Lafayette as a Leader of the French Revolution?

hey, all. i seem to remember reading some speculation here on AH.com a while back about if Lafayette became a major leader of the French Revolution, essentially replaying Napoleon. i basically just want to explore the possibilities of Lafayette as the leader of France and the consequences thereof.
 
He was in reality. And he quickly failed because, among other reason (anyone betting on the reliability of Louis XVI was doomed to failure), he was neither a good enough politician, nor a good enough military commander.

Napoleon knew what to do : shoot on the parisian mob once for all times (in 1795). Not Lafayette.
 
Lafayette did not grasp how deep, probably irreconcilable, the differences within France had become. As Matteo pointed out, he was an important figure in the early stages of the Revolution; but when he accepted a commission from Louis XVI to be head of the whole nation's Guard, he didn't understand that the mob now viewed him as another tool of the aristocracy while the court still thought of him as a traitor that it was presently impossible to execute.

In order to ride the wave of revolution, Lafayette has to reach the conclusion quickly that Louis XVI is no longer a legitimate monarch. And there is very little basis in L's upbringing for such a radical conclusion.

Perhaps you could take the decision out of his hands, since he's so certain to botch it, and have L16 murdered or incapacitated.
 
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