Britain (1707–1914): Industrial and Imperial Power
Civilization Index
British Empire
The empire on which the sun never set
Territory & strength
Victory in the Seven Years’ War (1756–63) gave Britain Canada and control of Bengal. It lost the thirteen American colonies in 1783 but turned east — to India, Australia and the Cape — and emerged from the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 as the leading naval, commercial and colonial power in the world.
Under Queen Victoria the first industrial nation became the workshop of the world. The Crown took over India in 1858, settlers filled Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and in the Scramble for Africa Britain took the largest share, from Egypt to the Cape, while its navy and trade dominated the oceans.
Under Edward VII and George V the empire stood near its greatest extent, with self-governing Dominions in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Germany’s new navy ended “splendid isolation”; Britain answered with the Dreadnought and the ententes with France and Russia, and went to war in 1914.
Key cities
London
c. 47Liverpool
1207Manchester
1853Glasgow
1175Calcutta
1690Bombay
1661Cairo
1882Cape Town
1806Sydney
1788Hong Kong
1842Singapore
1819Gibraltar
1704Military system
Georgian wars · 1756–1815
Core unit
Redcoat line infantry
Brown Bess musket · two-deep line
Core unit
Ships of the line
Nelson’s fleet · Trafalgar
Support Unit
95th Rifles
Baker rifle · skirmishers
Support Unit
Royal Dragoons
Heavy cavalry · Union Brigade
Support Unit
Royal Horse Artillery
Mobile field guns
Victorian empire · 1837–1901
Core unit
Line infantry
Enfield, then Martini–Henry rifle
Core unit
Indian Army
Sikh, Punjabi and Gurkha regiments
Support Unit
Lancers & hussars
Cavalry of the Raj
Support Unit
HMS Warrior
Iron-hulled steam warship, 1860
Support Unit
Maxim gun
Machine gun of the colonial wars
Edwardian empire · 1901–1914
Core unit
Khaki infantry
Short Magazine Lee–Enfield
Core unit
HMS Dreadnought
All-big-gun battleship, 1906
Support Unit
Gurkha Rifles
Kukri & rifle
Support Unit
Royal Field Artillery
18-pounder gun
Support Unit
Royal Flying Corps
Founded 1912
Military Traits
A small professional army — about 250,000 regulars in 1914 — backed by the world’s largest navy, the Indian Army and forces raised across the empire. Global coaling stations, naval bases and cables let Britain move troops and ships across every ocean.
Leaders & commanders
Georgian Era · 1714–1837
Victorian Era · 1837–1901
Edwardian Era · 1901–1914
Major battles
Strategic assessment
The most expansive and globally connected empire in history, built on naval supremacy, industrial strength and worldwide logistics. Britain dominated the trade routes of the industrial age and held strategic points on every continent, shaping the balance of power from the Seven Years’ War to 1914.
Imperion 1776 Chess
Battle chess · the Crown Forces
Command the armies of the Crown
Britain is free to play in Imperion 1776 Chess, with two rosters. Against the United States or Japan the Crown Forces of the American war take the field, with headquarters at New York; against France, Prussia, the Ottomans, Russia or Qing, Wellington’s army of the Napoleonic Wars replaces them.
🦁 The American war
Against the United States and Japan
Commanders · STR · STG · LDR · INF
Regiments · ATK · DEF · SPD · MOR
Reinforcements
⚜ The Napoleonic Wars
Against France, Prussia, the Ottomans, Russia and Qing
Commanders · STR · STG · LDR · INF
Regiments · ATK · DEF · SPD · MOR
Reinforcements
Britain and the United States are free to command; Russia, the Ottomans, Qing, Edo Japan, France and Prussia are open to Patriot members. Cards marked in green on this page are playable in the game.
⚔ Play Imperion 1776 ChessRule the waves
Command the Crown Forces in Imperion 1776 Chess — play it in your browser