WI Napoleon Sacks Bernadotte After Jena-Auerstedt?

Anaxagoras

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In the Jena-Auerstedt Campaign of 1806, Marshal Bernadotte fought in a manner which certainly gives the impression that he was hoping his fellow Napoleonic marshals would be defeated. Although in earshot of the fighting at both Jena and Auerstedt, he refused to move his corps. Napoleon considered removing him from command on the spot, and was probably only deterred by the fact that he was married to Napoleon's former flame, Desiree Clary.

What if Napoleon had not weighed emotional matters so strongly and had gone ahead and removed Bernadotte, sending him home in disgrace? Considering the remarkable career Bernadotte went on to achieve, such a measure would have significant impact.
 

yourworstnightmare

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Donor
Well, if Bernadotte was sacked, the British would not consider him a good candidate for the Swedish throne. The Swedes would still need a heir, and the British would still look for a French general uncomfortable in his current position to snatch away. Many butterflies...
 
Well, if Bernadotte was sacked, the British would not consider him a good candidate for the Swedish throne. The Swedes would still need a heir, and the British would still look for a French general uncomfortable in his current position to snatch away. Many butterflies...

On the other hand, the Swedes could end up reconciling the two branches of the Vasa family, and Karl could adopt the young Prince Gustav (b 1799)

One assumes the overthrown King Gustav would have fought against this, but later on he might have seen it as a way for his son to get the throne he was tossed off

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
It is possible that it butterflies away the Danish Army (with Spanish contignents) that he commanded 1808 - neither the Danes not the Spaniards (especially the Spaniards) were especially happy being under French command and the Spaniards melted away in desertions. With a less competent administrator, this might happen earlier.

This could butterfly away the Swedish fear of a Danish invasion and thus provide a lot more troops against the Russians in Finland.

If you add that Sveaborg holds instead of being treasonously surrendered and the planned British expeditionary corps of 10 000 men arriving (that was planned, but the Swedes lost too fast), along with naval support and suddenly the Russians are in for a world of hurt. A victorious war, in which Sweden perhaps gets back the 1721 border, or even can add Viborg to that, would most certainly butterfly away the coup against Gustav IV Adolf. Despite the intense propaganda the coupers spread about him, he was a veyr able administrator, at least in civilian matters, the legal shift of land laws he made accounted for a sharp increase in agricultural production, among other things.

Edit: Also, Napoleon will have a hard time intervening, since he'll be busy with the Austrian revolt and the ongoing war in Spain. Maybe we get Sharpe fighting with Finnish Jägers in the forests of Finland instead of in Portugal and Spain. ;)
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
Depend on who is leading the Danish army in 1808 instead of Bernadotte. Wh says it would be a less competent person??

I doubt the Swedes would be able to expand in East Finland even with a larger army in the war of 1808-09, but it's possible they can force the Russians to a status quo. I am not sure this would affect the betrayal of Sveaborg at all, but if the Swedes manage to hold Finland, Gustav IV Adolf migth survive a little longer (might, he had too many enemies).
 
Everyone hating him is really a lot due to the extreme propaganda against him from the plotters after the coup - while a bit out of sync with his times, being very religious and believing the "King by God's mandate" absolutist stuff, he was not really that bad nor hated.

The Russians were in a dire situation several times during their Finnish campaign. if the threat from the south melts away faster (which I think it would, commanding Danish and Spanish troops was not a high-priority position, it would nopt be given to any of the more superb French generals or marshals), Sveaborg could perhaps be reinforced, or at least the Army in Finland responsible for delaying the Russians until reinforcements could be sent.

I have read that part of the reason Cronstedt decided to durrender was that he was sent to Sveaborg as a punishment as he was out of favour - it was seen at the time as a position away from the real decisive battles - the King valued the Swedish-speaking parts of Sweden much higher and saw the threat from Denmark and Norway as more of an emergency - which is logical, as the Russians were expected to be unable to get past Sveaborg, and in spring the archipelago fleet would wreac havoc upon the Russian coastal shipping, instead of being captured and used the other way around. If focus was more on the east due to the Spanish force melting away, Cronstedt would probably be replaced and put in a position where he could do less harm.

If Sveaborg does not surrender, the British will probably deliver 10 000 men as promised, and big naval support. The Russian navy was about at parity with the Swedish, and the Danish one Nelson dealt with earlier so with British support, the Russians will stand little chance at sea.

on the alnd front, the Russians had serious problems supplying their troops, and part of them melted away, the spring was very harsh 1808 (the ice did not melt outside Sveaborg until mid-May).

Perhaps you are right that Viborg is out of the question, even if Sveaborg is held, but the 1721 border should be possible, methinks. This would make Gustav IV Adolf victorious and silence the nobility that did not like him and the defeatist noble officers' corps. Being on the victorious side in the Napoleonic wars from the beginning could probably net Sweden some land somewhere - perhaps all of Norway, as historical, while keeping Finland, and some prestige for the King.

The crown prince would live to become an Austrian general of some importance, it would be interesting to see if he had urged a Swedish entrance (from a more powerful position) into the Crimean war.
 
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