DBWI: Hector Berlioz doesn't join the military?

In the first half of Napoleon II's reign, the marshals that had helped acheive French dominance in the Imperial Wars (1803-1812) began to die off. Of the second generation of marshals, Hector Berlioz is regarded as one of the best. Berlioz's family had no military background, and was pressured by his father to join him as a physician (there's a story that he took one look at the cadaver he was supposed to dissect and jumped out the window to apply at St. Cyr).

So, what if Berlioz didn't become a soldier? Music was one of his main passions throughout his life, and he made many original compositions, so perhaps he becomes a composer?
 
It seems to me as weird as Delacroix pursuing painting instead of being the most important french scientist of the early 19th c.

I mean, the all Napoleon educationnal system was aimed at allowing middle class youngs all kind of careers paths. Marshall Marx once said "if Napoleon the Great had not abolished the class struggle, all his victories would had been in vain. Serving the high concept of imperialism is not only my duty, it is a debt of gratitude to the man who allowed Jews in his army."
 
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Interesting you mention Marshal Charles Marx, didn't he and Napoleon II not get along? IIRC, Nap II didn't appreciate Marx's criticism of Tocqueville, his favourite minister, and "exiled" him to China. Marx actually did pretty well organizing the modernisation of the Chinese army.
 
Interesting you mention Marshal Charles Marx, didn't he and Napoleon II not get along? IIRC, Nap II didn't appreciate Marx's criticism of Tocqueville, his favourite minister, and "exiled" him to China. Marx actually did pretty well organizing the modernisation of the Chinese army.

Always thought China was pretty far away - guess just goes to show how far you have to go to get out of the French emperor's reach/hair.
 
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