DBWI no restoration of the French monarchy

General Bonaparte is famous for following the example of Monck and making Louis XVIII King of France in 1800. What if he had rejected Louis' overture and continued as First Consul?
 
General Bonaparte is famous for following the example of Monck and making Louis XVIII King of France in 1800. What if he had rejected Louis' overture and continued as First Consul?

The French Republic would have limped on for a while more before collapsing under the weight of Europe. Seriously Bonaparte saw the writing on the wall after the Egyptian campaign and the Directory's defeats. The Coalition was closing in, especially after he lost Northern Italy to Austria at Marengo. Restoring Louis XVIII was a smart move: it defanged the coalition for the time being and transformed him from a warlord come dictator into an unassailable Royalist come Connétable. Though it must be said that Bonaparte was the power behind the throne, more or less a sanctioned dictator. Plus between the Bourbon restoration and Bonaparte's generalship France was able to keep her revolutionary conquests. It was a good deal for all involved.

Hell Bonaparte might have even became the literal Father of the Nation, if you believe the rumored affair between him and Marie-Thérèse Charlotte. After all, her son Henri V didn't look much like Louis XIX. Though likely its mere rumors at best.

For one, he wouldn't have gotten overthrown by angry French people shortly afterwards.

You mean the 1800 Paris riots? The only thing they did was repeat the 13 Vendémiaire coup attempt from five years earlier. Sure Bonaparte was driven from the city for a week before order was restored but I would hardly call that an "overthrow".
 
Top