Alternate Napoleon Invasion of Russia

[chris N]

Interest idea about supporting regional groups.
Napoleon was wondering how the talks were going to end the war in Spain. He had been discussing the matter with his trusted aide when the suggestion about possibly supporting the regional authorities and groups came up. This would gain support from the groups that had never cared for rule from Madrid. The Emperor sent a dispatch to Paris ordering that if the Spanish Bourbons would not deal to begin to grant independence to these regions as part of the French withdrawal.

Meanwhile the Emperor completed his inspection of Minsk ordering supply depots to be set up and making sure that everything was guarded and patrolled.

 

[chris N]

The Emperor was busy with his team of writers as he prepared to send more dispatches to Paris and various other parts of the Empire. Imperial Couriers were constantly busy. The latest dispatch called upon his foreign Minister to prepare to establish independent states in the Basque, Catalan and Aragone regions to name just three. That should secure the safety of souther France. Feelers to the Basque had received a positive response. The Emperor was prepared to turn over arms and equipment to these groups and provide some help in training their armies. That shouls teach the Spanish Bourons a leason and stop the British cold.

 

[Readman]

That's a really good likeness/impersonation of Napoleon. I think general wisdom/opinion or at least my own is that he would be best served leaving Russia the hell alone....but Napoleon was just too ambitous and egoist to let sleeping dogs lie. I can probbaly think of several chances he had to just chill out and let his empire be what it was but throwing them away for chances at glory

 

[chris N]

The Emperor moved out in the field. It Appeared that Marshal Davout had once again caught up with the Russian Army and a full scale battle was in the offering. Napoleon was ordering the other Marshals to coverage on the position. Murat had moved the cavalry on the enemy's flank and there appeared to be several skirmishes between the Cossacks and the Allied Cavalry.
In Spain the Basque were now Cheering Napoleon. He had given them what they had always wanted a state of their own in two of the other reions the same thing was happening. Napoleon had tired of the Spanish Bourbons accepting his deal. They were now finding that the Royal Spanish Army was breaking apart as officers and soldiers headed to their homes.

 

[chris N]

Marshal MacDonald reported to the Emperor that his forces had captured Riga. He also reported that the Prussian forces were moving forward quite slowly.
The Grand Army had had several engagements with the Russian rear guard but it wasn't until Mid July that Marshal Davout once again forced an engagement with the Russian Army. The engagement appeared to be drawing in more forces on both sides. Davout had a Russian Corp trapped. Would this be the battle that might decide the campaign. The battle lasted the entire day but on the next morning the main Russian Army had again disappeared.

 

[chris N]

Marshal Davout had a hold of the Russian Army. Napoleon was quickly coming up with additional forces. He was hoping for a decisive engagement. The engagement did grow as both sides threw in more forces.
The Russian Commander however arrived and admonished his subordinates for allowing themselves to be caught in the French trap. He ordered a breakout and a withdrawal even though it would mean the loss pf a lot of Russian troops. Better that than the loss of the entire Army..
Czar Alexander was on the way. He had been in the field and was unaware that Swedish troops had captured Helsinki and that Marshal MacDonald forces had taken Riga. The Prussians who had been dragging their feet now became aware that the French were on the verge of a Great Victory and Prussia could not afford to be seen as being a problem
Napoleon Had issued a proclamation freeing the Russian Serfs
Word also arrived that the plan to shatter Spain into independent regional states had work. People that had fought the French were now cheering Napoleon who had given them their independence. He doubted whether the British would want to get involved in this mess and if the Spanish Bourbons could find a leader for their army that might be able to win the war to reunite Spain.

 

[chris N]

The French Army was advancing on Smolensk and Napoleon had reached the decision that that was as far east as the French Imperial army would go. The city would be turned into a depot.
Napoleon had turned North West with part of the Army. He was hoping to catch part of the Russian Imperial Army off guard. He was hoping to join Marshal MacDonald and capture the Estonian Capital.
The Swedish Army was moving closer to the Russian Capital.

 

[chris N]

The Emperor was now moving with several corps of the Grand Army toward Marshal MacDonald. He wanted to scare the living daylights out of Czar Alexander. The invasion of Russia was heading toward its final stages. The Emperor had confirmed that the army would be preparing more for the winter than for chasing the Russian Imperial Army.
The Result was that the French Imperial Army was less worn out and it had managed to train a lot more soldiers.
The Emperor was pleased that nearly another 12,000 Polish troops had completed their training and would be joining the imperial Army protecting the border of the Kingdom.
The Emperor of the French was expected to have a serious talk with the Prussian Monarch about his country's army's failure to live up to its obligations.

 

[chris N]

There was barely a month of campaigning left. Napoleon wanted to stop combat operations by the end of August and concentrating on making sure that the army was well prepared for the winter .

 

[chris N]

Czar Alexander I was now puzzled. Everything had been going wrong with this campaign. Napoleon was suppose to be on his way to Moscow. Instead his forces had stopped and prepared themselves for the winter. The French had been able to give the Russian Imperial Army a good thumping. Riga had fallen to the French and now word had arrived that the French had captured a key city in Estonia. To add to the mess Sweden had entered the war invaded Finland and after capturing Helsinki was advancing on St Petersburg.
What was Napoleon planning on doing.

 

[martin76]

He had given them what they had always wanted a state of their own in two of the other reions the same thing was happening.

Impossible because there weren´t "regional groups".... Neither Catalans, Basques (XX century word, didn´t exist in XIX century) would have accepted nothing but the unity of Spain under King Ferdinand VII and "the True Religion". God - Fatherland - King.

Napoleon only had a chance in Spain: Return the throne to Ferdinand VII (a vile and despicable being, moreover), evacuate Spain and admit his defeat.

That would have freed 300,000 men very importan for the Russian campaign.

 

[Matteo]

It's the strategy that mattered in the russian campaign, not the number of troops. This number in fact already was too high and caused bravo troubles in logistics.

 

[chris N]

Napoleon was now completing what would be the final stages of the 1812 Campaign. Even though it was just early August it was clear that there was little chance to make a realistic attempt on St Petersburg. Still he would make a thrist toward the city before pulling back.
More preparations were being made to prepare for the winter. While parts of the Grand Army would remain in the East it was Napoleon's plan that parts of it might return to the allied states and to France.

The Spanish Bourbons had agreed to the peace. Napoleon expressed regret for the French occupation of Spain and the French Army was to be withdrawn entirely from Spain.

 

[Matteo]

You should have Napoleon retain Catalonia. He actually turned it into french administrative districts.

 

[martin76]

You should have Napoleon retain Catalonia. He actually turned it into french administrative districts.

No, he shouldn´t.. Without Catalonia is not possible to finish the war in Spain...the only solution is to evacuate entirely Spain and give back the throne to Ferdinand VII.

 

[Ravenflight]

Davout (who I believe to be superior militarily to Nap)

Peter, you're my friend for life!

Where's the friend for life button?

 

[Matteo]

No, he shouldn´t.. Without Catalonia is not possible to finish the war in Spain...the only solution is to evacuate entirely Spain and give back the throne to Ferdinand VII.

Yes it is possible. Not less than for Rhineland. This part of Spain had been more of less pacified.

But if you don't want to, this is a choice you can of course perfectly make.

 

[martin76]

Yes it is possible. Not less than for Rhineland. This part of Spain had been more of less pacified.

But if you don't want to, this is a choice you can of course perfectly make.

Catalonia was not pacified at all. To compare the pacific land of Rhineland with the Spanish Hell is as comparing Denmark with the Russian Front in SWW.
As example (exclude small guerrilla actions):
1808: First Battle of Bruch, Second Battle of Bruch, First Siege of Gerona, blockade of Barcelona, Action of San Cugat del Vallles, Action of San Pedro Martir, Siege of Rosas, battle of Cardedeu, Battle of Molins de Rey, Battle of Valls.
1809: First action in Molins de Rey, Second Action in Molins de Rey, Action of Manresa, Barcelona´s Plot, Second Siege of Gerona.
1810: Action of Centellas, Action of Collsupina, Aran Valley campaign, Battle of Vich, Attack to Villafranca, Action of Villafranca, Siege of Hostalrich, Siege of Lerida, Siege of Tortosa, Battle of La Bisbal..
1811: Action of Valls, Attack to Montjuich, siege of Tarragona, siege of Figueras, battle of Montserrat, attack to Medas Islands, action of Igualada, action of Bellpuig, reconquest of Montserrat.
1812: Taking of Reus, Battle of Vilaseca, Battle of Altafulla, Action of San Feliu de Codina, Action of Mataro, Action of Collsacreu, Action of Culell, Action of La Ametlla, Action of Cornudella, Action of Canet de Adri, Action of Massanet, Action of Hospitalet, Action of Merens (In France), taking of Ax-les-Thermes (France), taking of Tarascon (France), action of Beuda, Action of Palautordera, Action of Vallgorguina, Action of Castellfullit, Battle of Olot, Action of Picorell, Action of San Vicente, Second Action of Mataro, attack to Palamos, Action of San Feliu de Llobregat, Action of Arenys de Mar, Action of Molins de Rey, Third Action of Mataro, Action of Palleja etc etc etc.
1813: Action of Villanueva y la Geltrú, Action of Sacreu, Action of Canyelles, Action of L´Estartit, Action of Ripoll, Blockade of Tortosa, Action of Esparraguera, attack to Tarragona, Action of Viella, Action of Ribas, Action of La Bisbal, etc etc etc.
1814: Action of Molins de Rey, Action of Tortosa, Action of Ardiaca, Lerida evacuation, capitulation of Martorell, evacuation of Gerona, Figueras, Barcelona, Tarragona... The end.

Catalonia never was pacified. In 1810: 50.000 French soldiers, in 1811, 62.000, in 1812, 30.000, in 1813, 25.000, in 1814, 30.000 (retreating).

In a What if about Russia... It is wrong any hypothesis that is not based on two premises in Spain:
1. Return the crown to Fernando VII
2. Evacuation of Spain by the whole of Imperial forces.

The War of Spain was very different to any other war that maintained the French Empire.

 

[chris N]

All of the French Army had been slowly withdrawing from Spain. Joseph had been sent back to France and the Bourbons had agreed to once again return to Madrid.. The Invasion of Spain was a mess and Napoleon sent his regrets.
{ Just as a side note Spain was not all that United during the 19th century, There was regional differences that fully exploded in several Carlist Wars during that Century. Foreign forces had to intervene to restore the peace in OTL}
In view of the fact that Spains control of its new world colonies was starting to crumble Spain would be well advised to concentrate on that. Napoleon had agreed to return Spanish funds back to Spain.

 

[martin76]

All of the French Army had been slowly withdrawing from Spain. Joseph had been sent back to France and the Bourbons had agreed to once again return to Madrid.. The Invasion of Spain was a mess and Napoleon sent his regrets.
.

This hypothesis is interesting and logical: evacuation in Spain and return of Ferdinand VII. Napoleon is free to act in Russia. A very interesting OTL. Napoleon now has 300,000 veterans more to fight in Russia or to support the Grande Armée if he must withdraw from Russia.

was not all that United during the 19th century,

Just a note. Spain was the most united country in the world in 1808 - 1814... only we must read what was written by French general, soldiers etc. The social split came after 1814 and not by any regional difference, but different point of view: Liberals and Carlist (Royalist, Traditionalist that use the same phrase as in 1808: God - Fatherland - King). But not regional.

Napoleon had agreed to return Spanish funds back to Spain.

So, he is free to act in Europe, now.