I have recently read some books on the Napoleonic Wars, and it seems to me, total history amateur as I am, that Napoleon actually had a lot going for him before he decided to blow his whole empire on the Russian adventure. With a POD of 1811, let's say that Napoleon never invaded Russia. How would things have gone for the French empire? Would the conquered territories have become stable parts of the empire, or would the french army be over-stretched in trying to hold the empire together?
Specifically, let's say Napoleon lives till the age of 70 (1839). How would mainland Europe look at that point? Would the French still dominate through vassals and alliances, or would the empire be fragmented by internal strife?
I'm thinking that the peninsular war would probably have been a considerable challenge, but not the kind of long, drawn out and unwinable conflict it was in the "real world".
The German states were almost completly subdued, as far as I know, and the Polish in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw would probably be greatfull for the (technical) independence that Napoleon gave them, so I see westren Europe as pretty stable.
I don't know how the Austrians and the Ottomans would behave, though. Maybe they would prefer an alliance with the french to being on their own aganist Russia. Alternatively, both could ally with Russia and England to bring down the empire.
Thoughts and comments on the subject would be appreciated. If I've broken any forum rules in my post, or if my ideas seem stupid or poorly thought out, I'm sorry, I'm new
.
Specifically, let's say Napoleon lives till the age of 70 (1839). How would mainland Europe look at that point? Would the French still dominate through vassals and alliances, or would the empire be fragmented by internal strife?
I'm thinking that the peninsular war would probably have been a considerable challenge, but not the kind of long, drawn out and unwinable conflict it was in the "real world".
The German states were almost completly subdued, as far as I know, and the Polish in the Grand Duchy of Warsaw would probably be greatfull for the (technical) independence that Napoleon gave them, so I see westren Europe as pretty stable.
I don't know how the Austrians and the Ottomans would behave, though. Maybe they would prefer an alliance with the french to being on their own aganist Russia. Alternatively, both could ally with Russia and England to bring down the empire.
Thoughts and comments on the subject would be appreciated. If I've broken any forum rules in my post, or if my ideas seem stupid or poorly thought out, I'm sorry, I'm new
.