Napoleon Dies on the Retreat from Moscow Aftermath?

[Jim Smitty]

Ok lets assume for a moment that Napoleon on the retreat from Moscow and that epic failure dies, from whatever. The how he dies isn't important here. But once news of his death reaches Paris, could Talleyrand take power and end the war for once and all?

I figure that that there would be no War of the Seventh Coalition without Napoleon around. Talleyrand is the only one I put in the same league of Bismarck in being a real genius in foreign affairs and domestic affairs. Without Nappy I think Talleyrand could create a peace that would see France enlarge its European territories, allows the monarch to return to France but on their terms, and find a peace at a Congress of Vienna like meeting. If so what gains would France see from not forcing the Sixth Coalition to fight across Germany? Further what terms would the French be wanting to make the return of the monarchy be something they can live with?

I really need a good book on the history of EUrope on this time? Anyone?

 

[NolanFoster]

I doubt even Talleyrand would invite OTLs Louis XVIII to France and risk becoming extremely unpopular. Without the coalition reimposing them on the French, the Bourbons are gone forever, and rightfully so.

The infant Napoleon II would take the throne.

 

[DAv]

Adam Zamoyski's done some really good work on the Russian campaign and the Congress of Vienna, I heartily recommend his stuff to read.

 

[Jim Smitty]

I doubt even Talleyrand would invite OTLs Louis XVIII to France and risk becoming extremely unpopular. Without the coalition reimposing them on the French, the Bourbons are gone forever, and rightfully so.

The infant Napoleon II would take the throne.

I was thinking more on the lines of Louis Philippe II, the Duke of Orleans. Napoleon's death here isn't the POD as that happened before the French Revolution in the TL I'm cooking up at the moment. Get him out of Paris during the Region of Terror I think you have a king that would be accepted by the international groups plus be supported in France itself.

 

[Gonzaga]

The infant Napoleon II would take the throne.

But it doesn't mean there would be a smooth transition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malet_coup_of_1812

 

[DrakeRlugia]

I was thinking more on the lines of Louis Philippe II, the Duke of Orleans. Napoleon's death here isn't the POD as that happened before the French Revolution in the TL I'm cooking up at the moment. Get him out of Paris during the Region of Terror I think you have a king that would be accepted by the international groups plus be supported in France itself.

His son was who Tsar Alexander wanted to put on the throne after the Hundred Days, after seeing how little the Bourbons were supported by the French, but the other allies preferred to restore Louis XVIII.

Albeit, it's mostly Louis XVIII's fault upon his first restoration; he alienated everyone pretty quickly before realizing upon his return he'd have to be a constitutional monarch.

 

[Simon]

The infant Napoleon II would take the throne.

Doubtful, one of the most striking things about the attempted Malet coup of 1812 was just how quickly everyone seems to have dismissed the infant Napoleon II as a potential option and readily accepted the idea of a recreated republican government.