WI Juarez Accepts Maximilian's Offer to Be Prime Minister

I know this is highly improbable given that Juarez was the duly elected President of Mexico. At any rate, I had an idea where Carlotta dies en route to Mexico and Maximilian decides to marry a Mexican noblewoman in order to try to win over the Mexican people. Maximilian makes his same offer to Juarez to be his Prime Minister and have a liberal Mexican Empire. But, this time, Juarez decides to accept Maximilian's offer and be his Prime Minister. How do you see this playing out and can you think of any potential Mexican brides for Maximilian?
 
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Juarez decides to accept Maximilian's offer and be his Prime Minister on the condition that Maximilian be a figurehead monarch

So many levels of nope, Maxi boy despite being a liberal minded ruler wasn't going to hand over all of his royal powers to the point of being relegated to a powerless figurehead. The phrase for Maximilian that summed him up perfectly as Emperor, was "too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals" So yeah two cents right there.
 
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So many levels of nope, Maxi boy despite being a liberal minded ruler wasn't going to hand over all of his royal powers to the point of being relegated to a powerless figurehead. The phrase for Maximilian that summed him up perfectly as Emperor, was "too liberal for the conservatives and too conservative for the liberals" So yeah two cents right there.

Well then I removed that. At any rate, Juarez still accepts the offer to be PM.
 
Mexican finances are going to be brutal because of how much money Max was giving the French, but peace would definitely help accelerate economic growth in Mexico.

Maximilian acknowledged the plight of the Mexican Indians in the interior so between himself and Juarez they can probably push for land reform and help a lot of Mexican peasants.

Or you might end up with a conservative rebellion against what is perceived as a liberal throne.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
It's interesting, which is certainly why Max made the offer, but:

I know this is highly improbable given that Juarez was the duly elected President of Mexico. At any rate, I had an idea where Carlotta dies en route to Mexico and Maximilian decides to marry a Mexican noblewoman in order to try to win over the Mexican people. Maximilian makes his same offer to Juarez to be his Prime Minister and have a liberal Mexican Empire. But, this time, Juarez decides to accept Maximilian's offer and be his Prime Minister. How do you see this playing out and can you think of any potential Mexican brides for Maximilian?

It's interesting, which is certainly why Max made the offer, but between 1857-60 the Mexican Liberals and Mexican Conservatives fought a civil war that was the bloodiest in the country's history as an independent nation to that point; the Liberals won, which is why Juarez was the first legitimately elected civilian president in the country's history.

Then, a year later (1861), the Conservatives come back after intriguing with the French, and there's another bloody war.

Then, Max is offered the throne by the Conservatives, propped up by French bayonets, and Max comes ashore in 1864.

It requires a Liberal cause, and a Liberal leader, who is neither of those things to even come close; the equivalent would be if Lincoln survives the Civil War, which ends in a US victory over the rebels in 1865, and then in 1866 the British attack with a foreign prince as the figurehead and offer Lincoln the premiership.

It's lunacy, basically.

Juarez was, very much, Mexico's Lincoln; he's not going to turn traitor in what is obviously a temporary occupation.

Best,
 
Big hypothetical since Juarez was absolutely opposed to the monarchy, but for the sake of it we shall roll with it.

This would end the civil war since Juarez was the face of the government and banner behind which the anti-monarchists rallied. If he accepts the monarchy then potentially some groups split off to continue the fight, but the largest and most well equipped of the Liberal faction would lay down their arms (though you can just bet Diaz will be looking for an opportunity to take power).

Now as PM for Max he might not do too bad a job since he commands the respect of the liberals, and he would probably have a moderating effect on the conservative elements in the government. However, there will be friction out the wazoo with Max's initial conservative supporters feeling chagrined at having to rub shoulders with the "rebel" liberals who are johnny-come-latelys to the Imperial cause. This means gridlock in government I would imagine until Max manages to sort through who a) flatters him enough and b) those he deems trustworthy.

Worryingly this means that while the liberals might hold most of the political power the conservatives would probably hold most of the military power.

While Max might hold on to power until he dies, I imagine the whole structure would come undone when whoever would be arranged to succeed him goes to get the throne.
 
Everything depends whether Juarez's defection causes the Mexicans to consent to Maximilian, or if doing so destroys Juarez's credibility - in which case a new leader will need to emerge to fight the French.

Even if the movement splits, I feel they will win the war provided it continues until the American Civil War ends because at that point the threat of US intervention looms. Only if the French completely win and Mexico is pacified will Maximilian remain.
 
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