Blind AH - No Bourbon Restoration

I don't think that really is about monarchism. To Americans, the British royals are just another celebrity family, like the Kardashians. :p

Touché. I never said it was about monarchism, I suppose that der Alte Fritz's comment that they would cheer a monkey in a uniform just as well as the king holds water.
Yes, and there is also an issue of all these bright uniforms, cavalry escorts, carriages and prolonged discussions regarding the proper or improper dresses, etc. People need some free entertainment (especially when it comes NOT at their expense). :winkytongue:

Bread and circuses?
 
Overestimating Alexander's ability at this point. Prussia isn't going to tolerate Napoleon's son on the throne right next door nor was anyone all that enthusiastic over Bernadotte. Ultimately the Bourbons were the best choice out of many bad choices.


Alexander's, yes (you need a much less Anglophilic Alexander to push the schema through). But you are seemingly overestimating the British abilities (no army to support their demands if push came to shove) and underestimating Prussian dependence upon Russian support of _their_ demands. With Austria on board Russia could guarantee Prussia's demands regarding Saxony in exchange for supporting Napoleon II.

With Bernadotte the issue of support was more complicated because Austrians considered him at least somewhat "revolutionary" and because, after figuring out that his claim to the throne of France dies not have too much of support among the Allies he concentrated on minimizing Swedish losses (sometimes up to a degree which frustrated the Swedish military looking for the glory), possibility to get Norway as a compensation for Finland and later for getting money for Sweden and its royal family (money always were his big concern). However, if he got a firm support of his plans he could be much more active in 1813 - 14 gaining more points with the Allies (even in OTL he won battles of Großbeeren and Dennewitz and went his own way only after Leipzig). Of course, this would not endear him to the French, at least initially but Louis XVIII and his family were not exactly everybody's darlings either as was demonstrated during the 100 Days.

There was also Eugene who would have some benefits of Napoleon's clout while not being blood relative (if this was such a taboo). He was a capable person, generally popular with everybody and marriage to Wittelsbach provided him with the impeccable "royal credentials".
 
I think it would work better as a very short live Bourbon Restoration. How does that happen? Easy: Make Charles X King at the start of Restoration. He goes on to piss off everyone in France as he try to turn back the clock at the very start, and make himself a Absolute King in every way possible. In this, the Freach higher ups would beg Wellington (Who would have a harder time fighting the returning Napoleon thanks to Charles X.) to remove Charles X and give them a foreign prince (Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain comes to mind.) that would see the rise of other liberal monarchist like Lafayette and the like.

Failing that, you have a far more earlier, bigger, bloodier July Revolution that gives the idiot the boot and from that, you can have dear old Lafayette lead France that would focus on finding a new monarch. (One he can force a true constitution onto him as Lafayette himself was by large a major supporter of a constitutional liberal monarchy.)
 
I think it would work better as a very short live Bourbon Restoration. How does that happen? Easy: Make Charles X King at the start of Restoration.
Alternatively, you could have the 100 Days go differently in a number of ways (Russia and Austria have their hand strengthened, Napoleon wins back power longer term, etc).
 
Alternatively, you could have the 100 Days go differently in a number of ways (Russia and Austria have their hand strengthened, Napoleon wins back power longer term, etc).

I kinda doubt Napoleon could win back power in the 100 Days. The issue is France is bankrupt and bled white and while the Coalition is equally tried of fighting and exhausted, his return was a wake up call for them all. His only hope could be getting the public of the Coalition to cry for peace.

Same for Russia and Austria. You could work with something like Napoleon winning at Waterloo. ( Much of Britain's hard-earned martial confidence will have died at Waterloo along with its leading role in the Coalition.) And then thus can get alexmilman's idea of Napoleon II with Maria Louise as a regent in power.
 
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