Napoleon I accepts the Frankfurt Proposals

[alexmilman]

The problem is that with the British still at war, the peace with the others may not last, as it did not after Campo Formio, Tilsit, etc. .

Well, all previous peace treaties were not equal with a resulting urge for a revenge. This one is much more balanced and may last.

The British may again subsidize nations to join a new coalition.

In a reality these subsidies were covering only a fracture of the expenses and did not cover at all the human losses (aka, taxes produced by the hundreds thousands of the able bodied men). Of course, the hate can’t be discounted as a powerful factor but if a peace is honorable enough it may work.

To definitively end the war (which the French public is becoming impatient for) peace has to be made with London.
That would also be the only way for France to get back some of the lost colonies.

London did not have unlimited amounts of money and if the main powers of the continental Europe opted for peace it would be marginalized. Nappy overdid the CS but the British blockade was hurting Europe as well.

The colonies were not overly important for France at that time.

 

[Boves]

The most ironic thing is that what Napoleon lost diplomatically in November 1813, he wanted to win with blood in June 1815, But, to borrow a phrase, Napoleon the statesman was writing checks that Napoleon the general could not cash.

 

[alexmilman]

The most ironic thing is that what Napoleon lost diplomatically in November 1813, he wanted to win with blood in June 1815, But, to borrow a phrase, Napoleon the statesman was writing checks that Napoleon the general could not cash.

But this was his standard style so nothing surprising there. What is surprising is that in 1813 he was still believing or at least claiming that any sign of a weakness would cost him a throne due to the domestic problems.

 

[serdog]

The British were already uneasy about barely relevant Albert. How do u think they would react to the Bonaparte heir?

Is there even Victoria in this timeline ? It likely doesn't take much to have Princess Charlotte live and have an heir. or one of William IV children to live.

 

[Slime_blob]

That would also be the only way for France to get back some of the lost colonies.

Haiti is already lost in that time, smaller islands now remains not much of value compared to Saint Domingue.

 

[Wendell]

But this was his standard style so nothing surprising there. What is surprising is that in 1813 he was still believing or at least claiming that any sign of a weakness would cost him a throne due to the domestic problems.

In fairness, there was a coup attempt in 1812.

 

[alexmilman]

In fairness, there was a coup attempt in 1812.

This coup was a joke. Nappy’s claim that his reign depends solely upon his victories was a pure demagoguery, just as too many of his political statements.

 

[Aghasverov]

This coup was a joke. Nappy’s claim that his reign depends solely upon his victories was a pure demagoguery, just as too many of his political statements.

It was a joke, but it was one that got him out of Russia in (even more of) a hurry

 

[Basileus_Komnenos]

if they could have just settled for that and went back to the colonial game.

Bigger population. Better demographics and less men dying. More stable. Better diplomatic relations. Less glamorous stories but a better legacy.

Napoleon really just needs Austria, Prussia and Russia to agree. Britains role was mostly funding their wars against France.

Broke: France stays content with itself and focuses on gaining colonies
Woke: Napoleon I and Napoleon II rapidly buildup France's economy and military prowess over the coming decades allowing it to conquer Europe a second time as the undisputed power thanks to industrialization.

 

[alexmilman]

It was a joke, but it was one that got him out of Russia in (even more of) a hurry

I strongly suspect that it was just a convenient excuse for his to leave whatever was lost of his army and go to France to raise a new one. 😉

 

[Aghasverov]

I strongly suspect that it was just a convenient excuse for his to leave whatever was lost of his army and go to France to raise a new one. 😉

Nap was a great tactician, and instinctively a rather skilled politician (in some regards, at least).... But he was a terrible gambler. Never knew just when it was time to fold, and walk away from the table.....

 

[funnyhat]

Haiti is already lost in that time, smaller islands now remains not much of value compared to Saint Domingue.

Saint-Domingue was the most valuable, but Guadeloupe/Martinique/la Réunion were also profitable.

 

[Wendell]

Nap was a great tactician, and instinctively a rather skilled politician (in some regards, at least).... But he was a terrible gambler. Never knew just when it was time to fold, and walk away from the table.....

Unfortunately, the song just does not work as well in French.

 

[Wendell]

So thinking about what someone else suggested earlier about Napoleon's death being the catalyst for the Frankfurt Proposals being accepted, might the fall of Napoleon cause a division in the ranks, say, leading Eugene de Beauharnais to try and make his own deal with, or wage his own war against, Austria?

 

[Boves]

So thinking about what someone else suggested earlier about Napoleon's death being the catalyst for the Frankfurt Proposals being accepted, might the fall of Napoleon cause a division in the ranks, say, leading Eugene de Beauharnais to try and make his own deal with, or wage his own war against, Austria?

I think what kept the allies together was the desire to defeat napoleon, his death would make the allies focus on their own interests, Austria at this point had already achieved its own goals as well as Russia, Britain had too achieved with the liberation of Holland , continuing the war by the British would mean for them to depend on Russia, Austria, Prussia and Sweden, and if they start peace talks with France, the British could not do much as alexmilman says.

Eugene could perhaps get the parma dukedom, Murat the kingdom of Naples unless he doesn't ruin it and that is questionable, apparently the british agreed as long as Ferdinand I was compensated with tuscany.