WI: Francis II dies in 1806 with the HRE intact

The title really says it all. Suppose Francis II stubs his toe on a doorway and dies an agonising death and never gets to dissolve the Empire.

The electors at this time are now Karl Theodor, Prince of Regensburg, formerly Archbishop of Mainz, Emperor Ferdinand of Austria as King-Elector of Bohemia, Maximilian I as King of Bavaria, Frederick Augustus III as King-Elector of Saxony, Frederick William III of Prussia as Elector of Brandenburg, Frederick I as Prince-elector of Württemberg, Charles Frederick of Baden, and William I of Hesse ... also George III of the United Kingdom as Prince-elector of Hannover.

I assume it's a truism that with this set-up, Napoleon can get whatever he wants. Would he want to become dual emperor of Rome and France and continue playing on the Charlemagne image? Would George III even be allowed to vote in absentia?
 
Fascinating PoD.

Regarding the electors: AFAICT, the electorate of Salzburg has ended in 1805 and was not conferred to Würzburg, even if its holder, Ferdinand formerly of Tuscany, was. But I might be wrong, since this electorate had never a practical role in OTL, not much is written about it.

Since Napoleon was able to convince four of the electors (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, Regensburg) to leave the HR outright in OTL 1806, we can assume that they would have voted for him as HREmperor.

Since Brandenburg, Saxony, Hanover and Hesse did not enter the Rheinbund at its foundation (and BB and SX even fought against France later that year), they would probably not have supported the election of napoleon, and Bohemia wouldn't as well.

So getting the votes of Brandenburg, Saxony and Hesse might require a war or at least a threat of war.

I cannot see anyone except himself Napoleon would trust with the HR imperial title. Technically, Murat as Duke of Berg and Cleves would be eligible, but I have my doubts.
In early 1806, there was talk between Paris and Berlin of a "Northern German" imperial title for Prussia as counter for the new Austrian one, but Friedrich Wilhelm III. as HREmperor? Very, very, unlikely.

So I agree, it is highly probable that at the end of 1806 Napoleon will be Roman Emperor. Even if he has to beat Saxony, Hesse and Brandenburg-Prussia into accepting his claim. This TL might actually see no Kdm of Westphalia, but a continued Hesse-Cassel and Jerome as Grand Duke-Elector of Brunswick-Lunenburg.
 
A second post for another topic:
What will happen in and with Austria?
The undisputed heir of Francis I. as hereditary Emperor of Austria is his eldest son Ferdinand, aged 12. He suffered from epilepsy, hydrocephalus and rickets, a weak constitution and servere development retardation. The other sons, Franz Karl and Johann Nepomuk, are three years and not quite a year old in early 1806. But they exist, so declaring Ferdinand medically unfit to rule would change not much - simply replacing a weak-minded teenager with a toddler.
The legal regent would be Francis oldest surviving brother, Ferdinand of Tuscany-then-Salzburg-now-Würzburg. I found him characterized as artistic, but passive, weak-willed and very unwilling to make any decisisons.

Which sounds like a perfect storm for Austria.

The next in line would be Francis' younger brother Archduke Karl/Charles of Teschen, the victor of Aspern, one of the most respected commanders of the Napoleonic Wars. I can see an conspiracy in Vienna to remove Ferdinand (the elder) from the regency for young Emperor Ferdinand and replace him with Karl, who would be much less likely to cave in to French demands. This might lead to this TL's version of the War of the Fifth Coalition, with Napoleon claiming to support Ferdinand's rights. After a French victory, Napoleon as HR Emperor might even try to appoint a factual regent in Austria himself.

Interesting times.
 
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