While it was pretty much a certainty that Napoleon would lose that war and would be deposed again, what could be done so that he could be, atleast partially successful? Best choice is probably winning the first time and not needing to go 100 days. But is there a way for Napoleon to make peace with the coalition?
Latest POD for a successful 100 Days,
- Thread starter Gokbay
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Napoleon would need whatever allies or sympathizers he could get.
Here's the course of action i feel would be good for France:
Joachim Murat could, on paper, have provided a strong force for defending Italy if he hadn't been defeated by the Austrians at Tolentino, to safeguard Napoleon's Italian flank. Napoleon could stoke the fires of Italian nationalism if he and his subordinates play their cards right. But an earlier united Italy would surely come back to bite France in the ass in the following decades.
Next on the list, Nap would have to defeat the Prussian army at Waterloo -- however, while he'd be able to chase Wellington off the Flemish coast, he would not be able to encircle and capture him and his army without Wellington making a severe error in judgement. Britain would have to be ground down throughout the extended war with the intent of incurring a financial crisis in its banks.
Thirdly, after defeating Prussia, Nap would have to turn his focus on the massive Austro-Russian army crossing the Rhine. He could defeat some portions of it in detail, but the resulting battle would likely see the odds stacked against him, and he'd need a spectacular Gaugamela-like victory to at least gain some breathing space.
But none of that would persuade the main pivotal members of the Seventh Coalition to make peace with him. A more-or-less acceptable course of action for them would be if Napoleon were to abdicate the imperial throne for his four-year-old son and go into retirement. But would he accept such a deal? It'd be out of character for him if evidenced by his past actions, but his health and patience are getting worse...
It's technically not impossible. Frederick's Prussia also saw a similar situation in the midst of the Seven Years' War and was also saved practically by miracles, and the same could be said of Jacobin France between 1792 and 1794. But a lot of stars would have to align in order for Napoleon's Hundred Days' Regime to survive.
Here's the course of action i feel would be good for France:
Joachim Murat could, on paper, have provided a strong force for defending Italy if he hadn't been defeated by the Austrians at Tolentino, to safeguard Napoleon's Italian flank. Napoleon could stoke the fires of Italian nationalism if he and his subordinates play their cards right. But an earlier united Italy would surely come back to bite France in the ass in the following decades.
Next on the list, Nap would have to defeat the Prussian army at Waterloo -- however, while he'd be able to chase Wellington off the Flemish coast, he would not be able to encircle and capture him and his army without Wellington making a severe error in judgement. Britain would have to be ground down throughout the extended war with the intent of incurring a financial crisis in its banks.
Thirdly, after defeating Prussia, Nap would have to turn his focus on the massive Austro-Russian army crossing the Rhine. He could defeat some portions of it in detail, but the resulting battle would likely see the odds stacked against him, and he'd need a spectacular Gaugamela-like victory to at least gain some breathing space.
But none of that would persuade the main pivotal members of the Seventh Coalition to make peace with him. A more-or-less acceptable course of action for them would be if Napoleon were to abdicate the imperial throne for his four-year-old son and go into retirement. But would he accept such a deal? It'd be out of character for him if evidenced by his past actions, but his health and patience are getting worse...
It's technically not impossible. Frederick's Prussia also saw a similar situation in the midst of the Seven Years' War and was also saved practically by miracles, and the same could be said of Jacobin France between 1792 and 1794. But a lot of stars would have to align in order for Napoleon's Hundred Days' Regime to survive.