alternatehistory.com

Before I start I posted a similar name of a timeline before this, I'm redoing it here. I really hope you enjoy. The major point of divergence is in 1871, even though I start earlier.

Part I
On March 23rd 1808, Bernard Lambert was born in Bordeaux, France during the height of the Napoleonic wars. He was born to middle class vineyard owning parents. From an early age he showed stunning intelligence, and a resounding curiosity. He had a real attraction to his father. At the age of four he lost his father, he was recruited for the French Army and died somewhere in the all-consuming expanse of Russia. At that point his life changed. He would let nobody stop him; he was going to do everything for France, just as his father. His mother was able to get him enrolled in a catholic boarding acedemy where he could continue his studies. He was rarely allowed to leave, which caused him some mental distress. However it gave him time to think and plan about his life, about what he would try to do.

He graduated early from the academy at the age of 16, the same year his mother died. During his studies he had a fascination with the German language, and mastered it quickly.. He decided to have a major life change and moved to Munich. He was able to take dozens of classes from a few different universities, although he never actually received a degree.. He spent only 3 years in Germany, and by the time he left he was also fluent in English, often visiting the daughter of the English ambassador to Bavaria. By the time he left he had a companion.

A bright man must go to a bright city. During 1827 Bernard Lambert and his wife Laurel Lambert arrived in Paris. Bernard applied to the ministry of foreign affairs and was quickly accepted. His main job was to translate documents between French and German, during his free time he became proficient in Russian and Italian. He excelled at work gaining the attention of his superiors. In 1832 he was offered the position of deputy ambassador to Wurttemberg. On July 28th 1836 the ambassador died of a heart attack.

Bernard did not immediately become the ambassador; the French bureaucratic system made it quite difficult to actually become ambassador, but after a month of fighting became the ambassador. In regards to his personal life he fathered four children, three girls and one boy from 1827 to 1836. During this time he learned Arabic and Hungarian, he was truly becoming a worldly man. He proved himself as a excellent diplomat, and established many trade deals incredibly favorable to France.

He was often upset about things outside of his control. He realized the troubles France was getting itself into. He saw the stagnating population. He saw an economy controlled by corrupt government officials. He even understood the sleeping giant which was German nationalism. He tried to say things, but his cries were left unanswered.

His success continued and by the time his life changed in 1843 he was a cunning diplomat known throughout Europe. In 1843 he was offered the position of the French Ambassador to the Austrian Empire.

While his success continued, France withered. France was going through a rough time politically. The July monarchy was brought about in 1830, and it’s repercussions were still being felt. The people seemingly had less and less faith and their king as every year passed. The old days of an absolute monarchy where gone. Bernard himself was a monarchist. He envisioned a country with a strong ruler, though not quite absolute. He believed a legislature was sometimes necessary, however his views were changing. The political crisis in France was weakening it. It had an archaic tax code and its population was stagnation. As one of France’s best experts on the German people Bernard saw the new menace to France, but he just could not convince his superiors.

While an ambassador to the Austria Hungary he found himself intrigued by the culture. It was so different than in France. France was going to a more democratic form of government, at least on the surface. However Austria, while definitely having social strains, was much more strong ruled. The Germans of Austria controlled their country with the aid of the Hungarians. So many ethnicities were ruled by its absolute power. Bernard could not help but take awe. He often discussed the rising power of Prussia to the leaders of the Austrian Empire, however, just as the French they weren’t willing to see their supremacy crumbling around them.

1848 was a year that nobody in France would ever forget. The Monarchy that had ruled France for a thousand years was overthrown for a second and final time. Political chaos ensued, government after government failed. Bernard was actually recalled for several months. The people of France were desperate for a ruler, anyone other than simple politicians that got nothing done at the National Assembly. A person nobody expected was eventually sworn into the presidency, Napoleon III. At first he seemed like a strong leader, especially when he had the audacity to overthrow the Republic and establish an Empire in 1852. The French people were ecstatic, but they did not realize that this would just be another leader that would not understand the problems at hand. Napoleon III was blind, he still saw France in 1852 as the leading power of the world, as it had been one hundred years previously. He turned a blind eye towards the lack of industrialization, the political corruption, the rising German threat, and most of all, the true intent of his people.

Bernard actually had a few meetings with the emperor, but again after again he refused to listen. Bernard eventually resigned himself back to Vienna and continued to perform his duties. He was quite depressed he saw what was unfolding and yet he was simply powerless. He was often found reading transcripts of the Frankfurt Parliament, and looking at historical maps of Prussia. It seemed like his predictions were just unfolding just as he foresaw.

However not all was terrible for France. In 1856 France finally won the long war against the Russians in the Crimean War. Finally France had something to rejoice about. However Bernard knew in the end it would be mean nothing. However, as if though god wanted to smite him France had a massive territorial acquisition in 1861 for its troubles in the Italian Unification. These French victories continued to help blind the French people. Nationalism was sweeping across Europe, first it touched Italy, and then it touched… the nightmares.

1866 was one of the years Bernard had predicted. On the 14th of June 1866 the Austro-Prussian War began. Everybody expected it to be a quick victory for Austria. And they were right – about one thing. It was quick. Prussia shocked the world by defeating Austria in only a few months. Austria was no longer the dominant power. Nobody could believe what was happening, expect for Bernard. He screamed in defiance, even after the war France refused to adapt. On the 31st of October 1866 he left Vienna and sent a letter of resignation to Paris. He was old, but most certainly not done.


Bernard, now at the age of fifty eight decided to return to Paris. He established a Newspaper, “Le Yeux.” It mainly reflected his views of a more conservative France, but with many reforms to protect the country. It quickly gained a considerable amount of popularity, mostly due to Bernard’s eloquently written editorials. There were a few articles that upset Napoleon III and the company was occasionally fined. Bernard attracted many like-minded compatriots throughout his work at the paper. His paper became so well known that it was printed all throughout the country, even some of the colonies got the paper, even if it took a few extra weeks. The paper created a frenzy in many Parisians it really showed that what was happening. Unfortunately too many more didn't have the opportunity to read it. It was not enough to sway France from certain disaster.

However Bernard became a name that everybody seemed to know, at least throughout Paris. His ideas were controversial, but they attracted large audiences. Bernard was able to make a fortune off of his paper. The money he didn’t spend on books and alcohol he saved. During the time that he wrote the paper Bernard became more and more against a monarchy. However he did believe there needed to be a strong executive power, and a much weaker legislative body. His ideas about a judicial branch were not yet formed. Napoleon III became more and more concerned about Bernard as time progressed. Eventually on April 2nd 1868 Bernard was imprisoned and his paper suspended. This did little to stop Bernard’s popularity. There was a significant block of people that wanted Bernard out of Prison. Napoleon eventually acquiesced, however he was banned from printing in Paris. Bernard, being the smart alack that he was, moved his operations to Versailles, only 16 miles south of Paris. Upon hearing this Napoleon was angry, but reluctant to stop him.

War came. There was a diplomatic situation, the throne of Spain was open and it seemed as if a Prussian prince was the most viable candidate. Nobody in France wanted this, this would surround France with enemies, powerful enemies. France’s ambassador demanded the Kaiser not to allow this. The Kaiser accepted. When Prussia was getting to tell France about its decision to not install a Prussian monarchy in Spain, Bismarck’s trap was set. He sent a telegram to France, its wording heavily changed, that made France appear as being aggressive. France fell for the trap. The public demanded war. Napoleon had no choice but to declare war. It was quick, and France lost. However it did not only lose there was a civil war – the commune. France lost, and then was torn apart. A giant was born, the establishment was in ashes. France wasn't the dominant power, it was the laughing stock.

However France was not out of hope, quite yet – Bernard was determined.


Although France was in Chaos and disrepair, it was still staunchly formal. In January the national assembly appointed Adolphe Theirs as a sort of interim president. Elections were going to be held throughout the entirety of the country in a few months for the establishment of a third republic, but before the establishment of the national assembly the republicans made sure the elections were going to be direct (other than the desires of the soon majority royalists who would prefer a legislative body appointing the president). Well almost everywhere, after the signing of the treaty of Frankfurt the French Provinces of Alsace and Lorraine were taken. France was in shock, how dare another country threaten the sovereign lands of France. And yet France was powerless. Sometime in early January Bernard had enough. He decided he was going to run for the President of France. He would not let see the product of many centuries of work go to waste. Alsace and Loraine had been part of France for nearly two hundred years, and he was going to see it though. He would never accomplish this task.

To organize for his massive campaign he had a meeting with all of the employees of his newspaper, at this time numbering a few hundred. He asked them to bring their entire families, children included. He asked them to help campaign for him, go around the country and tell the population why he needed to be elected. Bernard was willing to give them all full pay for the time they went campaigning. On February 18th 1871 hundreds of men dispersed all throughout France.

People were truly felt the compassion of Bernard, the people loved him. It seemed wherever he went he swayed the views of many. He was truly charismatic. However the election was not going to be easy. Adolphe Theirs had intentions of running again, and he himself had a large amount of public support, however this was mostly due to the desires of a stable government. The election in 1871 was between two right wingers. And Bernard won by a slim plurality, in addition 23 of his employees were elected into the National assembly. Bernard was sworn into the presidency on May the 28th 1871. The new Nation assembly had quite a right leaning majority:


Right Wing Parties:
Legitmistists: 182
Orleanistes: 214
Bonaprtistes: 20
souverains (sovereigns, the political party of Bernard): 23

Left Wing Parties:

Liberals: 60
Moderate Republicans: 101
Radical Republicans: 38

Out of 638 seats, 439 (around 69%) were controlled by rightist politicians. The time for changes was coming, but not radical changes, reactionary changes.
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