Why did the Great Powers propose different rulers for France post-Napoleon?

raharris1973

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The Austrians wanted Napoléon II, the British wanted Louis XVIII and Alexander wanted either the duc d'Orléans or a Napoleonic marshal (IDK why I think it was Bernadotte).

I've heard the British wanted the Bourbons - not sure why

I've heard the Austrians wanted the Napoleon II (makes sense because his mama is Austrian)

I've heard the Russians wanted either due d'Orleans or a Napoleonic Marshal (elsewhere I heard they were OK with a republic) - not sure why

If it is true that Russia found the idea of a French republic preferable to the Bourbons, or even just tolerable, why was that outcome anathema to any of the other powers, like Britain?
 
I've heard the British wanted the Bourbons - not sure why

I've heard the Austrians wanted the Napoleon II (makes sense because his mama is Austrian)

I've heard the Russians wanted either due d'Orleans or a Napoleonic Marshal (elsewhere I heard they were OK with a republic) - not sure why

AFAIK, Alexander did not have any clear idea on that account and I'm less than sure that he seriously considered any of the Napoleonic marshals. Bernadotte was out of the list well before the Congress of Vienna and never was considered quite seriously by Alexander (why bother if he was quite convenient to Russia as ruler of Sweden) or other allies (for whom he was still a byproduct of the Revolution) even if for a while this prize had been held before his nose as an encouragement :))). But as you know he figured things out, left the allies and concentrated upon getting Norway.

As for the republic, IIRC, he just expressed an opinion that everything including a republic would be OK as long as the French are happy.

If it is true that Russia found the idea of a French republic preferable to the Bourbons, or even just tolerable, why was that outcome anathema to any of the other powers, like Britain?

My impression was that the Brits just wanted to roll things back to the pre-revolutionary times. Besides, Talleyrand managed to assure the allies that the Bourbons are the only plausible solution for France. Taking into an account that Britain was pretty much a paymaster of the coalition and that Alexander was something of a hysterical anglophile, the British voice carried a lot of weight.
 
And why did Talleyrand prefer the Bourbons to other alternatives?

Just my opinion, but I'm pretty sure the limping bishop of Autun had an eye to the main chance and suggested the Bourbons since a) they'd be weak (Napoléon/his son/one of his marechaux could at least count on support from a portion of the army) and thus would make the allies less nervous; b) they were the previous ruling house, so it could be seen as a restoration to the pre-Revolutionary order; c) Britain would never allow a Napoléonide dynasty in France (regency or no), while Austria (despite all things, after Russia and France, AIUI, Austria was still the most powerful player on the European chessboard (Britain moved proxy pieces to where her navy couldn't get) and Talleyrand needed to give the Habsburgs another option besides the duke of Reichstadt - the Catholic Bourbons were such an option. I think Empress Marie Louise also disliked him IIRC (nothing unusual, most of Europe's royals (Bonapartes included) looked down their nose at him.
 
And why did Talleyrand prefer the Bourbons to other alternatives?

He wanted to get the most lenient peace for France, and a restored Bourbon monarchy was the regime likely to get the best treatment. And, given recent French history, it didn't much matter anyway, since whoever came to power would most likely wear out their welcome and get overthrown a few years down the line.
 
Actually I guess there weren't many options. Turning France into a Republic would have been a precedent way too dangerous for the European monarchs. And maintaining the Bonapartes on the French throne wouldn't have been great for the British either: an Austrian puppet in France would have made Austria too powerful. Reinstallating Louis XVIII was quite obvious I think.
 
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