So Napoleon II is born about a year before the disastrous invasion of Russia starts. The British have a strong position in Portugal. Austria had recently been pacified during the war of the fifth coalition. And tensions with Russia are rising. I imagine Napoleon's marshals would want to set up a regency but would that regency be moderate enough to repair relations with France's neighbours? If so, what would it take for Britain accept a long term peace? Would another coalition form to return lost possessions to Prussia and Austria? Would Paris still support a Bonaparte king in Spain.
WI: Napoleon dies around the time of the birth of Napoleon II.
- Thread starter assasin
- Start date
How long would the Marshalls stay loyal to Napoleon's family? Do we soon get Emperor Bernadotte?
longsword14
Banned
All of them were not looking for the top post but they would never choose someone among themselves. Bernadotte gaining the top post is not really in anyone's interest but Bernadotte.
He did not have the pure force to get the top post either.
So what the? Assuming the Empire dies with Napoleon (his relatives are a joke) does the Senate proclaim a Republic or something?
So it's a choice between 18 years of rule by an Austrian Archduchess, or else a bout of civil war to determine who should replace her as Regent?
Why assume that it would be Marie Louise automatically? Or that there would be a civil war? How about a peaceful regency, under a Frenchman that is acceptable, that stays in power until Nappy II grows up?
Maybe Eugene de Beauharnais?
But it is possible that the Empire would collapse. What would the other powers do without L'Ogre roaming Europe? Is a lasting peace possible with relatively minor concessions?
Wouldn't he be likely to metaphorically or maybe not strangle the kid in his cradle?
A regency is ideal for Talleyrand, he could hold actual power while going on with his plan of european equilibrium. He played the Bourbons because they were no one else with a reasonable chance of getting into power, but he did this quite reluctantly. He is maybe the only one in Paris who can get along with everybody in the Coalition.
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And how would the Austrians feel about that?....given the kid's the Emperor's grandson. In fact i could see the Austrians supporting Nappy's II succession, if they got their stuff back and reduced France to something people could agree on.
I was at least partially jesting and thinking how strained the relationship between Napoleon and Talleyrand often was...
I agree that N I's demise at that point makes a peaceful solution, one that is in France's favour but doesn't leave her as continental hegemon, pretty likely, especially with Talleyrand at the helm. A true Franco-Austrian alliance becomes a bigger possibility now.
I agree that N I's demise at that point makes a peaceful solution, one that is in France's favour but doesn't leave her as continental hegemon, pretty likely, especially with Talleyrand at the helm. A true Franco-Austrian alliance becomes a bigger possibility now.
Well, if it is not to be Marie Louise, then what is the point of keeping Napoleon II? The only argument for him is his Austrian connection.
And how many governments did 19C France ever have that were acceptable to everyone - or even close to being?
Stability. Boney seemed to be setting up France to be a hereditary monarchy. Unless the French government can decide on another candidate I'd imagine he'd be the default choice for an heir. At the very least his parentage would add some legitimacy to the government. There is a good chance they might decide to remove the monarchy or another Marshal or Bonaparte might try and claim the throne but it doesn't mean the kid is completely out of the running.
I don't really see how he'd add any particular stability. The infighting would just be for the Regency instead of for the throne. And Napoleon's "legitimacy" rested solely on his military prowess, which none of his family shares, so there's little mileage in keeping them.
A Regency under Marie Louise makes some political sense, inasmuch as it may detach Austria from France's enemies. But any other ambitious general (Bernadotte, maybe?) might just as well go for the throne as for the Regency.
longsword14
Banned
Most likely, the marshals under one of the older ones decide to throw his weight behind one of Napoleon's brothers who shows a little sense. Lose some of the powers accrued by Napoleon in the civil areas to a council to act as reagent. One single person taking all of the power is not all that likely in the short term.
Bernadotte is not likely because he did not have the support to act because he had a few people above him (Massena) and he also did not have wide support across the whole army (it is doubtful that he could completely depend on the men under his command).
Also, Davout might just decide to shoot him
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Bernadotte is not likely because he did not have the support to act because he had a few people above him (Massena) and he also did not have wide support across the whole army (it is doubtful that he could completely depend on the men under his command).
Also, Davout might just decide to shoot him
.Lucien, the only one of Napoleon's brothers worth considering, is unavailable because he is in England. Any of the others would probably last about as long as Richard Cromwell.
If the aim is to find someone who can make peace with the Allies [1], there is no advantage to choosing another Bonaparte, though a Marie Louise Regency would make sense.
[1] Austria will want Illyria and Tyrol back at minimum, while Prussia is thirsting after revenge for Tilsit, and the Tsar has his beady eyes on the Duchy of Warsaw, so we may safely assume that hostilities break out within weeks (or at best months) of Napoleon's death.
longsword14
Banned
What I meant by supporting a brother is having one of them with backing of the army in the regency council. It will not be simply another Bonaparte ruling with full powers.
The regency should try and break away Austria by making many of the concessions, as you note above. Russia will be itching to go back on Tilsit and nobody is too interested in keeping the Duchy of Warsaw.
The Confederation could be kept, Spain is up in the air with Joseph leaving the kingship (like he wanted to). Still, better than OTL, Prussia and Russia will not find defeating the still intact French at all easy (provided Austria keeps it nose out of course). Perfect for the Austrians who can keep playing all sides to gain as much as possible.