WI: The French Revolution

I think to three PODs:
> 1789: The Marquis of Launay, an inompetent man, had ordered the abandon of the courtyard and the withdrawal of guns from the walls of the Bastille. If we replace Launay by someone less timorous, the Revolution could be nipped in the bud. I've thought to this POD by reading an article about Launay. The occasion of a replacement of Launay could be around the birth of Madame Royale in 1778 or 1779.
> 1791: The difference between the failure and the success of the Flight to Varennes can be summarized to 1 hour.
This hour, it's the time between the departure from Pont-de-Somme-Vesle of 40 Hussars under the Duke of Choiseul which were to escort the King, and the arrival of Louis XVI at the same place.
If the Duke had chosen to wait an other hour, Louis XVI with his escort would have been able to put himself under the protection of the troops of the Marquis of Bouillé at Montmédy. From here, he would have negociated a new constitution according to his views of the parliamentary system.
> 1795: A broken axle, it's what has made Napoleon the man that History knows. General Dumas had been called to supress a royalist uprising, but a broken axle delayed his arrival to Paris, leaving the command of the repression to General Buonaparte.
If Dumas wasn't arrived in late and had taken the command, Napoleon would have simply departed for the Ottoman Empire.
 
I think to three PODs:
> 1789: The Marquis of Launay, an inompetent man, had ordered the abandon of the courtyard and the withdrawal of guns from the walls of the Bastille. If we replace Launay by someone less timorous, the Revolution could be nipped in the bud. I've thought to this POD by reading an article about Launay. The occasion of a replacement of Launay could be around the birth of Madame Royale in 1778 or 1779.

No. The bastille was just a small event in all the events that led to the revolution. A lot of the members of the mob that assembled at the Bastille were member of the military. When the Gardes Françaises came with 5 canons, it's over, even with another leader.

> 1791: The difference between the failure and the success of the Flight to Varennes can be summarized to 1 hour.
This hour, it's the time between the departure from Pont-de-Somme-Vesle of 40 Hussars under the Duke of Choiseul which were to escort the King, and the arrival of Louis XVI at the same place.
If the Duke had chosen to wait an other hour, Louis XVI with his escort would have been able to put himself under the protection of the troops of the Marquis of Bouillé at Montmédy. From here, he would have negociated a new constitution according to his views of the parliamentary system.

No. The Parliament will just continue as if nothing happen. The King would be considered a traitor by the Parisians, and that's all that matter at first. And he wouldn't have negociated a new constitution. He would have asked to be given his absolute powers back. And the parliament will refuse calling him a traitor. And he would be crush in battle against an army sent against him, and then, he would either flee outside France or be captured.

> 1795: A broken axle, it's what has made Napoleon the man that History knows. General Dumas had been called to supress a royalist uprising, but a broken axle delayed his arrival to Paris, leaving the command of the repression to General Buonaparte.
If Dumas wasn't arrived in late and had taken the command, Napoleon would have simply departed for the Ottoman Empire.

No he wouldn't have departed i think (although it is an interesting possibility), but he would be as powerful as he was after the event. And it would be good for France i think.
 
the problem is that the french revolution wasn't just due to a single event. Even if you somehow prevent some of the famous bits, you're still left with things such as high taxation, absolutist power, food scarcity in some regions, etc... In one word, unless you completely reform France, you would still have the angry mob and a clueless despot.
 
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