What would you have done as Napoleon I?

Three major reasons really:

1: Russia and France had heavily conflicting ambitions in Europe, Poland in particular.

2: Russia broke from the Continental System because it was simply too damaging for its economy.

3: It was also a case of either side not wanting to be seen as weak in front of the other, particularly in light of the Tsar's changing attitudes towards Napoleon.

All true, but the invasion of Russia was a major clusterfuck that severally weakened Napoleon's rule both at home and abroad. I think Mikestone8's on to something by expanding the Swedes and Austrians at the expense of the Prussians to prevent Russia expansion and aggression against the continental system.
 

The Sandman

Banned
Try to find some way of unifying everybody against Russia. Long-term, they're an even bigger threat than Great Britain, because they have ideological reasons to want to stomp down hard on anything resembling liberalism and because they've been relatively untouched by war compared to everybody else. If possible, get the Ottomans on-side; a reasonably strong Ottoman Empire can be played against Austria for maximum benefit to France once the Russians no longer have a coastline.
 
His idea to become an Emperor was an error, he could stay in power as a Consul for life.

How so? Do you say this because you are opposed to the very idea of monarchy, or because you think it had negative consequences for him? Because while it may have alienated his republican supporters, it seems that instituting an imperial monarchy did really solidify his power. The hereditary principle also firmly entrenced his family into power for as long as the Empire remained. And even though foreign kings may have despised it, being crowned by the Pope did raise Napoleon to their level in terms of precedence and stature.
 
Yes but to do that you need to get rid of the british annoying habit of financing cohalition against France. There is a need of a peace treaty that can more or less satisfy everyones.
And for last time it wasn't his idea to become emperor well depending on the source you get that from.
 
Three major reasons really:

1: Russia and France had heavily conflicting ambitions in Europe, Poland in particular.

2: Russia broke from the Continental System because it was simply too damaging for its economy.

3: It was also a case of either side not wanting to be seen as weak in front of the other, particularly in light of the Tsar's changing attitudes towards Napoleon.

All true, but none of these guaranteed that a war would occur between them, only that it could. In the meantime, they still share common enemies.
 
How so? Do you say this because you are opposed to the very idea of monarchy, or because you think it had negative consequences for him? Because while it may have alienated his republican supporters, it seems that instituting an imperial monarchy did really solidify his power. The hereditary principle also firmly entrenced his family into power for as long as the Empire remained. And even though foreign kings may have despised it, being crowned by the Pope did raise Napoleon to their level in terms of precedence and stature.

It had negative consequences for him in France and abroad.

In France, republican supporters were alienated and some good men of state or of war was left behind by the imperial regime, as Napoleon own brother Lucien who had a important role in the early years of the Consulate, or General Lecourbe.

Abroad, his imperial title became an insult for "real" emperors as the Austrian or Russian Emperor and it established a long series of Bonaparte dynasties who was seen as usurpators by all royal families in Europe.

The imperial title didn't entrenched his family in power as Napoleon had no son before the King of Rome in 1811. And the simple rumor of Napoleon being dead in Russia bring the General Malet coup in fall 1812...
 
I think Mikestone8's on to something by expanding the Swedes and Austrians at the expense of the Prussians to prevent Russia expansion and aggression against the continental system.

Agreed, that was a very interesting suggestion. Also, when the Swedes come shopping for a French marshal as king in his place I'd pick somebody who i'd be sure would remain loyal to me (Davout, forex) rather than somebody like Bernadotte who would betray me by deciding that the first loyalty of the king of Sweden would be to Sweden.
 
The imperial crown was legitimaced by the pope and the Austrian empire isn't mutch older etheir.

The pope didn't crown Napoleon (Nappy grabbed the crown out of the pope's hands and crowned himself), and the Austrian Empire may have been recent but the Hapsburgs had been emperors for centuries. There was simply no comparison with a bunch of ghastly parvenus like the Bonapartes.

There was one reason and one reason only why Napoleon's imperial title was accepted to the extent it was - his command of the Grand Army. his heirs might have been regarded as legitimate if he'd been able to pass the empire on to them, but he himself never would be.
 
Not annexing the Kingdom of Holland in 1810, especially since his brother Louis Bonaparte had become quite popular as King Lodewijk (the Dutch even considered to restore him in 1814, since, unlike his brothers, he regarded himself as Dutch and had learned the language of the realm he ruled and even declared Dutch to be the only language of his court, very much to the dismay of his wife Hortense)
 
If I am Napoleon Bonaparte? I would:

1. Let the Pope crown me and Josephine. A little humility will go a long way toward easing tensions in Europe.

2. Restrain my dynastic ambitions. Louis can rule Holland; he's good at that. Ditto for Jerome and Westphalia. Eugene as viceroy in Italy is another good choice. But putting Joseph on the Spanish throne is a mistake; better to depose Charles, toss Godoy in prison (neither will be missed), put Ferdinand on the throne with Joseph at his elbow to make sure things are done right, and forego sending troops to Spain, other than a few to guard Joseph and his entourage. The rest of my relatives are non-entities who I will assign to minor posts where the harm they can do is limited.

3. The Portuguese are allied to Britain? So? They aren't bothering me; leave them alone (other than raiding their commerce, of course).

4. Slavery is an affront to the republican sentiments of Frenchmen; I would abolish it in all French domains. The planters can be compensated, if need be, or ignored.

5. Josephine stays Empress, no matter what. The people genuinely like her and I can use the goodwill. If she doesn't provide me an heir, no problem; I'll choose one of my relatives. (Probably Eugene.)

6. None of that Continental system nonsense. Besides being unworkable and alienating all my allies it's wrongheaded. Better to allow the trade and tax it; the additional funds provided can go to expanding the navy, which will reduce the amount of trouble the British cause.

7. Invading Russia is beyond the capability of the French Empire and I wouldn't attempt it. If the Russians make trouble a repeat of the Friedland campaign will do nicely for putting them back on the reservation.

8. In the face of British naval superiority French colonies are basically indefensible and I would let them go; we can always negotiate for their return after the war.

9. I would be nice to the Pope; he can keep the papal territories, so long as he behaves himself. Even if he doesn't I wouldn't do anything except strip him of his temporal powers; no imprisonment. No need to alienate all the Catholics in the French Empire.

10. Monsieur Fulton has a new way to propel vessels? Let him demonstrate it by building a prototype and operating it for a month or two on the Seine, then we will discuss how it may be used to best advantage. The same applies to all other inventors; I am interested in practical applications, not theory.
 
Send Bernadotte as a ambassador to Sweden to avoid him screwing up more battles.

Some sort of peace with UK.

Instead of invading Spain, have them remain neutral. That way the southern border is secure.

Adopt Josephines children and put them in the line of succession.

If no peace then: Mobilise a bigger army than OTL and invade Russia. Have max 50,000 frenchmen and not so many french horses, but let the German provinces and Austria bleed in Russia. Head for St Petersburg. Promis the Swedes they will get everything lost after 1709 back if they aid. Screw Denmark and promiss Sweden they will also get Norway if they want more.

Plan operation Sealion and build a bigger fleet than the world have ever seen before.
 
Build up my army, win battles against Austria and Prussia, set up many satellite kingdoms, and Attacking both Britain and Spain, then for the big fun last part, Invade Russia in the Spring
 
first i will remove all troops from spain an Instead set up a defensive perimeter at the border.
next I will abolish the monarchies in Astria and Prussia whoom i have recently beatean and put my cousins on said thrones. If the monarchs of aforementiones countries refuse to abdictate i will simply sack their capitols and lay waste to their country. Once i have established puppet regimes in Austria and Prussia. I will not advance any further in Italy.
Next I will let touissant of Haiti rule as he wishes provided he doesnt revolt against my rule. Finnally I will form an alliance with russia convincing them that Britain is a useless ally who is out only to ruin russia, pointing to asia.
Then in order to tackle britain i will just wait. I will heavily fortify the coasts and prevent any sort of British invasion force. Thus i will keep this stalemate until i build up my navy. I will focus on restructuring the economy so that it has a strong internal structure. Then I will create the greater european co prosperity sphere beetween my country and the regimes of europe allowing us to trade and utilize each others resources. Next while gaurding the coast i will use my money to build a large navy. In order to utilize it I will bring imported dutch, russian, Danish, and American seamen. To get american seamen I will pay usa a lot of money and give them the port of louisiana(not entire purchace). Once the officers arrive i will etablish naval academies to train my sailors. After 5-6 years of this I should have a navy of maybe 500-600 ships. Mainly the navy will be built in Normandy, cailas, and all the ports in the channel. To make sure british naval ships dont interfere i will have coastal artillary to deter any british approach.
Once I have this navy I wil engage the british fleet of the channel. In this naval battle my navy will win sinking the rn home fleet. Once I sink the rn home fleet i will sue for peace with england and leave a status quo. By 1825 the war is over and peace has been restored. From here.. i have no real idea whaat to do.
 
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