Victoria and Napoleon II marry - and the consequences

Hi all. If this has been discussed post it please, thanks.

I have been studying all of the different possible King, Queen and marriage combinations of England/Great Britain. One that really interests me is a marriage between Victoria and Napoleon II (Napoleon has been defeated by the way). The questions I think that should be put forward are:
  • Is Napoleon II more handsome than Albert
  • What is Napoleon temperament compared to Albert, and depending on that either Napoleon or Albert would get Victoria's hand.
Then, one has to ask the question if it gets through the questions above: (anyone can add more questions of that sought and the following)
  • Will the states of Europe allow it?
  • What will the response of the public opinion be of such a marriage?
Is this possible or wishful thinking? Before moving onto "after the marriage takes place..."

Regards Alexander
 
He's Catholic, so a marriage would be forbidden by the Act of Settlement, even ignoring all the political/diplomatic impossibilities.
 
He's Catholic, so a marriage would be forbidden by the Act of Settlement, even ignoring all the political/diplomatic impossibilities.

I just released that before you posted it, Catholic-Protestant, well that was a waste of time for nothing. To bad. The only possible scenario would be in a Catholic Britain.
 
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He's Catholic, so a marriage would be forbidden by the Act of Settlement, even ignoring all the political/diplomatic impossibilities.

AFAIK this has been discussed before (English sovereign's Catholic marriage, that is). And there isn't anything in the AoS that prohibits a sitting monarch marrying a Catholic - just that the heirs must be non-Papist. Plus, according to Victoria's obit in The Times, there HAD been considerable speculation 1837-1840 about who she would marry, with several even voicing the worry of her marrying one of LP's younger sons (IIRC HRH the Prince de Joinville was the poor fellow mentioned).

As to L'Aiglon's Catholicism, he seems to have believed, first and foremost, in himself. Since he reportedly held some...interesting views, like when in the 1830-1831 revolutions he was a candidate for the revolutionary thrones of Belgium or Poland, they were even shouting "Vive le Roi du Rome!" during les Trois Glorieuses in certain parts of Paris. That was when Metternich apparently started getting scared, and blocked l'Aiglon (who most especially wanted to become king of Poland as repayment of that country's loyalty to his dad), and young Reichstadt commented: "could I have any throne in the world, I would desire that God Himself descend from His." Hardly sentiments which would've endeared him to the diehard Catholics in Vienna (or anywhere, I guess). It is worth remembering that his father had announced in Egypt that he and his men would become Mohammedans if it made them more palatable to the Egyptians. So, Napoléon I/II/III seem to have worn their religion rather lightly.
 
I think the Act of Settlement would be open to interpretation on this - given the intention of the framers of the legislation was to prevent a RC monarch and consort even if the wording didn't explicitly prevent a reigning monarch marrying where they wanted.
Given the time frame so near the Catholic Emancipation Act which had been controversial and difficult to get through Parliament I don't doubt that had Victoria informed the privy council of her intention to marry a Roman Catholic it would have provoked a crisis similar to the Abdication Crisis of 1936. If it was after Sir Robert Peel and the Tories took power then even bigger crisis.
Although the monarch didn't require consent or agreement even at this period it would have been difficult for her to go against the advice of her ministers on this issue - and it would have been made worse by the fact that her heir was the King of Hanover who was strongly disliked and who was also a reactionary figure but had himself fiercely opposed Catholic Emancipation. Whilst Ernst did nominally support his niece's rights in Britain he was very well aware of his position in relation to the British crown.

I would suspect Victoria would stick to her guns given her character but the results could have had a catastrophic effect on her already rocky popularity given the bedchamber crisis. her personal association with the Whigs and the Lady Flora Hastings mess. Her only hope was probably an announcement that the Prince was taking Anglican instruction in order to marry her.
 
But first you have hime survive until Victoria can marry him ;)

Converting to another religion should be no problem ;) - after all how many German princesses have converted to the Orthodiox faith become the wife of the Czar.
 
Did the constitution of French Second Empire require the Emperor to be Catholic?
Old Order France had some problem with requiring King to be Catholic - Henry IV did not hold Paris 1589-1593. But after French Revolution... Napoleon made a Concordat, but did not particularly respect Pope.
So: how would the French Bonapartists react if a Bonaparte officially converts to Protestantism before an advantageous marriage? Act of Settlement expressly bans from English throne any person who has been Papist - converts from Catholicism remain barred for life - and any person who has married a Papist, but does not forbid succession by a person who has married a person who has been a Papist. Therefore conversion before wedding is acceptable under the letter of Act of Settlement.
 
Did the constitution of French Second Empire require the Emperor to be Catholic?
Old Order France had some problem with requiring King to be Catholic - Henry IV did not hold Paris 1589-1593. But after French Revolution... Napoleon made a Concordat, but did not particularly respect Pope.
So: how would the French Bonapartists react if a Bonaparte officially converts to Protestantism before an advantageous marriage? Act of Settlement expressly bans from English throne any person who has been Papist - converts from Catholicism remain barred for life - and any person who has married a Papist, but does not forbid succession by a person who has married a person who has been a Papist. Therefore conversion before wedding is acceptable under the letter of Act of Settlement.

I believe the Church in France was quite influential during this period? If so, Napoleon converting to Protestantism would probably cause a lot of backlash, and given that his power ultimately rested on popular support (he was made Emperor by plebiscite), he might not be willing to risk it.
 
I believe the Church in France was quite influential during this period? If so, Napoleon converting to Protestantism would probably cause a lot of backlash, and given that his power ultimately rested on popular support (he was made Emperor by plebiscite), he might not be willing to risk it.
Which Napoleon?
How about, Napoleon/Charlotte?
 
Which Napoleon?
How about, Napoleon/Charlotte?

Wow, thank you all for posting.

It seems like what I am reading is that it was not outright impossible but looks to be 60-40 ratio possibility chance, which says a lot.

I like the Napoleon II/Charlotte idea a lot as well. If he were to marry her would this change the landscape of marrying her or would it be the same obstacles as Victoria?
 
I believe the Church in France was quite influential during this period? If so, Napoleon converting to Protestantism would probably cause a lot of backlash, and given that his power ultimately rested on popular support (he was made Emperor by plebiscite), he might not be willing to risk it.

Interesting point on his possible decision-making: "Do I Marry Victoria and see my support vanish or wait and maybe become the Emperor of the French." However, the Habsburg kept him on a strong leash so that he could not get on the French throne or any throne. If he had any sense wouldn't it be better to marry a queen to get out of Austria than to wait for a throne that would never come because the Habsburgs would make sure that would happen above everything else, even to the point of imprisoning him.

Therefore if you do not want to be imprisoned all your life and being told what to do and not what to do, wouldn't this make him lean towards making the risk to marry Victoria and get out of Austria. However, I know some people are really unyieldingly stubborn and always want the best of everything and who does remind you of: Napoleon I!!!!
 
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What would happen if Napoleon I still loses, but Napoleon II is Emperor of France, under regency of Empress Marie (and her Austrian advisors/ministers) till the Emperor comes of age in 1829 or so?
 
I'd be very interested in what happens to "darling Albert" in this scenario. OTL his father felt that Ernst II didn't really do anything to promote the Coburg interests - he'd envisioned a Russian or French match for him, but Ernie was sort of listless about the whole idea (which ironically made Albert, who had less in common with dad, his father's preferred son), and finally married Alexandrine of Baden, the jilted fiancee of Alexander II of Russia.
 
It seems to me that it is Victoria who would be in serious trouble if she intended to marry him, creating a further crisis from the bedchamber and the Lady Flora Hastings crisis. What type of a crisis would it be, that she intended to marry or has married a (converted) Catholic or that she was marrying into the house of Bonaparte? (Napoleon II)

Assuming they get married, first, there would be backlash from the French and British public for their own reasons but what would the states of Europe think and maybe do about this possible situation and what would they do after they got married.

Regards Alexander
 
It seems to me that it is Victoria who would be in serious trouble if she intended to marry him, creating a further crisis from the bedchamber and the Lady Flora Hastings crisis. What type of a crisis would it be, that she intended to marry or has married a (converted) Catholic or that she was marrying into the house of Bonaparte? (Napoleon II)

Assuming they get married, first, there would be backlash from the French and British public for their own reasons but what would the states of Europe think and maybe do about this possible situation and what would they do after they got married.

Regards Alexander

Well, considering your POD is in 1832 (Reichstadt surviving), the Bedchamber Crisis might TTL be the name given to the problem surrounding the Queen's marriage. It's hardly set in stone that the OTL Bedchamber Crisis would occur (perhaps Lady Flora doesn't get dropsy or Victoria is not (yet) forced to accept ladies-in-waiting that she doesn't want).

All things considered, Reichstadt MIGHT be more palatable to the British than Albert or Cumberland were OTL. See Victoria's kinda got the whiphand - her heir presumptive (Cumberland) is detestable, and no one wants Hannover back. Her ministers can't force her to marry anyone - hell, if they could, Elizabeth I would've been wedded and bedded before New Years 1559. She can simply refuse. Also, if Reichstadt has already converted (or expresses that he's willing to), Vicky was OTL rather susceptible to his cousin, Napoléon III's charm offensive, and she's made her mind up, I think Melbourne, Peel or Wellington can argue with her until they're blue in the face, her mulishness will probably win-out if only because they're too exhausted to continue arguing with her. Besides, as pointed out, the AoS is open to interpretation, and you can be sure that Vicky and/or anyone on her side will take that stance.

However, relations with France will cool significantly. And Nappy III might not be able to win the elections after 1848, simply cause the French don't want a Huguenot, rosbif emperor ruling them.
 
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A Bonaparte as the king-consort will be vastly more unpopular than just about anyone else. Remember, most of the political class grew up fighting Napoleon; welcoming his kid on their throne is too much to ask. Even someone massively unpopular like Cumberland would be more acceptable as a monarch. It would be as if the POTUS tomorrow announced a marriage to one of Osama's kids; everyone would go nuts. Newly crowned Victoria doesn't have nearly the clout to pull it off; at best she can refuse to marry anyone else, and leave everyone praying that another Hanoverian ends up with a decent kid. 1830s Britain was not so stable as to allow a crypto-Catholic Bonaparte on the throne. She'd do better to fall in love with a chimney-sweep.

Which brings up the other issue: how would they meet? He's clearly not an acceptable suitor, and no one would introduce him as such. That's not just the British, that's anyone with the ability to prevent it. OTL he was more or less kept tightly confined by the Austrians; even ITTL, he's not going to be sent around to foreign courts to hobnob with their royalty.
 
Well, considering your POD is in 1832 (Reichstadt surviving), the Bedchamber Crisis might TTL be the name given to the problem surrounding the Queen's marriage. It's hardly set in stone that the OTL Bedchamber Crisis would occur (perhaps Lady Flora doesn't get dropsy or Victoria is not (yet) forced to accept ladies-in-waiting that she doesn't want).

All things considered, Reichstadt MIGHT be more palatable to the British than Albert or Cumberland were OTL. See Victoria's kinda got the whiphand - her heir presumptive (Cumberland) is detestable, and no one wants Hannover back. Her ministers can't force her to marry anyone - hell, if they could, Elizabeth I would've been wedded and bedded before New Years 1559. She can simply refuse. Also, if Reichstadt has already converted (or expresses that he's willing to), Vicky was OTL rather susceptible to his cousin, Napoléon III's charm offensive, and she's made her mind up, I think Melbourne, Peel or Wellington can argue with her until they're blue in the face, her mulishness will probably win-out if only because they're too exhausted to continue arguing with her. Besides, as pointed out, the AoS is open to interpretation, and you can be sure that Vicky and/or anyone on her side will take that stance.

However, relations with France will cool significantly. And Nappy III might not be able to win the elections after 1848, simply cause the French don't want a Huguenot, rosbif emperor ruling them.

A Bonaparte as the king-consort will be vastly more unpopular than just about anyone else. Remember, most of the political class grew up fighting Napoleon; welcoming his kid on their throne is too much to ask. Even someone massively unpopular like Cumberland would be more acceptable as a monarch. It would be as if the POTUS tomorrow announced a marriage to one of Osama's kids; everyone would go nuts. Newly crowned Victoria doesn't have nearly the clout to pull it off; at best she can refuse to marry anyone else, and leave everyone praying that another Hanoverian ends up with a decent kid. 1830s Britain was not so stable as to allow a crypto-Catholic Bonaparte on the throne. She'd do better to fall in love with a chimney-sweep.

Which brings up the other issue: how would they meet? He's clearly not an acceptable suitor, and no one would introduce him as such. That's not just the British, that's anyone with the ability to prevent it. OTL he was more or less kept tightly confined by the Austrians; even ITTL, he's not going to be sent around to foreign courts to hobnob with their royalty.

Very intriguing and thank you for your expertise, I think that wraps it up. It looks like the only alternative for victoria is Charlotte and Leopold.
 
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