AH Challenge: Spanish Napoleón

MNP

Because who isn't entertained by a Napoleon PoD?

Napoleon of course was born in Corsica in the year where France conquered the Island after receiving it from Genoa. But what if Napoleon becomes an officer in the Spanish army instead? What kind of career could he have there? Obviously Revolutionary Spain is not going to dominate the continent, but what might happen in Spain as a result?

Is there some way for Spain to gain control of Corsica so that Napoleon is instead a military officer in Spain rather than France? Though obviously it's not going to lead to Revolutionary Spain trying to rule the continent, what kind of life could the Spanish Napoleón have?

I suppose Corsica doesn't need to be in Spain's possession but it seems the most likely way for Napleon to end up in the Spanish army and not the French.
 

Faeelin

Would he have amounted to anything? The Spanish military as a whole was a bit backwards, and Spain simply lacks the population of France.
 

Niko Malaka

Hmmm, if he is still as ambitous as in OTL, he could occupe Godoy's place in TTL as strongman in the country. Beyond that, not great impact on the history, I think. As much, a better governed country. Even if a revolution starts in Spain before than France (unlikely, but not impossible) it would be crushed by the absolutist powers and no militar genious could avoid that. On the other hand, Mater Hispania don't use to be very generous with her most talented sons, and that could be a problem to our spanish Napoleon.
 

Goldstein

Banned
Faeelin said:
Would he have amounted to anything? The Spanish military as a whole was a bit backwards, and Spain simply lacks the population of France.
Click to expand...

While the fist thing could be (kind of) fixed, specially if Napoleon gets the royal favour, the thing about the population (and let's not even start on British naval might and the delicate issue of the thing that separates Spain from Central Europe being nothing less than France) drastically prevents Spain from great conquests... but that doesn't mean this couldn't have a mark on History.

I understand Niko Malaka's criticism, but there has been pretty fair examples of meritocracy in Spain after Philip V... The count of Floridablanca, that time's equivalent of the Prime Minister, won his nobility title and his position out of merits. And Godoy... OK, OK, he got into the queen's pants, but we should give the bourbons a bit of confidence for once :p The thing is I totally can see Napoleon becoming a prominent military and statesman. As for the factuality of a Spanish Corsica, it is as easy as a different consideration on the sell of the island.

This has great effects. For a start, most probably Spain is not going to be invaded by France, which is going to considerabily delay the tension in Latin America, delaying the independence movements, not to tell America is a great playground for Napoleon's ambition, and the national industry would remain untouched. In the mid term, I can see Spain retaining at least the closest centers of power in America, probabily New Spain and such... I don't think it would result in a Hispanowank in the long term, though.

Also, the relationship between Napoleon and Ferdinand VII could have a great effect... how would Napoleon feel serving such a malicious and retarded king*? Would he try to influence him? If so, which effects such an influence would have? How the liberal thinkers who gave birth to the Cortes de Cadiz IOTL would end up without an invasion to spark their demands?

On the other hand, there is no napoleon in France, wich could mean a more stable directory, the European wars having much lesser scope, and the avertion of the absolutist Restoration as an integral European process... so I definitely think this scenario can be the hell of a difference.


*OK, maybe this can seem a bit biased, but as a Spaniard, I cannot think about Ferdindand VII without feeling a mix of shame, anger and disgust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top