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The Son of the Emperor
Prince Imperial
An Alternative History Affair


Chapter 8: The Duke of Versailles
A Taste of Fame



On January 12th, after a day of deliberation the National Assembly approved a declaration of war that Emperor Napoleon II had earlier stated existed between France and Britain. Orders had barely been issued to the three main fleets of the French state; with the Atlantic Fleet (out of Brest) with 20 frigates and 15 ships of the line sailed for the Channel in hopes of trapping British vessels before they could be deployed. The Mediterranean Fleet set sail towards Brest; while the Tangier’s Fleet secured the Strait of Gibraltar, effectively securing France’s southern border from any possible naval excursion. Britain’s fleet numerically superior to the French fleet; however its responsibilities were far greater than France’s; thus France could count on a limited superiority, until Britain could consolidate its forces.

Joining Britain in a coalition against France’s “aggression” was Belgium which feared annexation; the Netherlands shared the fears of Belgium – both countries still had memories of the Napoleonic annexations of nearly three decades before. Hannover, which still felt honor bound to England joined the coalition, though her objectives were unclear. A sigh of relief overcame the military leaders and Napoleon II when Prussia would remain neutral in the conflict between the coalition and France. Though Prussia was not involved in the war, her flirtation with the Eighth Coalition would not be tolerated.

On February 2nd, off the Dodger Bank , two unlucky British frigates encountered the main French fleet. In what would probably be noted as “most wise decision in the regards to human life”, the British captains surrendered without a shot being fired. Though whatever momentum the British sought to build was quickly reversed as their fleet was trapped within its harbors. This realization would come to frustration of British government on quite later within the coming months. Fears of invasion were rife.


France would begin its invasion of Belgium in early February. The invasion would quickly achieve success as on February 8th the Belgian army, some 45,000 strong would attempt to relieve the siege of Namur. The Battle of Namur showed the superiority of the French, not just in numbers but with tactics, technology and leadership. With 52,650 men, General Hubert Exelmans would masterly deal with the Belgians, inflicting 18,531 losses, including several cannons; however Exelman’s losses were high also at 7,710.

The battle of Brussels quickly followed the Battle of Namur. This battle would be the first of the war for the Imperial Guards led by a General Jacques Foch. Foch had been dispatched along with the Guard to follow the Belgian Army and encounter it at its earliest possible chance. That chance, known as the Battle of Brussels came on February 22nd. Although outnumbered 26.469 (Belgians) to 25,337 (French), Foch pulled off a masterful victory. For the cost of 2,671 men, the Guard had further obliterated the enemy by inflicting 12,916 causalities and further capturing more artillery.



 
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Maybe Charles-Louis Napoleon, the erstwhile finance minister should be Ludewick III of Holland? ;)

On a gameplay note, I have to say bravo for daring to take on Britain! Is an invasion likely?
 
The terms offered should be modest. No need to refuel the fears of Napoleon I reborn more than necessary.
 
Terms modest? Perhaps!

An invasion may be likely, it is possible =)
 
Divide Belgium between the Netherlands and France, secure the Netherlands as a valuable ally that would be the best option right now...otherwise you have two rebelling nations in your backyard while Prussia and GB keep knocking on French doors....

Tim
 
The Son of the Emperor
Prince Imperial
An Alternative History Affair


Chapter 8: The Duke of Versailles
780 Years in the Making​



On the morning of March 4th, 1846 the townspeople of Plymouth were awoken by a thunderous bombardment from the sea. The mayor thought the bombardment was just mere distraction; however a observant male at the lighthouse noticed that the French fleet was a lot larger than before. The fleet was in fact larger; enough ships had been called in to help ferry in 30,000 soldiers for the beginning invasion of England. A second corps of another 30,000 was preparing to embark on boats, and within a matter of nearly two weeks would be ashore at Plymouth.

Though before the British invasion would become to bear any fruit on the bearing of the war; the Imperial Guard lead by Foch would further decimate the Belgian army at the Battle of Liege on March 9th. The Guard walked onto the field numbering 21,559 against the Belgians who had 13,553. Liege would prove to be the end of the Belgian army as a fighting force, as it would suffer 5,654 causalities to France’s 1,617. Foch’s status would be further elevated throughout the nation.


Back in Paris, negotiations were under way to secure a peace settlement with the nation of Belgium. King Leopold I promised that Belgium would switch its allegiance towards France if she could keep her territory intact; however the distrust of these promises was widespread throughout the court of Napoleon II. Even though the two nations had shared great relations earlier, it quickly soured when Belgium fell into the league of the British. What was to prevent a reoccurrence from such diplomacy as before? Annexation was the answer. Belgium would have to be punished, and the acquisition of southern Belgium plus Luxemburg would serve the purposes of the French state. On May 21st, 1846, the Treaty of Brussels was signed, ending the Franco-Belgian war. Britain, along with its remaining allies of Hanover and the Netherlands would fight on.

Returning to matters of the British, the invasion of southern England was proving to be a masterful adventure. Alarm had reached London that French troops had actually landed, and a large army was amassed to meet for battle. However Britain was incapable of mustering a large standing army to push the two corps that had already landed. On April 14th, the battle of Plymouth – the first on British soil since the Norman Conquest of 1066 would witness 30,000 soldiers of a General James Hamilton against 55,743 soldiers of France.


The outcome of the battle would prove the incompetency that ruled Britain for many years. After hardly a days fighting 10,644 British soldiers lay dead, captured, missing or wounded. The loss of French soldiers was negligible as mere 823 soldiers had been loss. For every soldier France lost, Britain had loss close to 13 soldiers. To add insult to injury, the Royal Navy did not rule the seas; she was still shut from the seas in her harbors. News did reach Paris that London had attempted to call upon additional nations to take up the cause against France; however once news of the disaster at Plymouth was known through-out Europe, Britain’s ambassadors were the laughing stock of the dinner parties.



France's annexation of southern Belgium & Luxembourg.​


 
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Poor Belgium! Getting chopped in half only for picking the wrong side... :(

You'll have to excuse my sympathies for one of my many ancestor's fatherlands :p Keep on the good fight against the British!
 
For the British, that was an embarrassment. So are you going to divvy up the Southern Netherlands between France and a future Kingdom of Holland?

I'll see if a Kingdom of Holland comes around =)
 
Awesome! The Battle of Plymouth was a great debacle for the British!

What will your goals be? If you release Scotland or Ireland, they could make great invasion staging-grounds in future.
 
Awesome! The Battle of Plymouth was a great debacle for the British!

What will your goals be? If you release Scotland or Ireland, they could make great invasion staging-grounds in future.

I would personally like to see the liberation of Scotland and Ireland, although I get the vague feeling that such won't actually happen. :(
 
My War Goals are:

Primary:
Secure British Guyana
Secure Dutch Guyana
Secure British Caribbean Islands
Demand Ceylon

Secondary:
Free Ireland
Free Scotland
 
My War Goals are:

Primary:
Secure British Guyana
Secure Dutch Guyana
Secure British Caribbean Islands
Demand Ceylon

Secondary:
Free Ireland
Free Scotland

Ambitious! Personally I'd go for Ceylon first, because of its high population. Good luck! Rule Francia, Francia Rules the Waves!! :D
 
So, now Netherlands will annex the rest of Belgium?
 
My War Goals are:

Primary:
Secure British Guyana
Secure Dutch Guyana
Secure British Caribbean Islands
Demand Ceylon

Secondary:
Free Ireland
Free Scotland

Ambitious, setting up to take the Guianas and Britain's Caribbean possessions. It was always Nappy's goal to cut the mainland off from the Indian subcontinent, and taking Ceylon Island may set you up for achieving that goal. If you manage to get just one of the Secondary's then Free the Irish...then the Scottish if you have to go again.
 
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The Son of the Emperor
Prince Imperial
An Alternative History Affair


Chapter 8: The Duke of Versailles
A Duke is Born​



The economy of the French Empire was just beginning to show strain from war. Vital resources such as timber mostly gathered from French Guyana where in short supply. Without this timber the navy that was blockading the British ports in the Channel would soon need to be withdrawn for fears of losing warships. Several of the ships currently patrolling the waters were in desperate need of repairs, and were withdrawn, but the shortage of resources available severely hampered an estimate for a return of the warships to active service.

With Britain unwilling to negotiate, they apparently thought that the now 100,000 strong French army could be repulsed back into the sea; France would have to divert desperately needed resources to handle Britain’s allies. On June 10th, a fleet arrived off the shores of Hannover at the Helgoland Bight and began disembarking, and landed on the shore without opposition. The citizens acted surprised; perhaps Britain had lied to its allies and assured them France was no match for the Royal Navy? Whatever the promises delivered to Hannover, she would now begin feeling the weight of two corps numbering just under 60,000 soldiers. Her army of nearly one third the size of the French would eventually be forced to battle.

Turning towards the Netherlands, word had been sent from the Dutch informants who sought a better life under the rule of a member of the House of Bonaparte that an army was marching towards the French border. The Dutch army, commanded by a General John Lucas numbered close to 32,000 soldiers, a large army compared to what France was capable of sending to the border. Most of the army had been sent overseas, with only a few thousand soldiers remaining within France. Word was quickly sent to Joseph de Bourbon, commander of a 36,000 strong cavalry force stationed in southern France to make haste for Alsace-Lorraine.


With great luck and determination the cavalry arrived in Alsace-Lorraine and headed towards Spa, where word stated the Dutch were headed to. Unbeknowst to Dutch, France was now prepared to face battle. On August 23rd, 1846, the Battle of Spa would commence and prove to be the ending of the threat from Amsterdam. In the battle, the Dutch forced would lose 17,643 soldiers compared to Bourbon’s loss of 7,074. Bourbon had explicit orders from Emperor Napoleon II not to advance towards Dutch lands, which were followed though to great frustration of the general who sought additional glory like a colleague.

That colleague was Jacques Foch of the Imperial Guard; which had been dispatched to England to showcase the best of the best within the French army. On August 26th, Foch would have his first taste of British blood as Britain was forced to battle at Brighton. The British commander James Hamilton (of Battle of Plymouth fame) had been tricked into believing the Imperial Guards only marched with about 24,000 soldiers when infact the numbers were closer to nearly double. What pursued was another disaster for the British army; over ten thousand soldiers were lost along with a few artillery pieces while French loses were a meager 1,262.


For his efforts in the war and to the French nation, Emperor Napoleon II awarded Jacques Foch a promotion to marshal. Amongst the press of the nation, Jacques Foch was dubbed “favorite marshal”; the “first marshal”. Some press went as far as honorary awarding Marshal Foch with the title “the Duke of Versailles”; though no such official recognition was granted by the state except for the promotion to marshal. Even with the shortage of resources showing the strain on the economy, as what available resources were being redistributed to the war effort, public opinion of the war high.


 
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