WI: Napoleon general in India

[Alcsentre Calanice]

Recently, I read the plan of a French expedition in India Napoleon presented during his exile on Saint Helena:

I send 16 000 soldiers, all on ships of the line, every Seventy-fours carries 500 men, meaning that you would need 32 vessels. They take water for four months with them, they can renew it at Mauritius or in another region of Africa, Brazil or the Indian Ocean; if needed, water is conquered everywhere the army lands. Once the fleet arrives on the spot, the troops disembark and the vessels leave immediately - they stock up their crews using the sailors of seven or eight ships destroyed by the ravages of time. Thus, an English squadron coming from Europe would find nothing.

The army, abandoned to itself, under a reliable and capable commander, repeats the known prodigies and Europe hears of the conquest of India as it heard of the capture of Egypt.

(Forgive the bad translation, didn't found the English version of the source).

So what if Napoleon, instead of seizung power in France, organized an Indian expedition and lead it?

 

[DAv]

Around this time, French influence in India was rapidly collapsing. Sending off troops in ships that would have neutered the French navy further, getting destroyed and bombarded by the RN along the way, to easily hostile ports would have done more damage than good to say the least.

 

[Alcsentre Calanice]

Any other thoughts?

 

[darthfanta]

Recently, I read the plan of a French expedition in India Napoleon presented during his exile on Saint Helena:



(Forgive the bad translation, didn't found the English version of the source).

So what if Napoleon, instead of seizung power in France, organized an Indian expedition and lead it?

Like always,Napoleon's plans involving navies are utterly ridiculous.

 

[TransUral Empire]

I don't think we could see him invading India as France.

HOWEVER,

Napoleon's father (Carlo) was put into an odd situation several weeks previous to Napoleon's birth. The Corsican Republic was being invaded by the French and Paoli, the leader of the Republic (and boss of Carlo) was going to lose to the French and had to go into exile in Britain. IOTL Carlo decided to stay in Corsica and work with the French, setting Napoleon on his famous path to glory.

If Carlo goes into exile with Paoli then you could see Napoleon end up as a Brit. If he takes the same or a similar path, you could have Napoleon going to war to subjugate India for the British.

 

[zeppelinair]

Assuming the ASBs are with him and he somehow lands 16,000 soldiers on India, how will he fare in terms of conquering lands? Will he become the next Alexander or will he lose quickly?