Who would succeed Napoleon after his assasination?

Zoidberg12

That's the question. Basically, who would succeed Napoleon after one his assassination attempts that never where. He had three that I know off.

Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise; December 24, 1800

He hand't crowned himself Empower yet, so the consulate would continue under Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès and Charles-François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance, But how would replace Napoleon?

The d'Enghien Affair; 1804

His older brother Joseph would probably be monarch in this case.

Could a coup d'etat start? Maybe under Talleyrand? In that case all hell could break lose. But with Napoleon gone I'd imagine the Coalition would be ready for peace, and Talleyrand willing to give up at least some, or maybe even all of Frances gains.

Assassination attempt in Vienna, October 12 1809

Probaly the something similar to the above.

However, what if Napoleon was killed after 1810? It would be the infant Napoleon II as monarch, but obviously under a regency. The question is who would head the regency?

Is these speculations accurate?
 
Simon

Simon

Zoidberg12 said:
Assassination attempt in Vienna, October 12 1809

Probably the something similar to the above. However, what if Napoleon was killed after 1810? It would be the infant Napoleon II as monarch, but obviously under a regency. The question is who would head the regency?
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I wouldn't be too sure that it would go to Napoleon II, during the attempted Malet coup in 1812 which used the rumour of Napoleon's death in Russia and the creation of a provisional government all the great and the good just seem to of ignored him and the official succession plan. I could see a three way tussle forming between a very small minority that support Napoleon II under a regency, one of the various Marshals chancing their hand and coming out on top - either as Emperor himself or using Napoleon II as a figurehead whilst acting as regent until they assume full power, and those wanting to reform the republican government.
 

Shawn Endresen

Under Napoleon's laws? No, she wouldn't. Joseph is regent (although he's smart enough to bring Marie-Louise into the picture, as many ordinary Frenchmen would be incensed at the exclusion of the Emperor's mother).

But yeah, the Malet incident suggests that Napoleon's laws really wouldn't be the guiding principle this late. Massena seems most likely to seize the throne, and Joseph and company will have a rough time fending him off, if they manage it all...
 

Matteo

Masséna ? Why Masséna ? He was not in the first circle. Nor was he the most politically skilled and ambitious.

Duroc was probably Napoleon's closest friend. Savary was very important too. And Davout could not be counted out, being the other most competent general, strategist, tactician and military organizer France had with Napoleon himself.

It is not because the regency logically failed in the disasters and defeats of 1814/1815 that you can infer that the regency would have failed in the strong situation that the french empire knew before invading Russia.
 

Shawn Endresen

Matteo said:
Masséna ? Why Masséna ? He was not in the first circle. Nor was he the most politically skilled and ambitious.

Duroc was probably Napoleon's closest friend. Savary was very important too. And Davout could not be counted out, being the other most competent general, strategist, tactician and military organizer France had with Napoleon himself.

It is not because the regency logically failed in the disasters and defeats of 1814/1815 that you can infer that the regency would have failed in the strong situation that the french empire knew before invading Russia.
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I would argue that he was among the most politically skilled and ambitious; he used his time out of Napoleon's favor making friends outside the military, he kept his rank, command and titles once Louis XVIII was restored - Massena is one of the few who has been looking ahead and planning for the days after Napoleon. All three of the fellows you mentioned were very close to Napoleon, which is exactly the wrong place to be when the Emperor is dead and the scramble for new power begins. Savary doesn't even have a military command anymore, having been placed in charge of justice. Davout IS a military genius equal to Napoleon himself, but he's also cold, arrogant, withdrawn, and universally disliked by his fellow Marshals and his subordinates. Off the battlefield, he's irrelevant.
 
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