Challenge: Nappy as Pope

Try to find a way to get Napoleon Bonaparte to be Pope. Nothing is impossible with appropriate butterflies. Also, be sure to explore what Nappy as Pope would be like. :p
 
I almost feel any Napoleon-Pope would be totally unrecognizable from the historical Napoleon, to the point he would be someone else entirely personality wise. If he stays close to real Napoleon, then maybe he would try to reconquer the Holy Land? Organize Catholics to oppose Protestants with the sword?
 
Just an Idea

Saint Pope Napoleon I
Papacy began 28 September 1823
Papacy ended 10 February 1829
Predecessor Pius VII

Dean of the College of Cardinals
Began 3 August 1807
Preceded by Henry Benedict Stuart

Pope Napoleon I is remembered for being the militant pope who restored the religious powers of the Catholic Church, spreading missionaries across Europe, into Russia and North Africa.

Napoleon's noble, moderately affluent background afforded him greater opportunities to study than were available to a typical Corsican of the time. In January 1779, he was enrolled at a religious school in Autun and stayed at the school, until 1784, when he becomes Archdeacon of Ajaccio.

He holds this position until 1789, when the French Revolution broke out, he felt, like the majority of the Corsicans, angry about many of the acts of the French government during that period; in particular Napoleon had protested against the application to Corsica of the act known as the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which had subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government.

Failing to find clerical duties at that time, Napoleon, travelled around France, gaining allies in the form of Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, Maximilien Robespierre, Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, Collot d'Herbois.

When the restoration of the Roman Catholic religion was in the mind of the First Consul, Napoleon resumed his clerical vocation and took an active part in the complex negotiations which led to the signing of the Concordat with the Holy See on July 15, 1801. His reward came in being made Archbishop of Lyon in August 1802. Six months later he received a further reward for his past services, being raised to the dignity of cardinal.

To Be Continued
 
I like it too, but he probably needs a proper papal name. Gregory XIV, perhaps, after Gregory XII (the last French pope)? Leo XII as a nod to his given name?
 
I like it too, but he probably needs a proper papal name. Gregory XIV, perhaps, after Gregory XII (the last French pope)? Leo XII as a nod to his given name?
Longinus? Or maybe some other martial saint?
True, especially when the last pope to use his baptismal name was Marcellus II in 1555, a choice that was even then quite exceptional.
You could also have Pope Urban IX

I like the idea of Leo, but it is too close to the OTL Pope Leo XII.

So I have gone for an idea based on both his names:
NapoLEOn BONaparte


I like that! Please do continue!
Thank you, its mainly based on the life that his uncle lived. And here I continue, with a few tweaks.

Saint Pope Leo-Boniface I
Napoleon%2B1.jpg

Papacy began 28 September 1823
Papacy ended 10 February 1829
Predecessor Pius VII

Dean of the College of Cardinals
Began 3 August 1807​
Ended 28 September 1823
Preceded by Henry Benedict Stuart​
Succeeded by Annibale della Genga​
Major General of the Papal Zouaves​
Began 18 May 1804​
Ended 10 February 1829

Pope Leo-Boniface I is remembered for being the militant pope who restored the religious powers of the Catholic Church, spreading missionaries across Europe, into Russia, Northern Africa and Middle East, and for the unification of Italy, under the flag of the Holy Kingdom of Italy (Italian-Santo Regno d'Italia)​

Napoleon was born on 15 August 1769, to Carlo Maria di Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Ramolino, in his family's ancestral home Casa Buonaparte in Ajaccio. Hiss noble, moderately affluent background afforded him greater opportunities to study than were available to a typical Corsican of the time. In January 1779, he was enrolled at a religious school in Autun and stayed at the school, until 1785, when he becomes Archdeacon of Ajaccio.

He holds this position until 1789, when the French Revolution broke out, he felt, like the majority of the Corsicans, angry about many of the acts of the French government during that period; in particular Napoleon had protested against the application to Corsica of the act known as the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which had subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government.

Failing to find clerical duties at that time, Napoleon, travelled around France, gaining allies in the form of Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, Maximilien Robespierre, Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, Collot d'Herbois.

When the restoration of the Roman Catholic religion was in the mind of the First Consul, Napoleon resumed his clerical vocation and took an active part in the complex negotiations which led to the signing of the Concordat with the Holy See on July 15, 1801. His reward came in being made Archbishop of Lyon in August 1802. Six months later he received a further reward for his past services, being raised to the dignity of cardinal.​
---​
Things I need to find:​
- Is there a possible war for Cardinal Napoleon to show his military genius without it being against the French?​
- Who should Napoleon, crown as King of Italy, is one of his brothers an option, or would it be easier to marry one of his sisters to a powerful Italian royalty?​
- How would strong Catholic missionaries sent directly by Napoleon affect his relationships with Russian Empire, Algeria, Libya, Syria/Iraq Persia and Ottoman Empire.​
- Could Catholism become stronger in the new United States of America, with Napoleon as Pope?​
 
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I enjoy your posting, but if he became Archdeacon of Ajaccio in 1784, he would have been only 15 years that year, not even old enough to be ordained, unless his family connections overrode that. You may be conflating his uncle's age with his, just a minor nitpick for an intriguing storyline, well done!
 
Things I need to find:​
- Is there a possible war for Cardinal Napoleon to show his military genius without it being against the French?​
- Who should Napoleon, crown as King of Italy, is one of his brothers an option, or would it be easier to marry one of his sisters to a powerful Italian royalty?​
- How would strong Catholic missionaries sent directly by Napoleon affect his relationships with Russian Empire, Algeria, Libya, Syria/Iraq Persia and Ottoman Empire.​
- Could Catholism become stronger in the new United States of America, with Napoleon as Pope?​

Leo Boniface is a nice name. Approved!

As for your questions, maybe Cardinal Napoleon gets up to quasi-crusading hijinks somewhere in North Africa? (A faint echo of the Egyptian Expedition of OTL, kind of.)
 
I enjoy your posting, but if he became Archdeacon of Ajaccio in 1784, he would have been only 15 years that year, not even old enough to be ordained, unless his family connections overrode that. You may be conflating his uncle's age with his, just a minor nitpick for an intriguing storyline, well done!
I've added a year onto this, making him 16, I do not believe that the position of Archdeacon had an age limit, plus he would most likely have support from his family member and Priest, Luciano Buonaparte (1718–1791) who previously held the position of archdeacon of Ajaccio, to get the job.

Leo Boniface is a nice name. Approved!

As for your questions, maybe Cardinal Napoleon gets up to quasi-crusading hijinks somewhere in North Africa? (A faint echo of the Egyptian Expedition of OTL, kind of.)

I am glad you like the name, it was the most fitting I could think of :D.

Could leading the papal army into Egypt be acceptable? Would the Ottoman Empire not retaliate with force against this out-dated process?
 
Cardinal Napoleon in Egypt 1802-07​
The Middle East and Northern Africa, has been in the sights of Rome, ever since the Ancient Roman Empire, itself. However since the initial Islamic invasion in 639 AD, Egypt has been under the rule of an Islamic monarch.

Christendom had tried to regain land in the Holy land, up until 1291, when the Catholic Church was unable to mount a coherent response when their last stronghold in the region, Acre, fell.
bonaparteandthemummy.jpg

In this painting Cardinal Napoleon, gazes upon an ancient mummy and performs firstly the baptism of the dead unknown figure into the catholic faith, by anointing the forehead, spiritual cleansing the deceased, with holy water from the River Nile and then the funeral rites of a catholic, by placing in the mouth, a piece of bread and wine, representing, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Some historians, believe that this act of kindness and chivalry, won over the hearts and minds of the Egyptian people, who saw Napoleon, not as a conqueror but as a kind hearted man, performing the very acts that are written in the bible - love thy neighbours.

Napoleon was said to have taken great delight discussing with the Imans the theology of the children of Ismael.
While in Egypt, Napoleon attended the festivals to which the green turbans invited him and his religious tolerance was the natural consequence of his philosophic spirit.

While there on religious reasons, Napoleon, had set about introducing civic structures, by donating money to local, he believed would help the community to bring about what he felt were the benefits of 'enlightenment' to a country, whose government, were keeping them from advancing their lives.
For example, the printing press was first introduced to Egypt by Napoleon. He brought with him, a French, Arabic, and Greek printing press, which were far superior in speed, efficiency and quality than the nearest presses used in Istanbul.
Napoleon was able to his sermons and ideas translated Arabic, for the

He was also able to help on a diplomatic level as well. While taking water from the River Nile, to be blessed as holy water, he came across French traders, who were complaining of harassment by the Mamluks (former slaves of the Kings) who held held political and military power, Napoleon, was able to step in and deal with the complaints neutrally, gaining him the nickname, "the Representative of Men"

While travelling around Egypt and Syria, many had come to recognise the little figure riding on the Arabian horse. Napoleon and Marengo (his horse) would visit religious and military sites as possible, as well as French communities, spreading the word of Christianity.

His mission, came to an end, in 1807, when Napoleon, was asked to be Dean of the College of Cardinals, following the death of Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart.
 
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Based off of what has been presented so far, I felt the need to make a Wiki box for good ole Pope Leo-Boniface. It's a little blurry.....

Sorry if you can't read it, but it's there. I can keep adding to it as his story progresses if anyones interested.


gztFycE.png
 
This is looking great, and the new quasi-timeline-chronicle-thing is shaping up very nicely. Long live Pope Leo-Boniface I!
 
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