Was it possible for the Second French Empire to survive defeat?

[BigBlueBox]

As the title says, was there any way the Second French Empire could have survived a defeat in the Franco-Prussian war that led to the loss of Alsace-Lorraine?

 

[Xgentis]

No, the defeat was so total Napoleon III lost all legitimacy.

 

[Nivek]

Nope, republicans wanted a real republic and monarchist a borboun, Nappy III trying to ride his granduncle coattail ended before 1870, he could have been desposed by a republican movement later on without a war

 

[funnyhat]

If Napoléon III had stayed in Paris instead of going to the front lines, maybe?

IOTL it was a fait accompli when he became a Prussian POW.

 

[Madhukar_Shah]

I think you would need a very different war, with the french being much more competent than otl, and ideally Napoleon managing some diplomatic feat that snatches them from the jaws of complete defeat in exchange for some concessions elsewhere but still with France losing on better terms than otl in order to create anywhere near enough goodwill to survive a defeat

 

[Nivek]

I think you would need a very different war, with the french being much more competent than otl, and ideally Napoleon managing some diplomatic feat that snatches them from the jaws of complete defeat in exchange for some concessions elsewhere but still with France losing on better terms than otl in order to create anywhere near enough goodwill to survive a defeat

Still would be a strech, the republicans with little love to him would despose him as OTL, monarchist never cared about him anyway. For me the only winning move is not to play, again if by consesion they just loss some minor land(just strassburg) might work

 

[Xgentis]

The only way for the second empire to survive would be a victory in the war.

 

[DracoLazarus]

I think you would need a very different war, with the french being much more competent than otl, and ideally Napoleon managing some diplomatic feat that snatches them from the jaws of complete defeat in exchange for some concessions elsewhere but still with France losing on better terms than otl in order to create anywhere near enough goodwill to survive a defeat

Napoleon III suffered from kidney stone disease and frequently had to go on thermal cures.
So say when the Republican government declares war he is in Plombières or Vichy for his disease.
The war is bungled up, but the Emperor is still there, so when he comes back from there, he manages to save the peace, by acknowledging the German Empire's unification and making France pay a significant indemnity, but not losing Alsace-Lorraine. (which by the way is what Bismark wanted)
In that case, it would be clear the Republicans declared war, and the Emperor saved the country.

 

[Basileus_Komnenos]

An alternate scenario is that Napoleon III dies leading his troops in combat against the Prussians. The people view him as a martyr and see him as the second coming of their glorious empreur. The people then rally around the empress and her son.
A more ASB scenario is that the war is harder on the Prussians and when Prussian troops capture Napoleon III they execute him. This pisses off the French people and they are out for blood and rally behind the empire even more.

 

[Alex Zetsu]

The only way for the second empire to survive would be a victory in the war.

Actually, the Republican Sentiment was relatively weak compared to the monarchist or eve Bonaparist before the war. The Republicans did have a large concentration... in Paris. This is a problem for Napoleon III if he is ever outside the capital and shows a moment of weakness.

 

[Basileus_Komnenos]

Actually, the Republican Sentiment was relatively weak compared to the monarchist or eve Bonaparist before the war. The Republicans did have a large concentration... in Paris. This is a problem for Napoleon III if he is ever outside the capital and shows a moment of weakness.

What if the monarchists were then delegated more power in a federated imperial system to balance out the republicans?

 

[Atterdag]

If the defeat isn't as crushing as otl, but it likely ends after his death anyways.

 

[FillyofDelphi]

What if the monarchists were then delegated more power in a federated imperial system to balance out the republicans?

The Liberal Empire reforms were trying to do something like that, reaching an accomidation with the leaders of the various factions by deligating power back to the representative bodies in which they sat. He could definately kept himself on the throne with that, especially if the Republicans drag out the dreaded Madame Guillotine again if the Conservatives, knowing the Emperor is free and fighting,are seen as part of an Imperial 5th colum in Paris