian peninsula become tense and there is a wave of uneasy rhetoric from all sides.

- In Paris, France--A destitute artist with anti-Napoleon, pro-Orleanist views fires on a group of state officials, wounding several high ranks and killing a favorite Foreign Minister of the Emperor. He is tortured and executed, with the Emperor himself as a witness. The event is widely publicized and some social unrest spreads across the country. Napoleon IV gains a heightened sense of paranoia thereafter.

- A Prussian diplomat makes a candid remark about Poland and Finland at a ball, offending an important member of the Russian nobility. The incident seems to cool off immediately but infact it snowballs into a feud. Russo-Prussian relations were poor beforehand, but the incident sours them a little further. Russia's attention was more focused on Austria and the Balkans prior to this happening.

- Inspired by recent events in France, a Venetian anarchist attempts to assasinate the King of Italy. He fails and is tortured and executed publicly in Milan. The Kingdom of Italy accuses Austrian agents of orchestrating the affair. France supports the claim by cancelling all diplomatic appointments with Austria for three days. Tensions in Italy between Austria and France increase significantly.

- Despite rising threats in other parts of Europe, the Austrian Empire develops a war game for a potential future conflict in the Balkans. Austria moves forces around the Serbian border, Hungarian troops assemble in Transylvania for extensive reorganization. This action puts an end to what little trust still remained between Austria and most of the Balkan countries.

... To be updated ...


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More information and images coming soon.

If you wish to contact me about helping or anything else privately, add me on Skype @ ostheimf

 

[Ostheim]

MINISTERS

Some of the ministers in the game will be individuals who died in OTL before the game start date (1901). Because of this, it's necessary to do some photo manipulation in order to get a decent pic for that minister.

ie. Napoleon IV age progression:

 

[LiamRiordan]

Sits in wait for the comments on the American situation that caused the Confederate to look like that. On that topic, who is that little blob sitting in the middle of the three nations in the USA?

What happened to Italy? Kingdom of Sicily won?

Hmm, Napoleon is about or won? That Rheinish border looks rather balkanized. Speaking of which, Ottoman victory also?

People are fighting for Madagaskar?

 

[Ostheim]

Sits in wait for the comments on the American situation that caused the Confederate to look like that. On that topic, who is that little blob sitting in the middle of the three nations in the USA?

What happened to Italy? Kingdom of Sicily won?

Hmm, Napoleon is about or won? That Rheinish border looks rather balkanized. Speaking of which, Ottoman victory also?

People are fighting for Madagaskar?

The Confederacy had significant material assistance and advice from the British, which gave them enough of an edge to wear down the Union forces before they could gain momentum. An armistice was had and the North collapsed politically, and thus essentially lost the civil war. Subsequently the Union sold (at dirt prices) unorganized territories in the Rocky Mountain area to the British in order to save the badly damaged economy. The CSA brokered a deal with their British allies and received a nice chunk of frontier. The brown blob there in America is "Dakota", a British puppet state granted to Native Americans who sided with the CSA and UK in the civil war.

Napoleon was defeated as in OTL.

The bipolar relationship between France and Austria in this timeline led to a rather erratic chain of political events in Italy, delaying unification and polarizing Italian attitudes and allegiances to either power.

The western German states were kept from unifying with Prussia or Austria as they are (mostly) in the sphere of influence of France, though opinions are shifting towards unification with either Prussia or Austria.

Ottomans are in decline, but through a bit of luck and providence have managed to slow down that decline. A war with Persia and decisive defensive actions in the Bulgarian region have saved the Ottomans from any vast reductions of wealth or land.

In madagascar the green province is the Kingdom of Madagascar, and the rest of the island is being colonized by France and Britain. The Madagascarians are slowly succumbing to colonial influence, but have vehemently resisted it up until this point.


I hope this answers some things but I am sure there are many more loose ends to think about, any questions are welcome and useful for me to settle on a final map/timeline.

 

[Silas60]

What is Han China? The old chinese dynasty?

 

[Ostheim]

What is Han China? The old chinese dynasty?

A new Chinese state with an ethnic Han regime as opposed to the ethnic Manchu regime of Qing China.

Russia, looking for a rebound after suffering territorial losses in a war vs Prussia and Austria, decided to expand its' influence in the far east. Asia had been heating up in recent times with various colonial conflicts and Russia wanted a bigger slice of the pie. Russia invaded a China already teetering on the edge and upon its' collapse carved out considerable land from the Manchuria region, setting up a new regime obedient to the Tzar.

The war in North-Eastern China had dragged on a bit, and revolts spread across southern and central China. France and Britain saw a moment of opportunity and occupied a small swath of south-west China. Britain and her ally Japan invaded Korea and the Beijing area with the hope of countering Russia's aggression and expansion. Britain hoped to undermine the Han revolution and prop up the Beiyang regime (yellow-green zone between Han China and Manchuria).

 

[unmerged(82211)]

Argentina anexxed Uruguay??? When?

And why is Paraguay holding the Brazilian Pantanal? There's no sense on this. --- Ok, I know that Paraguay invaded Brazil during the War of the Triple Alliance, but there would be no sense in Paraguay get a part of Brazilian national territory this way. The war was about getting access to sea. If Paraguay had won, surelly the map would look very different. Perhaps "Curitiba" province would be Paraguayan. But Argentina would have lost a northern province as well. In this scenario, the province of Porto Alegre also could be an idependent country "República Riograndense".

 

[Octavius Rex VI]

Could that border between the CSA and Mexico be changed? Or maybe a Mormon buffer state between the two powers that was set up when the Mormons emigrated from Missouri in OTL (to put it gently). Plus is Cascadia just the name of a region or do you plan to make it a separate Commonwealth member? Is this a WW1 althist or an alternate AAR-type mod?

 

[Ostheim]

Argentina anexxed Uruguay??? When?

And why is Paraguay holding the Brazilian Pantanal? There's no sense on this. --- Ok, I know that Paraguay invaded Brazil during the War of the Triple Alliance, but there would be no sense in Paraguay get a part of Brazilian national territory this way. The war was about getting access to sea. If Paraguay had won, surelly the map would look very different. Perhaps "Curitiba" province would be Paraguayan. But Argentina would have lost a northern province as well. In this scenario, the province of Porto Alegre also could be an idependent country "República Riograndense".

I have little knowledge or perspective on South American history or politics so the whole region is admittedly a rush job which is exactly why I want and appreciate feedback like this. My thinking on South America was vague and the map reflects that. I figured Gran Colombia gave Brazil a hard time and thus Argentina and Paraguay had their way with Brazil in the south...that might be illogical though. You should make a crude map of your ideas so I can implement them! Either way I will do some research and improve the South American situation.

 

[OutLaw13]

so way does not Serbia have Montenegro or way is it not independent?

 

[Ostheim]

Could that border between the CSA and Mexico be changed? Or maybe a Mormon buffer state between the two powers that was set up when the Mormons emigrated from Missouri in OTL (to put it gently). Plus is Cascadia just the name of a region or do you plan to make it a separate Commonwealth member? Is this a WW1 althist or an alternate AAR-type mod?

It is a WW1 alternate history though I planned for the opening stages of WW1 to happen in 1901 or shortly thereafter.

The Mexican-CSA border could be changed as I am more than open to suggestions and criticisms. I will make the Salt Lake City province into "Deseret" if you like. I think it will look good and fit right in.

Cascadia is the region purchased by UK from USA and incorporated into Canada. It's not my first choice of name but my options were limited and I am open to suggestions on that. I'm considering adding an event for it to possibly become a seperate Commonwealth member.

 

[Octavius Rex VI]

Here are some ideas/info

Do you have any ideas for how the Great war starts?

 

[OutLaw13]

ok now i have to ask way does Serbia have 1 Montenegro province?and also whats that country between Han China and Manchuria?

 

[Ostheim]

ok now i have to ask way does Serbia have 1 Montenegro province?and also whats that country between Han China and Manchuria?

The Prijepolje region was not necessarily destined to be part of Montenegro at this time, like other areas in the Balkans it changed owners several times. It was not until after the OTL 'Balkan Wars' 1912-1913 (the mod starts in 1901) that Montenegro expanded to the modern size. Also, Prijepolje itself is in modern Serbia and has been in Montenegro or Serbia at different times through history. I'm open to a detailed case for making Montenegro two provinces/modern borders but it doesn't seem that strange to me to have this smaller Montenegro with just Cetinje province.

The yellow-green state between Han China and Manchuria is to be named something like "Beiyang District", "Beiyang Regime", or "Beiyang Neutral Zone". It is the last bastion of the [reformed] Qing Dynasty government, saved and propped up by the British and their ally Japan after the breakup of the empire.

 

[Silas60]

Is Federal Republic of America a Democracy or turned it into something like Germany after they lost parts of their homeland?

 

[OutLaw13]

but way would Japan saved Qing Dynasty its in there interests for china to be in war whit it self?Also what abut Russia are they still under iron grip of tzar or they become more like British empire?

 

[Gukpa]

I think paraguay never will take mato Grosso from brazil....

 

[Ostheim]

I think paraguay never will take mato Grosso from brazil....

Thank you for reiterating that nationalist sentiment...South America is going to be fixed soon. :happy:

Is Federal Republic of America a Democracy or turned it into something like Germany after they lost parts of their homeland?

A little bit of both. It is not as democratic as OTL USA and the political culture has revanchist and romantic undertones. However there is significant domestic opposition to any offensive military action. There is widespread concern among the people that if another war breaks out, the American republic would finally cease to exist.

but way would Japan saved Qing Dynasty its in there interests for china to be in war whit it self?Also what abut Russia are they still under iron grip of tzar or they become more like British empire?

The Qing dynasty was already collapsing after war with Russia and the southern rebellions. Japan was simply following her ally Britain's lead in exploiting the situation. Their primary concern was countering Russia's expansion in the region and countering the rise of the 'Han revolution'. The Qing government 'saved' by the British and Japanese is actually "reformed" as in the Emperor is really just a figurehead now and concessions have been made to add to its' claimed legitimacy. However, this whole plan does not work very well as the Han revolution is successful and the Beiyang puppet is powerless, nothing more than a foreign occupied neutral zone.

Russia is still under the iron rule of the Tzars.

 

[korodikrisz]

What about the Habsburg Empire? She's big, but is she and industrial nation, or just some Z category rump state? What is with the nationalities, and what're her future aims? What's her relation with Prussia, and the other German states?

 

[Ostheim]

What about the Habsburg Empire? She's big, but is she and industrial nation, or just some Z category rump state? What is with the nationalities, and what're her future aims? What's her relation with Prussia, and the other German states?

She has a formidable industrial base and is rich in resources. The Austrian Empire is the powerhouse of central Europe. While the many diverse nationalities living under her flag sometimes feel uneasy, they are generally very united at this point given the great success the Empire has seen over the last 50 years. Though Prussia was once prideful and fiercely opposed to Austria, Austria is now seen as the leader of the German speakers. Prussia has come to Austria's side ever since their joint war against Russia which led to the situation in Poland that you see now.

Austria has however pushed herself to the limit, spending up much of her political-diplomatic capital. She can't expand much further without encroaching on other major powers spheres of influence, and those major powers are already suspicious of her and her ally Prussia. A smart Austria at this point would develop a military strategy of defense of the imperial frontier. However, geopolitical forces may thrust that notion out the window.



Edit: Small German states...

Baden is loyal to Austria but tensions between France and Austria over the decades has prevented them from officially joining the Austrian Empire.

Saxony is very loyal to Austria and very friendly with Prussia. Out of a desire to not disturb the delicate alliance between the two major German states, Saxony has remained independent. If Austria wins WW1, Saxony may be annexed.

Hesse is very friendly with Austria and Prussia, but because Austria is already stretched thin and Prussia has been weakened...the state has simply remained independent, albeit economically and politically dependent upon Austrian and Prussian affairs.

Frankfurt is a city-state that has proclaimed neutrality after the 19th century conflicts. She doesn't want to get caught up in new wars or unification struggles. She likes the old world way of doing things. France likes this situation, as some circles in the French leadership see Frankfurt as a possible capital or center of a future west German unified state.

Westphalia is indifferent towards Austria and warm towards Prussia. However she is de facto aligned with France and Netherlands as she was guaranteed independence by France in the 19th century. She wants to join Prussia but political circumstances don't allow it at this time.

The Rhine Federation is ambivalent when it comes to the topic of any German unification. On the surface she is very much entangled with France and it is politically prudent to keep a distance from Austria and Prussia. She is dependent upon the French economy, though there is much trade with the other German states. Industrial expansion has made her significantly wealthy, and she is by far the richest of the small German states.