The defeated Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland and…
October 1800 CE
The reasons for this break are less clear and simple than those of the split with Austria, but several key events have occurred over the winter of 1799–1800 that help: Bonaparte has released seven thousand captive Russian troops that Britain had refused to pay the ransom for; Paul has grown closer to the Scandinavian countries of Denmark and Sweden, whose claim to neutral shipping rights offend Britain; Paul has had the British ambassador in St. Petersburg (Whitworth) recalled (1800) and Britain has not replaced him, with no clear reason given as to why; and Britain, needing to choose between their two allies, has chosen Austria, who has certainly committed to fighting the French to the end.
Finally, two events occur in rapid succession that destroy the alliance completely: first, in July 1800, the British seize a Danish frigate, prompting Paul to close the British trading factories in St. Petersburg as well as impound British ships and cargo; second, even though the allies resolve this crisis, Paul cannot forgive the British for Admiral Nelson's refusal to return Malta to the Order of St. John, and therefore to Paul, when the British capture it from the French in September 1800.
In a drastic response, Paul seizes all British vessels in Russian ports, sends their crews to detention camps and takes British traders hostage until he receives satisfaction.
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