Monarchical France

France has always been thought of a consolidated Republic, with firm values derived from the Revolution. However, this image was consolidated during the Third Republic through public educations. What if, let's say, monarchy is restored in 1873? The turnpoint is that the pretender of the Crown, Henri de Chambord recognises the tricolour and also makes his heir the Count of Paris. Even if it contradicts the fundamental laws of the kingdom, we have space for a full-fledged constitutional monarchy. I wonder the chances of this political regime being kept until today.
 
Henri IV had already agreed to recognize the Count of Paris as his heir. It didn't even go against the laws of the kingdom, as the Spanish Bourbons renounced their right to the crown via the Treaty of Utrecht (although, some argue they could not legally do so--hence the split to this day between the so-called Unionists and the Blancs d'Espagne).

Assuming he gains the throne, it may be a few tricky years until his death. Under the Count of Paris I can see a fairly liberal constitutional monarchy spring up. But the big reason Henri IV had reasons against accepting the crown was because of the limits placed upon his authority. You have to keep in mind he was raised by his aunt, and a variety of reactionary people who solidified his view of divine right. If I recall correctly, his governess was dismissed at one point because she political views that were too liberal. He essentially wanted little restrictions on his power, akin to the monarchs in Central Europe like the newly unified Germany and in Austria-Hungary. Henri IV probably would have never been a purely constitutional monarch.
 
DrakeRLugia raises an important issue here. The years between the Third restoration and the death of Henri V would be crucial for the survival of the regime. Given the fact of the constant clashes, it is implied that those are going to be difficult times. However, after his death we would see the consolidation of the liberal, constitutional monarchy. My question goes far beyond: How long does this regime would last?

Ceteris paribus, keeping everything except this turning point, including the results of WWI, the French monarchy has fair chances of being kept until the Nazi occupation. The question that intrigues me still is would it survive the Vichy régime? That would depend upon the role of the royals: if they side with them, they would be thrown out (as happened in Italy). If they, instead, rally resistence forces around them, they will be kept until today.
 
DrakeRLugia raises an important issue here. The years between the Third restoration and the death of Henri V would be crucial for the survival of the regime. Given the fact of the constant clashes, it is implied that those are going to be difficult times. However, after his death we would see the consolidation of the liberal, constitutional monarchy. My question goes far beyond: How long does this regime would last?

Ceteris paribus, keeping everything except this turning point, including the results of WWI, the French monarchy has fair chances of being kept until the Nazi occupation. The question that intrigues me still is would it survive the Vichy régime? That would depend upon the role of the royals: if they side with them, they would be thrown out (as happened in Italy). If they, instead, rally resistence forces around them, they will be kept until today.

They probably would have fled, making restorable. But it's not guaranteed- tell that to the Bulgarians, Romanians, and Yugoslavs.
 
Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia aren't monarchies anymore because the Red Army didn't want them to be ;)

Interestingly, this makes me think of my French History professor's comment from yesterday: France has always been monarchist even as a Republic, which is why they've always traditionally looked for strong-men in leadership positions (cf. Boulanger, Petain, de Gaulle, Sarko...)
 
I see the regime following the Fall of France (assuming anything like WW2 happens -- hard to tell with butterflies, but we'll ignore them for now), there are two options and would probably depend upon the personality of the monarch in question in 1940. He could possibly appoint Pétain as his PM and see Vichy France exist as OTL, with the monarch gagged and acting as a figurehead, withdrawing from the war and accepting German garrisons, while the Free France movement gains power in the colonies and eventually returns with the allies to liberate France. We could see the monarchy discredited and a referendum held (akin to Italy), which sees the establishment of a Republic.

Of course, it's also likely that the monarchy could flee from Bordeaux to Algiers and continue the war from the colonies -- many in the OTL government were for this plan, and if the monarch is fervent to continue the war, it would be likely. When France is liberated, the monarchy would return in a flush of popularity.
 
Bulgaria, Romania and Yugoslavia aren't monarchies anymore because the Red Army didn't want them to be ;)

Interestingly, this makes me think of my French History professor's comment from yesterday: France has always been monarchist even as a Republic, which is why they've always traditionally looked for strong-men in leadership positions (cf. Boulanger, Petain, de Gaulle, Sarko...)


Let's bring back some Balkan monarchies.
 
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