WI: Empress Josephine had children with Napoleon

Hardly much effect if Napoleon still loses his wars.

Even if he loses, having a Bonaparte heir directly the child of Napoleon is going to be a big deal to French politics after the war. Bonapartism was a real political force in France, in the very least you won't have Napoleon III taking power in France when there's a real direct heir.
 

Kingpoleon

Banned
The descendants of Napoleon... Would they be like the "dashing, intelligent" Napoleon II? He has a bit too much Habsburg nose for me: http://www.herodote.net/Images/NapoleonII.jpg He often lamented Josephine was not his mother, as she was strong-willed and better suited to raising children. Depending on when they're born (1798?), they could rise to power in France with their cousin twice over, Louis Napoleon's, support.
 
unless an earlier fatherhood softened Nap's heart and changed his approach to European domination, it probably doesn't change anything. The European powers aren't changing their strategy from OTL.
 
Well, if this kid - let's call him Napoléon-Charles (b. 1797/8) has anything as even half of Eugène's competency, with the Bonaparte ambition and drive, he could make for an interesting player on the European chessboard. And if push-still-comes-to-shove, Nappy can marry this alt-king of Rome to a Habsburg archduchess (the OTL Brazilian empress), or even a Hohenzollern (OTL Russian czarina) perhaps?
 
Might it depend on how likely it was that the kids were his?

Didn't J have several affairs, especially while N was gone?

Well it would have been impossible to tell for sure who the father was, my guess is that if Josephine was able to give birth to a couple of healthy sons, Napoleon wouldn't ask too many questions.
 
unless an earlier fatherhood softened Nap's heart and changed his approach to European domination, it probably doesn't change anything. The European powers aren't changing their strategy from OTL.

While it may not have had an immediate impact, it transforms French, European and world history. The liklihood of Napoleon III ever coming to power in France is almost zero when Napoleon has direct male descendants.
 
maybe. maybe not. OTL, nap did have a direct male descendant, who lived through 2 changes of kings in France without saying hey, that throne is mine.

nap iii gained power through means other than heredity.

it's possible an alternate Nap II chooses to regain his birthright (which Nap I) vacated when he abdicated, but it doesn't automatically butterfly everything into a different universe.
 
IOTL it seems Austria tried to play it soft with Napoleon in 1813/14, giving him again and again a Chance to get out of the war with his throne intact. Yes, Balance of Power played a role but also that on day a half-Habsburger could sit on the throne of France. Without that, Austria may join the alliance earlier and may be more determint to destroy Napoleon. Maybe so Napoleopn doesn´t get out of Germany after Leipzig.
 
Almost certainly the Empress tragically dies in 1809 or 10

Please don't buy into the myth that Bonaparte and Josephine was a love match

when they first met Bonaparte - then regarded even by the Republicans as a parvenue half Italian rustic - had arranged a financially advantageous engagement with the daughter of a rich merchant

Josephine was the Widow of an aristocrat who had turned republican to save his life but was later executed for treason.
She had saved her own life by becoming the mistress of a series of important republicans, culminating in Barras, then in charge of France.

When she became a nuisance to him Barras made a deal with Bonaparte to take her off his hands in return for a promotion
(the existing fiancee was literally left with an unused trousseau)

Josephine faced with the prospect of banishment to the outer dark agreed
but probably expected to become a widow again in short order as Bonaparte's new mission was expected to disastrous.

Against the odds , Bonaparte survived and prospered and Josephine as a canny survivor clung to his coat tails.
She was a beautiful woman and like most of her family sexually uninhibited so I'm sure Bonaparte enjoyed her bed
But she was never enough for him.

Throughout his marriage Bonaparte was repeated unfaithful, seducing women for both personal and political reasons.
He fathered several bastard children so knew he was fertile while Josephine, despite having children by her first husband, now appeared barren

In OTL as soon as he thought there was a chance of a political advantage,
Bonaparte discarded Josephine and seized Marie of Austria as a war captive bride ... or should I say brood mare.

in this ATL, if Josephine had given him legitimate children Bonaparte could not simply divorce Josephine

So he has two alternatives:

1) Frame her for adultery and divorce her but that would call his manhood into doubt

2) Have her quietly succumb to a (relatively) swift illness and hope to reap some sympathy as a widower with young(ish) children

The man that murdered so many of his political opponents - including his best chief of staff when he refused to break his word of honour and join Bonaparte again in 1815 - will surely chose the second.
 
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No need ... well documented

:confused::eek::confused::eek::confused::confused::confused:

Can you tell more?

Berthier is the general in 1815 probably the Corsican worst mistake
Defenestrating him put Soult as Bonaparte's CoS at Waterloo

Duc D'Enghein in 1804 probably the most famous French Royalist lured to his death

Pichegru the most famous French Republican
though Boney also tried very hard to kill Moreau who was his greatest military rival in 1800
Of course many others were driven from France when Boney crowned himself emperor

Toussant L'Ouverture is only one of his prisoners who conveniently "died in their cells"

at least one one British RN POW was threatened with a trial for piracy
and then murdered when that prospect became too embarrassing
(IIRC Commander Wright of the Vincejo in 1804)

thats the basis for one of CS Foresters Hornblower stories
 
Oh my God !

I never thought I would one say read such caricatural anti-Nappy propaganda on this forum.

The best historians specialist in Napoleon's History have definitely demonstrated that Napoleon was really in love with Josephine. There are plenty of private letters that demonstrate It without the slightest doubt.

So let's say he and Josephine have a son by late 1796 or early 1797, a healthy and reasonably intelligent son.

The point is : is this going to change some of his father's key decisions ?

Not sure bug it may. Nappy may take less risks. The wars were forced on him untill 1807. But after It was him who invaded Spain. It would be interesting if, after Tilsitt, with a 10 years old son, he really cared about stabilizing the situation and making peace with Britain.
 
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