Napoleonic Wars

Can I also just add, in terms of the peninsula, a couple of specifics that will happen in 1811 and 1812, unless the alt-history affects the outcome of the Napoleonic or Peninsular Wars.

@Athena Peters these could be good dates to know, if you're not already tracking them:

May 16, 1811 -- Battle of Albuera. The bloodiest of the entire Peninsular conflict. The French start with 24,000 troops, suffer ~8,000 casualties, representing a 33% loss. The British & Allies start with 35,000 troops, suffer ~7,000 casualties and about 1,000 additional troops taken prisoner, representing a 22% loss. The British "win." By which I mean, Wellington reports a win even though it is basically a bloodbath stalemate.

Wellington did manage to partially lift the "second" Siege of Badajoz during Albuera. But Badajoz remains under siege through 1812, by which time the Peninsular War becomes the Napoleonic War. This "third" siege of Badajoz ends badly for the French, but the Allies lose nearly 5,000 troops in the span of a few hours to break the Badajoz defense. When the (mostly English) troops finally enter Badajoz on 6 April 1812, they go on a rampage. It takes command *days* to bring the troops back under control. They smash homes, assault civilians, loot, drink, and leave 300 civilians dead in their wake. That was 20-30% of the whole town's population.

It is, by and far, one of the greatest wartime tragedies of either campaign.

Another couple of big ticket items that are missing here:

1798 - 1801 (pending North African alt history division) -- Napoleon wages war on the Ottomans in Egypt, Syria, and Malta. The British side with the Ottomans, in a bid to beat Napoleon to the rights for a Suez Canal. He is eventually defeated, and the French surrender a large collection of scientific loot. Among this loot is the Rosetta Stone, which returns to England.

1806 -- Emperor Francis II concedes to Napoleon, bringing an end to the Holy Roman Empire. It has lasted 1000 years, from the rise of Charlemagne to "modern" times, and was the core of Hapsburg power in continental Europe. Its territories occupied much of present-day Germany. The Confederacy of the Rhine and future expansion of Prussia are consequences of this dissolution; there has not, at this point, been a singular nation known as Germany in history, although German is a known modern language.

This is about what Napoleonic territories (and allies) looked like in 1811, with the exception of Spain being a much more grey area. Note how Britain, Portugal, Russia, and Sweden are standing firm while most of continental Europe has been taken.

Without accounting for conflicts occurring in colonial areas (as they do not exist in this timeline) here is a brief primer of events happening in the Napoleonic wars. No major battles are included, as this is a summary. Pre-1811 - Establishment of Napoleonic France:

• Napoléon Bonaparte, "Emperor of France" seized power military dictatorship in France in 1799 effectively ending the widespread French Revolution through out the country.
  

• The last of the French Revolutionary Wars (direct war from major monarchal powers like Britain, Austria, Russia against the Revolutionary basis of new government in attempts to reestablish the French monarchy) wrapped up in March 1802.
  

• After a brief peace until 1803, allied monarchal powers under Britain went heavily to war with Napoleon, who established the powerful land Grande Armée, a huge pan-European fighting force.
  

• However, Britain retained- through grit, industry, and much sacrifice- naval superiority. Many battles were fought, with Napoleon's forces eventually taking the vast majority of continental Europe by 1810, aside from Portugal.
  

• A continuing war on the Iberian penninsula is underway from 1809-onward. Spain has been overthrown and it's monarchy replaced by rule of Napoleon's brother Joseph.
  

• War has continued, essentially unstopped on small scales, from 1803 on.
  

1811 Onward - "Recent Events":

• Napoleonic France and its allies continue to threaten the existence of Britain with constant clashes of Army on European lands with and Navy battles at sea.
  

• Trade with continental Europe is all but stopped with Britain due to naval embargos imposed by both sides, though Britain maintains a large fleet in the Iberian Peninsula, in home waters, and protecting trade routes in the Mediterranean.
  

• Portugal and Spain peoples have established the "first" widespread use of civilian and military guerilla tactics against the French army.
  

• Approximately 1.5 million so far have died in the Napoleonic Wars, either through military battle or through French killing of civilian opposition.
  

• Russia remains unconquered, and an ally to Britain.
  

A video about the Peninsular War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIVz8e2owTc&fbclid=IwAR2yYs5C37aPXj8NmjSLVC9i0aQ1akASbSnSlKoNz2v5a0nll5lBJ96xfh8