Flag of the Gallic League

This is the flag of the Gallic League. It comes from a world where Carthage won the Punic Wars and crushed Rome. Carthage and Greece did establish some colonies across the Mediterranean, and even sent expeditions up the major rivers of Europe. However, neither created a vast spanning empire the way Rome would have. Gaul remained divided between numerous tribes and city-states. The southern regions saw lots of influence from Carthage and Greece as a result of trading ports. Greco-Carthaginian influence begins to tapper off the further north one travels. Over time, the city-states of Gaul began to establish a series of trading alliances with one another, and this would eventually lead to a political alliance. Thus, the Gallic League was born.

The thinking was that the city-states of Gaul could do more by pooling their resources than any of them could individually. The city-states are divided into a series of cantons, each of which has a high degree of autonomy. The cantons administer to their personal affairs, while the League government deals with diplomacy and international relations. The League capital constantly moves around. This way, no one canton can wield more influence than the others. The Gallic League has proven to be quite successful, and can easily stand as an equal to major powers such as Carthage, Greece, and Egypt.

The Gauls have developed a written language using a modified form of the Greek alphabet. Several Greek philosophers have opened schools on the southern coast of Gaul. The Gauls also learned shipwright technics from Carthage, and the first expedition across the Atlantic was lead by Gauls. Gaul established a few colonies in the New World, but the indigenous people were largely able to resist colonization. That said, many indigenous peoples of the Americas did become valuable trading partners for Gaul. Gaul gained considerable wealth by acting as the middle man to the products of the New World. On the whole, the Gallic League is one of the biggest success stories of the world created by Carthage’s victory in the Punic Wars.

The flag is a green pennon with a gold boar on it. The boar is consider the most important animal to the Gauls, and the green references to the lush forests and fields of Gaul.

U.S. State Flag of Normandy

This is the U.S. State Flag of Normandy. It comes from a world where the Dunkirk evacuation failed, and Britain signed an armistice with Nazi Germany. Meanwhile, the United States never got involved in the war in Europe. Following the Fall of France, Germany focused its full military might on the Soviet Union. Despite a valiant effort, the Soviet Union fell to the Nazis, and Germany now stood as the supreme and uncontested ruler of continental Europe. 

Germany divided France into a series of administrative regions. This was done in hopes of keeping France weak, and preventing it from ever rising against Germany again. Furthermore, Germany also destroyed France’s industry. The French were even denied the use of chemical fertilizers, which lead to millions of deaths via starvation in the resulting famine. Germany implemented similarly harsh measure across the rest of its empire.

By the 1950s, Germany had fallen into a state of civil war. At the same time, America and Britain committed to military action against Germany. By 1960, Europe has been liberated, and Nazi Germany defeated for good. Unfortunately, France was left as an impoverished and deindustrialized shell of its former self. The regions began to process of reunification, but the northern most regions had other plans. They applied to join the United States.

After some debate, Congress approved the application, and the Normandy Territory was established. Normandy officially gained statehood in 1972, making it the 51st State. The State of Normandy includes the regions of Brittany, Normandy, and Hauts-de-France from our world. Becoming an American territory meant that reconstruction went quicker for Normandy than it did for the rest of France. Normandy also received more money for rebuilding. Of course, Normandy wasn’t the only place in Europe to follow this path. Sicily became the 52nd State in 1974. Kyushu became the first American state in Asia in 1977, with Ryukyu following in 1978.

Normandy has received significant immigration from the rest of the French-speaking world. In fact, it is the only state where French is the dominant language. Though, this is only a slight majority. Most Normans are bilingual, and signs are in both English and French. Today, the scars of the past had begun to fade, and Normandy enjoys a high standard of living. The many picturesque towns, especially those with surviving medieval buildings, make it a popular tourist destination for the rest of America. Recently, Normandy has become home to Europe’s first Disneyland park. Normandy is notable for its more relaxed and slower pace to life than most other American states. Normandy combines French and American culture into a truly unique state.

About the only bad thing that can be said of Normandy is it’s flag. The flag is a simple blue background with the medieval Norman lion, and the state name. That the phrase “In God We Trust” be included on the flag was one of the stipulations for Normandy being granted statehood. The flag is universally considered ugly, and more than a little embarrassing. However, thus far, plans to change it have moved rather slowly.

Flag of the Kingdom of New France

This is the Flag of the Kingdom of New France.  It comes from a world where France actually put effort into colonizing the New World.  The French government provided monetary incentives for families to settle in France's North American holdings.  The thinking was that this investment would eventually be paid back by production of goods from the colonies.  Families were given priority because of their importance to sustaining the colonies in the long term.  France frequently got involved in boarder scuffles with the British, and this, among other reasons, led to something of an alternate French and Indian War. 

Britain gained the Ohio River Valley, and a few other small bits of land, but New France survived the war more or less intact.  During the war, the British also managed to capture Cuba.  Cuba provided raw materials for Britain's North American colonies which, along with the fact that they were hemmed in by the Mississippi River, meant that the colonies stayed loyal to Britain.  Thus, there was no American Revolution in this world.

The same, however, could not be said of the French Revolution.  France's colonies had help relieve the pressure on its citizens a bit, but overtaxation, combined with a bad harvest, ensured that the revolution came to pass.  However, when it became apparent the revolutionaries were going to gain the upper hand, the French monarchy fled to New France. 

Originally, this government-in-exile was known as France-d'outre-mer.  However, when it became apparent that retaking European France was unfeasible, the monarchy declared New France independent from France.  Thus, the Kingdom of New France was founded.  Eventually, things calmed down in Europe, but France remained staunchly republican.  

New France is an economic and cultural powerhouse of North America.  Over the years, it has to cede some of its southern territories to the Dominion of North America, but these days the two are on friendly terms with each other.  The two nations compete with one another for immigrants from around the world.  People of all races are given protection under the law of New France.  Recently, a First Nations man was elected governor of the province of Canada.  New France has been trying to convince nations, such as the Empire of Mexico and the Empire of Brazil, to create a league of New World monarchies. 

The flag has as three-tailed banner design and feature blue and white, traditional colors of New France.  An enlarged royal seal is displayed prominently on the flag.

Napoleon in Afghanistan: A Twilight Histories Map

My latest map based on the Twilight Histories episode Napoleon in Afghanistan.  It's set in the mid-19th century where among other things...



Napoleon was far more successful than he was in our world.  One of his biggest successes was his victory against the Russians.  Napoleon chased Czar Alexander and his forces across Central Asia for quite some time.  Eventually, the French army faced off against the forces of Britain and Russia in the Khyber Pass of Afghanistan.  It was a tough and gurgling battle, but ultimately the French prevails and dealt a crippling blow to the British by capturing India.  Unfortunately, Napoleon didn't get to enjoy his success for long as he contracted cancer and was dead by his mid-sixties.  Still, despite his early death, Napoleon managed to create a French Empire stretching from Portugal to Indochina.

While Napoleon was busy building his empire the United States was going through considerable turmoil.  The Embargo Act was never repealed and New England seceded from the Union.  Soon the United States found itself in a war against New England and Britain.  All went well at first, but then Thomas Jefferson was assassinated.  James Madison severely mishandled the war and caused New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to join New England.  By the end of the war New England was recognized as a sovereign nation and the area that would have been the states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin Indiana and Ohio had become part of British North America.

Napoleon never wasted troops in Haiti and was able to retain Louisiana.  In recent times Louisiana has been granted a higher degree of personal autonomy, akin to the British Dominion system, as a bit of a trial run of giving other regions of the French Empire more autonomy.  Louisiana has a highly cosmopolitan culture with its citizens comes from across the French Empire.  New Orleans is very much the finical and cultural heart of Louisiana, and occupies a position not too dissimilar to New York during our world's 19th century.  There is a movement within western Louisiana to breakaway and become its own separate dominion.  Time will tell what becomes of this.

Following Russia's defeat by Napoleon many Russians, including the royal family, fled to Russia's possessions in North America.  Novorossiya has expanded to include much of the Pacific Northwest, and has opened its doors to many immigrants.  One of the most notable group of immigrants has been Mormons.  The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints originated in New England, but its members soon moved to Louisiana under the guidance of church founder Joseph Smith.  The Mormons sought to establish a nation of their own in sparsely populated upper Louisiana.  Unfortunately, it wasn't long before they found themselves in conflict with the French military in what would become known as the Deseret War.  Brigham Young, following Smith's death in the war, led the remaining Mormon's to southern Novorossiya.  The Russians allowed the Mormons to settle, but made it very clear they were not attempt anything like in Louisiana.  Novorossiya is culturally divided between a Russian Orthodox north and an Anglo Mormon south.

Latin America experienced several revolutions thanks to Napoleon.  Simon Bolivar received support from Napoleon and achieved his dream of a unified Republic of Gran Columbia.  Mexico is an empire that is ruled by a relative of Napoleon; on paper it's independent, but in practice it's very much a French puppet state.  The Portuguese royal family, as in our world, relocated to Brazil; Rio de Janeiro is the heart of the Brazilian Empire.  Argentina and Uruguay have fallen the British, eager for new lands following their losses to the French.  Chile has managed to maintain its independence thanks to its mountainous terrain.

Much of the Middle East is either under French control or French influence.  Oman has managed to maintain its independence by doing everything it can to suck up to the French.  Thanks to this tactic Oman has been able to begin establishing colonies in East Africa and is becoming something of a regional power.  There was a rebellion and uprising by Wahhabi Muslims against French influence in the region, but it we quickly suppressed.  Following the fall of the Ottoman Empire an Islamic Holy State was established around the region containing Mecca and Medina.  The French leave the Holy State mostly to its own devices, figuring that it's more trouble than it's worth.

The rapid expat ions of the French Empire gave China the motion it needed to being a modernization campaign.  The empire's cultural regulations were relaxed and non-Manchurians were allowed to practice their cultures more freely, which has led to an increase in the number of hanfu being made and purchased.  Industrialization programs are underway and China has even been able to negotiate for the purchase of several Philippine islands from France.  Meanwhile, Japan has opened itself up to the outside world and is also in the middle of its own industrialization.  The Japanese government has been reformed under a Meiji style restoration.  Korea is doing its best to prosper in the shade of its neighbors and is looking to start its own industrialization program.  Hawaii has managed to maintain its independence and is in the process of reforming its society along French lines.

The 19th century is without doubt a very French Century.  The French Empire reigns supreme and without challenge.  The British Empire has been thoroughly humbled and never quite became the great power that it did in our world.  For the most part the world has been relatively peaceful following Napoleon's wars of conquest.  Slavery has been phased out of most nation with the exception of the rump United States and Brazil, though the Brazilians are creating plans to do so.  Because of the size of the French Empire it is possible that Africa won't be colonized quite to the same extent as in our world.  Still, despite its success the French Empire is beginning to show strains and groan under its own weight.  It's possible that more regions will be granted greater autonomy like Louisiana.  Time will tell what will become of the world that Napoleon made.