Napoleon and the springs of the Nile River

In 1798 Napoleon is dismissed by his internal enemies during his expedition to Egypt and is not able to head back to France, even more, Lord Nelson destroys his fleet before he could leave. Now the scientific interested Bonaparte plans a expedition into the dephts of Africa, to research the unknown realms of the mysterious continent.
 
In 1798 Napoleon is dismissed by his internal enemies during his expedition to Egypt and is not able to head back to France, even more, Lord Nelson destroys his fleet before he could leave. Now the scientific interested Bonaparte plans a expedition into the dephts of Africa, to research the unknown realms of the mysterious continent.

I beg your pardon, I unintentionally posted this in the After 1900 section, but it is supposed to be in the pre1900 section, of course.
 
You might want to have the mods move this to pre-1900...

Anyways, although I will admit I am not a Napoleonic history expert, it would be unlikely he would go really deep into Africa. He might set up shop in the Sudan, or on the Nile, but not into the Libyan interior.
 
His goal was to capture the Levant and a) threaten British India, b) become an Eastern King like Alexandre
 
You might want to have the mods move this to pre-1900...

Anyways, although I will admit I am not a Napoleonic history expert, it would be unlikely he would go really deep into Africa. He might set up shop in the Sudan, or on the Nile, but not into the Libyan interior.

That would be interesting, if Napoleon manages to set up a regnum in Sudan or the Nile . Would he covert to Islam or would he simply try to govern his territory with still-not-deserted segments of his army, mercenaries and local alliances. Maybe he could become a thorn in the flesh of the British Empire for years to come, while slowly abandom his French course and herritage ? Monsieur Bonaparte, I assume ?
 
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His goal was to capture the Levant and a) threaten British India, b) become an Eastern King like Alexandre

That was his goal as the leader of a French "empire", however butterflies will cause his goal to change. The most likely and logical choice would be to go up the Nile (away from British naval interference) and set up shop around Khartoum. Create a local empire. His military genius and superior weaponry will gain him quick victories, which will translate into having vassal states and the area has local iron that he can set up having some superior technology for steel than was local for Africa. He has some of the greatest scientific minds with him, they'll be loving being there, and will push him to get them to the mouth of the Nile, to explore Ethiopia/Aksum, and to look for these rumors regarding the "real" Ark of the Covenant being in a church in Ethiopia and there being remnants of the Lost Tribe of Israel there as well.

Napoleon showed himself to be very sensitive to local religions and he took pains to make the Muslims of Egypt believe he was one of them. He'd do the same in Nubia/Sudan. The British themselves could not hope in the early 1800s to have an expeditionary force large enough that far inland that could defeat Napoleon and his allies. If Mohammad Ali is not butterflied away (and he wouldn't be), then Mohammad Ali would be the one to take down Napoleon with British, Russian, and French help. If Napoleon is not able to reach some sort of recognition first in return to limiting his African Empire to only certain lands.
 
That would be interesting, if Napoleon manages to set up a regnum in Sudan or the Nile . Would he covert to Islam or would he simply try to govern his territory with still-not-deserted segments of his army, mercenaries and local alliances. Maybe he could become a thorn in the flesh of the British Empire for years to come, while slowly abandom his French course and herritage ? Monsieur Bonaparte, I assume ?

NAPOLEON said:
In Egypt I was a Muslim, in France I'm Catholic.

The only problem for the new Pharao would be his French soldiers. Would they convert to Islam as well or would he remain Catholic and proclaim religious freedom?
 
It is an interesting possibility. Might he sail up the Nile and possibly ally with and/or take over Ethiopia? If so he might be able to use that to gain supplies and export goods.

If he did convert, might he get aid from the Ottomans?
 
It is an interesting possibility. Might he sail up the Nile and possibly ally with and/or take over Ethiopia? If so he might be able to use that to gain supplies and export goods.

Well, I could see him having negotiations with Ethiopia. The sheehr prensence of a Western styled modern army on the borders of pre-Menelik, disunited Abyssinia could have effects on the whole region. Napoleon might ally with local princes against central Emperor and even pull a Meiji.



If he did convert, might he get aid from the Ottomans?

That would be the question. If the Ottoman somehow see him as an useful tool against British influence, there might be a chance. On the other hand Napoleon could be a disturbance to them in the long term. The question is, if they are too weak too stop him, in case of him beeing successful...

The only problem for the new Pharao would be his French soldiers. Would they convert to Islam as well or would he remain Catholic and proclaim religious freedom?

Well, it depends. He should be worried for them not dying of Malaria, Black death and exthaustion (The soldier were near revolting OTL) . Maybe they have no hope to come home and instead cope with the situation, covert, intermarry with the local population and hope for a better future. Further more he still could recruit mercenary Mamelukes, as he did in OTL. And he can rely on his trusted servant Rustam, the Muslim Georgian Mameluke slave , whom he trusted with his life.
 
That was his goal as the leader of a French "empire", however butterflies will cause his goal to change. The most likely and logical choice would be to go up the Nile (away from British naval interference) and set up shop around Khartoum. Create a local empire. His military genius and superior weaponry will gain him quick victories, which will translate into having vassal states and the area has local iron that he can set up having some superior technology for steel than was local for Africa. He has some of the greatest scientific minds with him, they'll be loving being there, and will push him to get them to the mouth of the Nile, to explore Ethiopia/Aksum, and to look for these rumors regarding the "real" Ark of the Covenant being in a church in Ethiopia and there being remnants of the Lost Tribe of Israel there as well.

Napoleon showed himself to be very sensitive to local religions and he took pains to make the Muslims of Egypt believe he was one of them. He'd do the same in Nubia/Sudan. The British themselves could not hope in the early 1800s to have an expeditionary force large enough that far inland that could defeat Napoleon and his allies. If Mohammad Ali is not butterflied away (and he wouldn't be), then Mohammad Ali would be the one to take down Napoleon with British, Russian, and French help. If Napoleon is not able to reach some sort of recognition first in return to limiting his African Empire to only certain lands.

Yes, it would be interesting to see a confrontation between Napoleon´s Nile Empire and Mehmet Ali´s Holy Alliance aided Egypt. Maybe if he presents himself a Muslim, he might get support in Sudan, for the locals weren´t pleased with Ottoman-Egyptian-Circassian rule. It would be interesting, what to make of the surviving Mamelukes, for they were Ali´s enemies, and Napoleon fought them in 1798, but he had them OTL as merchenaries, too.
 
Dismissed? He would have done what he did IOTL. Ditch his army then head back to France where the public didn't know about his defeats. And I imagine the Mamluks and others would Harry them for a bit if they headed south.
 
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