How would a Napoleonic occupation of the British isles go, and how would the French justify it?

So, disregarding the plausibility of it, assume that Britain's naval supremacy in the Napoleonic Wars is mitigated (especially early on), and that Napoleon, after that, greenlights an invasion of England through the Channel, with eventual success in occupying all of Britain south of Hadrian's Wall.
How would Napoleon justify his occupation, in terms of propaganda? And who would he prop up to govern the new protectorate (as in, both the monarch, if there's one, and government)?
 
Last edited:
It would be a difficult invasion for Napoleon to justify with propaganda, as most of the tempered benefits of the Revolution compromised with aristocracy, already existed in Britain independently of the Revolution. If Napoleon invaded Great Britain, unlike virtually any monarchy in Continental Europe, he wouldn't exactly be spreading liberal reforms against some arch-conservative despotism. Napoleonic-ruled Britain might be an "adhocracy", looking for any collaborators at all and offering extensive promises to them to maintain the occupation. Its goal could be punitive like the Treaty of Paris 1815 against France; the actual conquest of England being unfeasible, but the French may seek to reduce Britain in power by exacting indemnities until France can develop and industrialize beyond Britain. Ireland and Scotland would be pursued as allies to contain England.
 
Are we just assuming an occupation, rather than reaching a peace that declaws Britain and secures French hegemony while leaving it fundimentally intact? Because the later is a far more likely end to any invasion
 

Kaze

Banned
If the invasion was successful... then the pretext is simple:
"The Vixen is mine."
"By what authority?"
"It's got my troops all over it. That makes it mine."
 
While more enlightened than say Prussia, there's definitely room for French reforms; the electoral boroughs were famously rotten, and the French could enforce Catholic emancipation about 30 years ahead of schedule.
 
Wasn't Napolean's adventure in Spain the reason why we have the word "guerilla" in the English vocabulary? I supposed we'd be living in a world where there's an English-based substitute for it.

I can't really think of any local factions within England in the early 1800s willing to throw in with an enemy occupier. It'd take a LOT of troops. So Boney's puppet would have to be a good manager.
 
So, disregarding the plausibility of it, assume that Britain's naval supremacy in the Napoleonic Wars is mitigated (especially early on), and that Napoleon, after that, greenlights an invasion of England through the Channel, with eventual success in occupying all of Britain south of Hadrian's Wall.
How would Napoleon justify his occupation, in terms of propaganda? And who would he prop up to govern the new protectorate (as in, both the monarch and government)?

As far as the French were concerned, Britain was Enemy #1 and there would be no need for any additional "justification".

As far as the Brits are concerned. "Your government provoked and continued the war against France and ended up with having you defeated. Any questions?" ;)
 
Top