Which of Napoleon's brothers would take over in 1830?

Which brother should win Bonpartist Restoration in 1830?

  • Joseph - he didn't try OTL, but TTL he was *so* close

    Votes: 7 28.0%
  • Lucien - good diplomat, closer than Joseph, can convince British he won't go crazy like Napoleon

    Votes: 14 56.0%
  • Louis - Even if tryijng to honor treaty could be called

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Jerome - Might be most willing to take it

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • OTL Napoleon III, 18 years early

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • Even in TTL, a Civil War might erupt but Orleanists would win

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    25
This is for my ATL, "Created Equal," at https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=240604, but the discussion can involve general OTL, too, if thigns go differently.

In my TL, Napoleon dies in 1809, and Davout is basically a great general and winds up taking over, but evenually peace can't be reached and the Coalition restore the Bourbons because of a few extraneous things, including a riot at Valencay that they lay on his shoulders as ruler (though it's more jsut a good excuse to go in the throw him out.)

So, Bonarpartists are more active, and while - like OTL - the Bourbons are restored, they're rememb4red fondly enough that instead of 1848, it's as early as the 1830 July Revolution that they are popular enough to be swept back into power, isntead of the Orleanists.

So, the question is, which brother. In my TL there are some differences, but minor ones.

1. Louis is King of Wallonia, a compromise for helping get Dvout out of France (since Davout turned on Joseph) and also for signing a treaty that neither he nor his descendants would ever seek the throne of France. (Not quite the stuff of "A Brother's Betrayal" but close enough I felt I should acknowledge that really good TL here.)

2. Joseph was denied France by Davout in a famous line: "You may either become King of Naples..." "Or?!" "...shot." he then got kicked out of Naples as...well, it's complicated, let's jsut say the Coalition kicked him out.:D He never made an attempt to get backt he throne of France OTL, though. But, here, he may see himself as rightful ruler and be waiting for a time when they need him; and without a Hudnred Days it coudl happen. But, would he?

3. Lucien is younger than Joseph but older than louis. In my TL he likely is arriving in England having escaped his near house arrest in Italy right about when Napoleon dies in battle. He also was a good diplomat and would be closer than Joseph to France. However, his son's a good orinthologist, I figure he still is OTL, and so he might consider his heir to be...who knows.

4. Jerome. An extravagant spender who didn't get as much time to do so, as Davout is retreating in good order his Kingdom of Westphalia is ignored and he likely loses to the advancing Coalition in 1809. Last on the list but might act the most regal.

Or, maybe one of Louis' sons, though they're pretty young yet, just in their 20s.
 
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Joseph. Lucien was a Republican at heart, and his brother had barred him from the throne; even if Lucien doesn't take that last part seriously, "Bonapartists" would.

The whole family are traditional Corsican gentry. Primogeniture is a big deal for them, and his brothers (at least OTL) were assuaged by the fact that Joseph had no sons. If there's a treaty specifically barring Louis, that's just one more reason not to look at him (first). Jerome impressed no one.
 
Why not Napoleon II?

Wasn't born until 1811 to Napoleon and Marie-Louise of Austria. TTL he's still married to Josephine de Beauharnais when he dies.

Actually, that's another good point, OTL Eugène de Beauharnais, Josephine's son by her first husband, was basically going to be King of Italy, so what's happened to him? He's already married to the daughter of the King of Bavaria.
 
Oooh, good point; hadn't thought about him, although I'm thinking he died in 1824 as he seems to have OTL. However, his chidlren will make it interesting. And may help me with spouses for Louis' children.

Why they never made a soap opera (to my knowledge they didn't, anyway - at least not int he U.S.) about royal families of Europe is beyond me.:D

Of course, his oldest son is only 20, but Joseph could agree to pass on the title; whmmm, it looks like the line only was concerning *male* descendants so since he had only daughters, that would make sense.
 
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Well, post-1821 Lucien is the only brain in the family so I'll go for him. It's a pity really as Joseph would probably make a good constitutional monarch if only he belonged to a legitimate dynasty. As is, though, monarchists won't want him and a sober constitutional monarch is not what Bonapartists are looking for.
 
Good points on both sides. Which might also rule Louis out as he's being rather sober, to, actually trying to do a decent job in the little state they gave him here. Although, I do wonder with Lucien... if he wasn't that into policital marriages, what was he doing marrying one of his sons to one of Joseph's daughters OTL? Unless that was just one of those things where he agreed to do so because of their belief in primogeniture.
 
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