Plausibility Check: Peaceful Abdication for Maximilian?

During another thread discussing the viability of a continued Mexican Empire I stumbled upon that fact that, while French troops were pulling out of Mexico, Napoleon III was actively pushing Emperor Maximilian to evacuate with them back to Europe. In our timeline, as we know, he chose to stay behind and fight a losing battle for his throne but it got me thinking; would it be possible for Maxy to instead negotiate with the Republicans to allow a peaceful exile for himself and his Conservative supporters on the other side of the Atlantic? Given the violent back and forth that had marred Mexican politics for decades, there's certainly some potential appeal to the idea of removing the ringleaders and military backbone of the ideological opposition to the Republican leadership, who could see this as an opportunity to finally settle the question of Mexico's government once and for all. And, if Santa Anna is any indication, such a move wouldn't be unprecedented.

If such an exile were allowed, where would Max end up settling? France is one possibility, but so would be taking up a position with his Habsburg relatives. Given his governing experience, family reliability\loyalty, and tested liberal-reformist views, there'd certainly be a place for him in the restructured Habsburg state that's emerging out of the crisis of the Austro-Prussian and Italian war loses and negotiations with the Hungarians and Bohemians
 
If his wife Carlota displays traces of her mental illness earlier, it's possible he abdicates to get her to Europe for treatment and safety. What he does after that is anyone's guess.
 
There were some on the Republican side who'd have been happy to see him go.

Iirc, despite refusing to shave off his luxuriant beard (thus making himself as inconspicuous as a cow in church) he was allowed through two checkpoints before finally being stopped. Looks as if some people were looking the other way.

Trouble is, I'm not sure he really wanted to get way. The thought of slinking back to Austria a discredited failure, with his tail between his legs, may have been too hard to bear, esp as he couldn't expect much of a welcome from his brother. His behaviour at this time has more than a whiff of "suicide by cop".
 
There were some on the Republican side who'd have been happy to see him go.

Iirc, despite refusing to shave off his luxuriant beard (thus making himself as inconspicuous as a cow in church) he was allowed through two checkpoints before finally being stopped. Looks as if some people were looking the other way.

Trouble is, I'm not sure he really wanted to get way. The thought of slinking back to Austria a discredited failure, with his tail between his legs, may have been too hard to bear, esp as he couldn't expect much of a welcome from his brother. His behaviour at this time has more than a whiff of "suicide by cop".

Indeed. He really diden't want to abandon his position despite prodding from all sides; dealing with the stubbornness of the Mexican conservatives and the frustration of trying to implement what he saw as rightious projects for the people and just principals getting shot down by both ends of the spectrium probably did alot of crush his spirit and lust for life. However, I don't think its impossible to find some motivation for him to want to go on: say for example Carlota gets pregnant and he decides he needs to be there for his son, or Nappy III offers him a job somewhere in France where he has a real chance of implimenting some of his liberal reforms
 
Hopeful bump. I was hoping we'd at least get some moderate discussion on potential future positions for the withdrawing Emperor. He had some quite good ideas for reform that were spoiled by the violent, unstable environment and reactionary nature of his supporters... there was potential for him to do real good with the right tools.
 
Well, he could take the Spanish throne in 1870, but he'd probably face Mexico 2.0 with even more factions. Likewise he could become King of Romania depending on the timing.

Otherwise he might end up an advisor to Napoleon III, and it would be interesting to see whar shenanigans he can get into French politics, especially if the Second Empire collapses.
 
Hopeful bump. I was hoping we'd at least get some moderate discussion on potential future positions for the withdrawing Emperor. He had some quite good ideas for reform that were spoiled by the violent, unstable environment and reactionary nature of his supporters... there was potential for him to do real good with the right tools.

Who would listen to him if he withdrew? He's not an heir to the throne and his own rule in Mexico was a disaster.
 
The thing is Juarez personally liked Maximilian and knew he meant well but he was firm in his belief that executing him was necessary to send a strong message to Europe to stay the hell out of his country's affairs.

So either Max agrees to flee in shame or he goes down fighting with his pride intact. He chose the latter which is expected given his idealism.
 
Who would listen to him if he withdrew? He's not an heir to the throne and his own rule in Mexico was a disaster.

He has cred back home in Austria from his tenure as governor of Lombardy-Veneto and with the need to suffle out disgraced officials following the Austro-Prussian war and following crisis his absence would allow him to come in clean of that taint. Nappy III also needs new thinkers who he can count on to be loyal for the Liberal Empire reforms.
 
It seems to me the idea of Nappy III giving him a new post and purpose is the best way to get him out of a suicide by cop mentality.
 
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