Bolivar-Napoleon Duo

That would be an awesome novel.

More importantly, if someone wants to write a novel, it's something with only a limited timeline as background with an easy POD.

Now I will buy the first copy I can get my hands on of Jared's Decades of Darkness novels, but to a public that only knows AH from a limited subset of (mostly Turtledove) AH novels that's a tough sell.

Napoleon in South America is excellent for various reasons: plausible, short timeline, obvious POD, Napoleon is well known, etc….

I would love for someone on the board to start up a timeline on this idea though (I'm not remotely qualified, though, at least at this moment in time).
 
Iturbide was desperately searching for someone to take the crown of the Mexican Empire, and only took it himself when nobody else accepted. If Napoleon accepts it though, he'd be Emperor of Mexico in 1821.
 
Just an idle thought:

Bolivar was apparently a big fan of Napoleon, so what are the chances of him breaking Napoleon out of his exile on St. Helena in the early 1820s?

Zero. Bolivar and the other Latin American revolutionaries could see quite clearly that Britain was friendly to their cause - Cochrane in Chile, for instance.

Why offend the dominant power by liberating Britain's #1 enemy for the last 30 years?

Also, to get Napoleon from St. Helena, it would be necessary to overcome the British garrison, which was a whole regiment, IIRC.
 
I'd enjoy reading a good Napoleon in South America TL. To my knowledge it hasn't been attempted yet.
I tried to do a similar thing with Greece - Napoleon has too much running against him by the time Bolivar and his Hombres might use him! see Napoleon, King of the Helenes if you want some ideas as to how to spring him - you might just be surprised!
 
Now, by no means do I claim to be an expert on anything, but from what I understand he was poisoned w/ arsenic (IIRC), which is what caused him to die IOTL. Like I said don't take my word for it, but if that's true then simply getting away from the island should butterfly his death as he'd be getting away from his poisoner.
He was poisoned! :eek::eek::eek::eek: See this web sight for all the facts and supositions:
http://www.napoleonicsociety.com/english/frameSetAccueil_Eng.htm

So if he was rescued at an early stage and "protected" or hidden away from the British - he "might" survive longer. The climate on St Helena did for him as much as the Arsnic did.

However, I think Wolf brother is right - you would have one hell of an epeditionary force tracking him down. One result of which is that Bolivar would also be jailed for his part in releasing Bonaparte.
 
In 1817, the Brazilian cleric Frei Caneca (Brother Mug) sought to "kidnap" Napoleon from Santa Helena in order to have him to lead the proccess of independence against the Portuguese Crown. If he suceeded, we probably would have a very different Empire of Brazil. :rolleyes:

A friend of mine wrote a little tale where Napoleon liberates Brazil and proceeds to be crowned Emperor. I will ask him if he have an English version.
 
What I would like is somethign liek this: Napoleon and Bolivar become friends, liberate Latin America, then they get problems with each other. Napoleon goes south and becomes emperor of Peru, while Bolivar becomes president (for life) of Gran Colombia. This starts an eternal rivality.
 
What I would like is somethign liek this: Napoleon and Bolivar become friends, liberate Latin America, then they get problems with each other. Napoleon goes south and becomes emperor of Peru, while Bolivar becomes president (for life) of Gran Colombia. This starts an eternal rivality.
I like that, it could be really interesting, i assume, Napoleon will be the general (instead of Sucre) who direct the last battle in Perú, Ayacucho; after that he can avoid Bolivar create Bolivia, in that moment , the friendship is gone
However it will face not only enemies in the north, but also in the south, Chile, Argentina

also, the idea of an empire of Perú, could be more useful and favorable to San Martín, who was a monarquist.
 
So how likely do you think it is that European powers would intervene?

Let's suppose that events go along the lines of Napoleon being kidnapped around early 1820. He's hidden away by Bolivar and basically forcibly retired, and asked to write his memoirs. By 1822 he's giving passive military advice. By 1825 he's actively on the field commanding soldiers, but there's no real confirmation of his existence from a European perspective until 1826. At this point he's been gone almost six years and some even suspected him dead.

Would they still care? Who would invade? Who would have the manpower to do so? Which countries would side with whom, and who would stand by Napoleon and Bolivar? Could the Americans be "united against imperial aggression" (forgive the modern phrasing) and basically stand up to Europe, ironically under the banner of a foreign dictator.

How long before Napleon's ego pushes him to try and take full control, and how long until Bolivar realizes he's being usurped by his "friend"?
 
Actually, Bolívar admired Napoleon but AFAIK disliked him after his coronation and refused to go to it when he was invited.

Now not that that would be one of the most awesome combos Latin America would ever see. A Napoleon-Santander Empire of the Indies? :D
 
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