WI/Plausibility Check: Napoleon Unites Italy

In OTL, Napoleon was born in Corsica a year after it was transferred from the Republic of Genoa to France. If this transfer never happens, Napoleon remains a Genoese citizen. Assuming he pursues a military education as ITTL, his military genius will probably still become apparent. However, rather than ravaging Europe as he did ITTL, is it possible that this Genoese Napoleone di Buonaparte might utilize his military and diplomatic cunning to try and unite Italy? And how successful might he be in such a venture?
 

Jlinker613

Banned
Considering Napoleon's charisma, he could probably garner supporters as his army marched through the Peninsula. Assuming Genoa never loses Corsica:

-He could move north and take Milan along with the rest of continental Sardinia. Assuming he leaves the place structurally and bureaucratically intact, he would have access to all the wealth Milan had access to.
-He would later take Sardinia. Controlling Corsica and the Kingdom of Sardinia would leave all of the west Italian coast vulnerable.
-He could also hire mercenaries (most likely Italian speaking Swiss) using funds from the Kingdom of Sardinia. If he incorporated the Kingdom of Sardinia's military with that of Corsica and included the mercenaries and foreign supporters, he could hypothetically use his own strategic wit to successfully launch an Italian campaign.
 

Jlinker613

Banned
Well I suppose he could garner support from a non-Catholic ally with a general dislike of France, Spain, and/or Austria. I'd think Prussia, Britain, Turkey, or Russia.
 
Considering 'Italy' at the time was a collection of petty states and kingdoms I'm not sure even united it could stand up to Hapsburg Austria, Spain, or France.

With that being said I've always wondered about the possibility of an Italian Revolution/Unification as opposed to the French one.
 

Delvestius

Banned
Y'know, if Napoleon truly had the will to, I feel like he could of United Italy, at least until after the wars. Milan and the Austrians in Venice were his only true obstacle, iffin you don't count the annoying, sparsely developed length of Naples. With Piedmont/Milan/Tuscany/Rome united, and the empty station of Naples forced to bend, he could of well done it. He predicted it in his Memoirs post-war, at any rate.

The question is, could he of spared enough men from his fronts against Prussia and Austria to succeed in such a campaign. I don't think it would of taken that many men, but enough to make a difference in the east.
 

Jlinker613

Banned
considering he'd be unifying Italy much earlier, Nice and Savoy would still be part of Italy right? So what do you think Napoleon's Italian Empire would go for once he unified the peninsula?

- Spain was already starting to fall apart by this time (I think, might need to double check that) so the Balearics might be easy pickings. Ceuta and Melilla might also be good choices for expansion.
-Malta and the various islands in the Strait of Sicily would also be logical points of expansion.
-Dalmatia would also be vulnerable, as the mountains would prevent Ottoman forces from marching overland very easily, though that wouldn't stop them from taking a boat there. If Napoleon could take Albania as well that would change things though, as it would be difficult for the Ottomans to defend the Albanian coast for the same reasons.
-Corfu and the Ionian Islands would be difficult to take, but would be a good idea to take them.
-Tunis and Tripolitania would also be logical places to expand to. Tunis + Sicily + Malta = One dominant choke point
 

Spengler

Banned
So hows this lowly corsican captain who serves in France going to unite Italy? Whose going to be fighting for him? How is he going to be able to raise an army? Why aren't France, and Austria doing anything?:
 
Top