Napoleon III dies before Ems Dispatch

For whatever reason (some nasty accident) Napoleon III died on 12 July 1870, one day before Ems Dispatch. 14 years old Prince Imperial succed his father as Napoleon IV. What will happen? Is there need for another Prussian action to provoke France to war? Or with Napoleon III being dead and young boy sitting on the French throne Franco-Prussian war is not necessary for German unification?
 
Empress Eugénie, one of figurehead of the war party, becomes Regent and war still breaks out.
But the Emperor capture becomes less likely. Operations would essentially be led by military, namely Count of Palikao and MacMahon.
Prince Napoleon, only Bonaparte Prince, thus heir to the throne, would be sidelined by an Empress (both were antagonists).
I think that with Eugénie, war would still go bad for France.
 
Empress Eugénie, one of figurehead of the war party, becomes Regent and war still breaks out.
But the Emperor capture becomes less likely. Operations would essentially be led by military, namely Count of Palikao and MacMahon.
Prince Napoleon, only Bonaparte Prince, thus heir to the throne, would be sidelined by an Empress (both were antagonists).
I think that with Eugénie, war would still go bad for France.
So in the end only major difference from OTL will be lack of Emperor's capture? In such case would Bonapartist monarchy survive despite defeat?
 
So in the end only major difference from OTL will be lack of Emperor's capture? In such case would Bonapartist monarchy survive despite defeat?

It's possible. OTL it was Napoleon III's surrender at Sedan - along with his army - that doomed the 2nd Empire.

Here, the 2nd Empire would likely still lose the war, but France and other countries have fought and lost wars before without leading to a change in government. Also, due to his age no one would expect an adolescent emperor to be commanding the troops in any case.
 
So in the end only major difference from OTL will be lack of Emperor's capture? In such case would Bonapartist monarchy survive despite defeat?

It's possible. OTL it was Napoleon III's surrender at Sedan - along with his army - that doomed the 2nd Empire.

Here, the 2nd Empire would likely still lose the war, but France and other countries have fought and lost wars before without leading to a change in government. Also, due to his age no one would expect an adolescent emperor to be commanding the troops in any case.

That's possible but the dynasty will have a hard time.
 
Even if the Bonapartes are still deposed after the war it would butterfly Napoleon IV's death in the Anglo-Zulu war. This could allow for a potential future restoration of the Empire in one of France's many periods of political instability.
 
What do you think-how will be Napoleon III viewed if he dies before defeat? Would people see him as great leader, whose unexpected death lead to disaster? Who will be blamed for defeat? I think not teenage emperor?
 
I think the death of Napoleon III will eclipse the Ems Dispatch. The nation will be in national mourning for some time.
 
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