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Description
What if Brittany had still been independent when America was discovered?
Here is that story!
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Map 55

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Dynasties and rulers

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Conan III closely follows events in English America. He deeply hates the American separatists: Protestants, rebels against their king, won over by the ideas of the “Lumières”. He is deeply reluctant to ally with France even to take revenge against the English.

He will wait until 1779 and France's entry into the war to act. It mobilizes a huge fleet of 40 ships (The Brazilian fleet then numbered 76 ships of line), 300 transports, 60,000 men including 30,000 soldiers.

The new Brazilian fleet has been prepared for years for this type of action. Officially it targets India and the English are very worried.

But the armada finally landed in July 1780 in the Cape Colony and captured Saldanha, one of the best ports in the region. Conan III must punish the Dutch who support the Yankee insurgents.

The colony has 10,000 soldiers and 40,000 militia but they are not prepared. Kaapstaad fell soon after in August 1780 after an unequal battle.
It took a year to conquer the rest of the colony and especially Wilhelmine and its rich diamond mines discovered in 1773.

The conquest was rapid even though Brazil sent 75,000 soldiers in all. But the Brazilian settlers behaved so brutally (confiscations, looting, etc.) that many Boers (Dutch settlers) revolted, forcing them to maintain substantial troops: 30,000 soldiers.

Diplomatically Conan III succeeded in isolating the Netherlands despite his alliance with France. The small nation which already has to fight against the English has no fleet to oppose Brazil.

So in July 1782 the Brazilians landed with 28 ships, 200 transports, 50,000 people including 20,000 soldiers in Trincomalay. An ideal port for a large naval base. But the English already occupy the port and are expelled. In the nine months that followed the rest of the island was conquered.
In August 1783 an assault was launched on the kingdom of Kandy which was quickly reduced to a protectorate.

In 1782 Brazil also took Suriname almost without resistance.

Description
What if Brittany had still been independent when America was discovered?
Here is that story!
------------------------
Map 55

PREV - FIRST - NEXT

Dynasties and rulers

-----------------------

Conan III closely follows events in English America. He deeply hates the American separatists: Protestants, rebels against their king, won over by the ideas of the “Lumières”. He is deeply reluctant to ally with France even to take revenge against the English.

He will wait until 1779 and France's entry into the war to act. It mobilizes a huge fleet of 40 ships (The Brazilian fleet then numbered 76 ships of line), 300 transports, 60,000 men including 30,000 soldiers.

The new Brazilian fleet has been prepared for years for this type of action. Officially it targets India and the English are very worried.

But the armada finally landed in July 1780 in the Cape Colony and captured Saldanha, one of the best ports in the region. Conan III must punish the Dutch who support the Yankee insurgents.

The colony has 10,000 soldiers and 40,000 militia but they are not prepared. Kaapstaad fell soon after in August 1780 after an unequal battle.
It took a year to conquer the rest of the colony and especially Wilhelmine and its rich diamond mines discovered in 1773.

The conquest was rapid even though Brazil sent 75,000 soldiers in all. But the Brazilian settlers behaved so brutally (confiscations, looting, etc.) that many Boers (Dutch settlers) revolted, forcing them to maintain substantial troops: 30,000 soldiers.

Diplomatically Conan III succeeded in isolating the Netherlands despite his alliance with France. The small nation which already has to fight against the English has no fleet to oppose Brazil.

So in July 1782 the Brazilians landed with 28 ships, 200 transports, 50,000 people including 20,000 soldiers in Trincomalay. An ideal port for a large naval base. But the English already occupy the port and are expelled. In the nine months that followed the rest of the island was conquered.
In August 1783 an assault was launched on the kingdom of Kandy which was quickly reduced to a protectorate.

In 1782 Brazil also took Suriname almost without resistance.