Himself, if he ever faces capture again.Who does Napoleon intend to poison?
Himself, if he ever faces capture again.Who does Napoleon intend to poison?
all the while skewering whoever they could find.
"You're as punctual as you're brave Ney."
Napoleon finally would [find?] Berthier, nursing a nasty gash on his forehead
Fixed, thanks for catching that . Gotta be careful writing stoned!Hot dang that was a fight! The propagandists will probably work overtime to make it look like Napoleon played a key part, instead of cowering and missing his one attacks. The Coalition can probably spin it too, about how Boney can't keep himself safe anymore.
A few errata:
Yep. In OTL he tried to shot himself but a pistol misfired and poor Nappy could not get another one that would work. Wasn’t it really tragic? I mean, not a single good pistol in the whole army and probably the same problem with the muskets: no surprise that they finally lost.Himself, if he ever faces capture again.
A bone? My friend, if Nelson is anything to go on, British flag officers get more dangerous the fewer limbs they have.Wounding Wellington seems a rather sudden bone to throw the French, but I suppose it's interesting to explore what else could go well for the French after a defeat in Russia. Still, Boney's not getting rid of the "spanish ulcer" any time soon.
I can’t even imagine how dangerous would any of them become with a head blown off…. 🤔A bone? My friend, if Nelson is anything to go on, British flag officers get more dangerous the fewer limbs they have.
The headless horseman is actually just the ghost of General Picton.I can’t even imagine how dangerous would any of them become with a head blown off…. 🤔
As was pointed out in a (reasonably old) song, a ruler (and by extension, a military leader) does not really need a head. The indispensable part of his anatomy are posteriors because without them he can’t ride a horse and, thus, led the people.The headless horseman is actually just the ghost of General Picton.
That's a surprise. AFAIK after their falling out Charles never commanded an army ever again. Wonder what changed that here.To my brother Charles
You sorta saw what changed it. OTL he and Francis fell out hard after Wagram, here he makes the choice to reconcile.That's a surprise. AFAIK after their falling out Charles never commanded an army ever again. Wonder what changed that here.
I was wondering more why he made the decision to reconcile. What exactly drove him to do so when he never did OTL?You sorta saw what changed it. OTL he and Francis fell out hard after Wagram, here he makes the choice to reconcile.
Nothing in particular besides butterflies, that's the fun thing about family dynamics, they're fickle.I was wondering more why he made the decision to reconcile. What exactly drove him to do so when he never did OTL?
Well, there was also a fact that Charles had the best record of fighting against Napoleon and a much higher social position than Schwarzenberg, which could not be discounted. On a negative (for Metternich) side, he was much more difficult to manipulate from Vienna than OTL choice. In OTL the second consideration prevailed but why not the first one in your TL? IIRC, the coalition leaders wanted Charles.Nothing in particular besides butterflies, that's the fun thing about family dynamics, they're fickle.
You keep Nappy completely void of the diplomatic graces. 😉 AFAIK, he could be quite charming, when he wanted.Leipzig, August 26th, 1813
The past weeks had been a constant effort by Napoleon to delay the inevitable. First, he'd had the reasonable excuse that his foreign minister had to arrive from Paris, and he'd ensured Maret took his time leaving for Germany. After that, he'd sent Caulaincourt to negotiate on his behalf, not on the fate of Central Europe, but rather, on every minute detail of the meetings themselves. Everything had been argued, discussed, and decided upon at a snails paste. Now however, the patience of the Coalition was at end, with the monarchs, and the Austrian foreign ministers demanding Napoleon personally negotiate if the ceasefire was to hold. Out of excuses, Napoleon reluctantly crossed the new temporary bridge over the Elster, to meet with Metternich.
In the parlour of a wealthy Saxon noble, the Emperor waited for the Austrian. He'd tried to read the expressions of the Austrian grenadiers who'd escorted Metternich, but their stoic expressions revealed little. Napoleon waited several minutes, before a knock on the door signalled the arrival of his opponant for today. The foreign minister stepped into the room, he gave Napoleon a perfunctory bow, to which the Frenchman replied with a nod.
"Your Majesty" Metternich began "It's an honor to finally make your aquaintance." He didn't attempt to sound genuine. "The feeling is certainly mutual." Nor did Napoleon "It's certainly a disgrace we've not been able to cooperate our talents before." Metternich squinted "Well, you've seemed more keen to use your talents to dismantle my state these past eight years, I've used my own to keep my nation alive." Napoleon frowned and took a step forward "I've done exactly what you claim to do, for my empire, the difference being only one of us is wearing trousers." He gestured to the German's breeches.
"Let us be frank." Metternich paced around the Emperor "Neither I nor my Emperor desire to see you deposed, executed, whatever fantasies you've concocted for yourself." "You'll watch how you speak to me, Österreichisch." Napoleon suddenly switched languages "If we are truly to be frank, so be it. You want territorial concessions, at no cost mind you, or you'll attack me." Metternich retorted "My Emperor wants returned to his kingdoms, the land you've taken in unjustly." The Emperor let out a belly laugh "Remind me who started that nonsense in '09?!"
Napoleon stepped forward again as to be nearly touching noses with Metternich "Nonetheless." He quietly spat "You leave me little choice, so I'm going to tell you what you're going to do." Metternich raised an eyebrow "The Coalition can have Galicia back, not Austria the Coalitions." He said quickly "I don't care who takes it. As for Germany, I may permit a national conference to discuss several alternatives to the Confederation. I'm also willing to return parts of Hanover to Prussia." Metternich saw clearly what Napoleon was doing "You realize that won't be sufficient?" He asked him "I realize, that you'll still have to bring it to the other sovereigns, and they'll have much to discuss." Napoleon now turned away "My calender is far more packed than yours will ever be." He gestured to the door.
Metternich took the hint, gave another obligatory bow, and stepped out. As he did so, he turned back to the Emperor "Peace and war lay in Your Majesties hands. Today you can still make peace, tomarrow it may be too late." Napoleon didn't reply...
A few hours later, back in Lindenau, Napoleon revealed all that had happened to his entourage "Do you think they'll accept that?" Caulaincourt asked him. Maret shook his head "Not a chance, but they'll have to talk it out, I'm sure Alexander will get greedy for Poland." "Not to mention that business with Hanover won't make England very happy." Napoleon concurred. Maret nodded "All it needs to do is last, till what?" "No later than mid November." Berthier replied "I doubt they'll want to muck around in Germany well into winter." "Which gives us until Spring to mobilize, train, work our way out of this mess." Napoleon finished. "In the meantime though, there's much to be done." Berthier groaned, he wouldn't be sleeping tonight.
Those seem to be very mild terms least the way they were phrased, with the exception of the last one that I also think is not really what Austria wanted. It doesn't ask for Napoleon to leave the Papal States, or any part of Italy, it does ask for the end of the French occupation of Germany, but not the dismantling of the puppet states, it also doesn't ask for the return of Austrian lands annexed to Bavaria, nor Venice, also doesn't specify if they want the entirety of the Illyrian Provinces or just their pre 1789 parts or even less.As we discussed, our terms of restored access to the sea, the end of the French occupation of Germany, and the liberation of Galicia from the Poles, are all to be unconditional.
My opinion about what would happen next, just press play:The Coalition can have Galicia back, not Austria the Coalitions.
A few hours later, back in Lindenau, Napoleon revealed all that had happened to his entourage "Do you think they'll accept that?" Caulaincourt asked him. Maret shook his head "Not a chance, but they'll have to talk it out, I'm sure Alexander will get greedy for Poland." "Not to mention that business with Hanover won't make England very happy." Napoleon concurred. Maret nodded "All it needs to do is last, till what?" "No later than mid November." Berthier replied "I doubt they'll want to muck around in Germany well into winter." "Which gives us until Spring to mobilize, train, work our way out of this mess." Napoleon finished. "In the meantime though, there's much to be done." Berthier groaned, he wouldn't be sleeping tonight.