westvirginiarebel
Junior Member
I have been banned from alternate-timelines.com?
Posts: 50
|
Post by westvirginiarebel on Feb 11, 2018 5:41:35 GMT
WI the idea of a British Republic had survived after Cromwell? How does this affect England's colonies in America, future British colonization, relations with France, etc?
|
|
|
Post by steve59 on Feb 11, 2018 12:39:36 GMT
WI the idea of a British Republic had survived after Cromwell? How does this affect England's colonies in America, future British colonization, relations with France, etc? If the republic lasts then it will have continued tension with most of Europe, being a regicidal regime after all. Eventually relations will normalise but a lot will depend on what sort of government England/Britain has. [Don't forget Scotland is basically under military occupation after its attempts to attack the republic and Ireland also after the ending of the chaos there.] If nothing else Louis XIV will probably prompt other powers to look to the republic as potential allies once he starts trying to dominate Europe. Relations with the Dutch could be interesting, both because their a major trading rival and because their a monarchy with a powerful tradition of oligarchy/merchant republic. Your still likely to have at least some attempts at a Stuart restoration, probably with some backing by France or Spain. Could well see something like James II's operations in Ireland, only probably by Charles II [as he would claim to be] bring further disruption. Also would it continue to be a republic dominated by the oligarchy or with more power to a broader spectrum of the population, say if the Leveller's had gained more support. In that case things could well be even worse for the Catholic Irish as one response could be to open up more of Ireland to army veterans and people in England seeking land to settle. [Especially if access to the American colonies is reduced - see below]. IIRC the American colonies were strongly monarchist, especially I would suspect Maryland and were basically cowered by military force so there could be more problems in the longer run. You might even see, if Britain got involved in a major war with France and communications disrupted, Charles establishing himself in the American settlements, or at least some of them, which would be an interesting inversion of OTL. Ultimately you could well see a monarchy restored or a new king/dynasty selected as it was such an established part of European culture at the time. However it could become more limited, like the British monarchy after 1689. If the republic lasts until the present day that could make for a huge impact on world history, even if Britain doesn't become the super-power it did OTL.
|
|
|
Post by Tyranna on Mar 20, 2018 2:16:33 GMT
Interesting, this scenario; what about if Ireland and Scotland united and rose in rebellion (perhaps with French or Spanish help, or help from elsewhere?) Ireland and Scotland would still have a lot in common despite divergence in religion; a union between Scotland and Ireland would be infinitely more popular than a union between England and Ireland at that point in history?
|
|
|
Post by steve59 on Mar 20, 2018 17:52:11 GMT
Interesting, this scenario; what about if Ireland and Scotland united and rose in rebellion (perhaps with French or Spanish help, or help from elsewhere?) Ireland and Scotland would still have a lot in common despite divergence in religion; a union between Scotland and Ireland would be infinitely more popular than a union between England and Ireland at that point in history? Its a possibility although I think France would be more likely to be concerned with expansion against the Hapsburgs and Dutch and Spain is a fading power by this point. Also the dominant group in Scotland, that prompted the republics occupation of it are hard line Protestant Calvinists, who are odd bedfellows to Irish Catholic rebels. OTL you got major movements of such people into Ulster, prompting the current situation with a Protestant majority there that opposing union with the south. If there is some political settlement between England and Scotland, possibly with the latter making its peace with the republic and gaining seats in it you could well see them allied in the settlement of Ireland, or at least its eastern and northern parts respectively. They could still be drawn into the broader European war if France is seen as a threat, say if Louis XIV continues to support the exiled Stuarts. There might be a landing in Ireland which prompts an uprising but that could be very bad for the Irish. Plus this all depends on how things develop in England and the local 'empire' within the British Islea. Does the republic stay fairly hard line republican and Protestant or become more moderate on either/both points? If a monarchy is restored is it a Stuart or someone else and if so what limits are established by Parliament on their power? Does it collapse into chaos with possibly an autocratic monarchy or warlord establishing power, with or without external support. If there is large scale English Protestant settlement in Leinster say then its likely that relations with the Catholic Irish will be very bad and England/Britain will be tied to controlling it more than OTL. Also since it sets a precedent I could see it continuing and the bulk of the population of Ireland becoming Protestant. You could see the Catholics restricted to Connaught and steadily reduced to a small minority.
|
|