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Chapter 1: Stein's Letter (1808)
Attention!!
This prototype of alternative history has been modified severely to increase consistency, it is recommended to reread all parts.
If you are reading this, I welcome you to this prototype of alternative history. This part will be considered as the First Point of Divergence.
Stein's letter (1808)
In August 1808, a letter from prussian politician Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein was intercepted and published in the french newspaper Le Moniteur.
Stein (painting by Johann Christoph Rincklake)
In this letter, Stein outlined his plans to raise a revolt in Germany comparable to that of Spain and urged Austria to declare war on Napoleon.
While all this was happening, Napoleon entertained himself with the preparations for his meeting with Tsar Alexander in the city of Erfurt. It is said that upon receiving the news of Stein's letter he could only murmur: ''Prussia ...'', although the historical veracity of this fact is questionable if we know what he did next.
On September 8, 1808, the September Convention was signed whereby the Prussian army was limited to 42,000 men and the Prussian Silesia was ceded to the Duchy of Warsaw with the excuse of connecting it with the Kingdom of Saxony (with which it had a personal union). On September 10, Napoleon signed an edict, declaring Stein as Enemy of France and the Confederation of the Rhine, ordering the confiscation of his property, his capture and execution and on September 16 Stein was traversed by arms. King Frederick William III of Prussia was alarmed and tried by all means to get rid of this scandal, offering substantial monetary compensation to the French and promising the removal and execution of Stein, but unfortunately nothing could calm Napoleon.
This prototype of alternative history has been modified severely to increase consistency, it is recommended to reread all parts.
If you are reading this, I welcome you to this prototype of alternative history. This part will be considered as the First Point of Divergence.
Stein's letter (1808)
In August 1808, a letter from prussian politician Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein was intercepted and published in the french newspaper Le Moniteur.
Stein (painting by Johann Christoph Rincklake)
In this letter, Stein outlined his plans to raise a revolt in Germany comparable to that of Spain and urged Austria to declare war on Napoleon.
While all this was happening, Napoleon entertained himself with the preparations for his meeting with Tsar Alexander in the city of Erfurt. It is said that upon receiving the news of Stein's letter he could only murmur: ''Prussia ...'', although the historical veracity of this fact is questionable if we know what he did next.
On September 8, 1808, the September Convention was signed whereby the Prussian army was limited to 42,000 men and the Prussian Silesia was ceded to the Duchy of Warsaw with the excuse of connecting it with the Kingdom of Saxony (with which it had a personal union). On September 10, Napoleon signed an edict, declaring Stein as Enemy of France and the Confederation of the Rhine, ordering the confiscation of his property, his capture and execution and on September 16 Stein was traversed by arms. King Frederick William III of Prussia was alarmed and tried by all means to get rid of this scandal, offering substantial monetary compensation to the French and promising the removal and execution of Stein, but unfortunately nothing could calm Napoleon.
- David Oudinot
- Word Count: 290