WI: Empress Josephine had children with Napoleon

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.

But are there good reasons to believe Josephine loved him? I always had the impression that the love was rather one-sided.
 
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.

But why would he need to divorce her if she had given him an heir?
 
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.

This is a good point. The Austrians were willing to give Napoleon a deal after Leipzig because of Marie Louise and her son (he refused), they were also the only ones willing to have a regency for Napoleon II. Even during the Hundred Days, Napoleon was willing to like to France (which he did till the end) saying that Austria was on his side for the King of Rome's sake and Marie Louise was coming at any time. With no Austrian alliance he can't do that.

If Bonaparte's heir is just some jumped up heir of lower nobility along the lines of the Murats and Joseph's daughters its hard to see anyone willing to fight for his family's right to anything (in fact it is much more likely the allies would be even more harsh on the family). Outside of Napoleon's allies (Saxony and Bavaria, Polish noblilty) it's hard to see any traditional royal house marrying his son - especially if said son is still a child when Napoleon is toppled (which is almost a certainty if certain things - like Spain and Russia - turn out the same).

And while it's almost a certainty that Napoleon III (who was actually a good politician and manipulator even not the military genius his uncle was) would not rise to power if a legitimate Napoleon II was still living and not an Austrian, who knows if the kid will turn out to be as likeable and capable as Eugene, just because he is Josephine's kid.
 
No love on either side

But are there good reasons to believe Josephine loved him? I always had the impression that the love was rather one-sided.

Plenty of LUST on Boneys part ...
early in their affair he penned a letter one morning exclaiming on "the delights of last night"
but years later when challenged on his repeated infidelities to his WIFE he replied simply
"Power is my only love"

not even LUST on the Empresses side
even her most partisan biographer had to admit "she chose her lovers with her head not her heart"
(and given her situation who could blame her)

Certainly once safely Emperors consort she was probably faithful
but that was simple common caution not affection
 
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he might need to get rid of her for the same reason as OTL .. Politics

But why would he need to divorce her if she had given him an heir?

An heir would make little change to the wars
in fact an heir would only make his enemies more determined to finish Boney

so around 1808/1809 as in OTL he might try to ally with one of the continental powers
(rather than just keep knocking them down)

so a dynastic marriage would be attractive in ATL as well
& that means discarding Josephine as OTL


and I wrote he would need to murder her precisely because he could NOT divorce her
 
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Well assuming everything else goes as OT. Lets say Napoleon II is born in 1800.

Josephine and this Napoleon II join Boney in exile in Elba. After the 100 days they may be seperated with Boney going to St Helena and Nap II being under house arrest in London. After Boney dies ... its anyone's guess. he'll probably be released at some point in the 1820s . I dont think the English will be quite as harsh as the Hapsburgs.

He may end up marrying some minor English nobility or a wealthy American's daughter since the Europeans will be staying far away from him.

He may very well find himself drafted to contest the 1848 French election with his cousin Louis Napoleon as his major adviser.
 
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