The Son of the Emperor

[TekcoR]

Marrying to a prussian? I'm not sure of whether this will work or not, I keep thinking in OTL Alexandra of Russia (Nicky II's wike), don't ask me why...

Hehe. She won't be that much of a problem!

[Mr. Santiago]

Hehe. She won't be that much of a problem!

If you say so...

[TekcoR]

For those of you interested or didn't remember,

Today (July 22nd) is the anniversary of Napoleon II's death in our time line. 2011 is also the 200th anniversary of his birth.

[TekcoR]

The Son of the Emperor
Descendants of Alexander
An Alternative History Affair

Chapter 1: Eternal Alexander
Tradition

With the death of Eaglet Emperor on November 11th, the marriage of the Emperor-in-Waiting Philippe and Princess Louise of Prussia was thought to be in jeopardy. The leading newspapers throughout Paris and the country stated that the wedding would be postponed until the burial of the beloved Emperor. Unbeknownst at the time, though readily available was the decree issued December 2nd 1853 – the House of Bonaparte Succession Decree. Not only was the Emperor of the French to always be crowned on December 2nd; he was to be put into his final resting place on December 15th of that year or the following if he died after the aforementioned date.

To an outsider, the tradition would seem rather bizarre, but in the House of Bonaparte, tradition was the way of life. Tradition was to be respected. Tradition was to be followed. Tradition was to lead France. Thus, Emperor Napoleon II would be buried on December 15th, 1854 at Les Invalides. Thus with ample time before the sure to be elaborate ceremony, the marriage of Prince Philippe and Princess Louise could go on.

Otto von Bismarck - Leader of the Opposition to the Marriage of Princess Louise.

In Prussia, the House of Hohenzollern was beginning to fall apart. The newly coronated King Wilhelm I was facing a dire situation as the nobles and the military generals threatened to overthrow the monarch. The objective of the coup was to establish a state that could properly and effectively resist the further aggressions by the French Empire. Otto von Bismarck, who had become the voice of the opposition to strengthening relations with the Napoleonic regime, openly called for the ouster and overthrow of the House of Hohenzollern.

The Kingdom of Prussia was split into three camps. The Bismarckian camp called for the establishment of a military dictatorship; while the more center and left leaning group agreed with King Wilhelm’s decision to strengthen relations with France by the marriage of his daughter to Prince Philippe. The third camp called for the return of the Free State of Prussia. A crisis was on hand, and all it needed was a spark to ignite the whole situation.

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[Morrell8]

I hope French Military forces will be on hand to "aid" the rightful King of Prussia.

[Sakura_F]

This is required. Napoleon Bonaparte <3

[TekcoR]

Clearly a Napoleon won. However; only one can be the Emperor of the French and that is The House of Bonaparte.

[TekcoR]

The Son of the Emperor
Descendants of Alexander
An Alternative History Affair

Chapter 1: Eternal Alexander
Withdrawal

On the night of November 11th, 1854, as the Eaglet Emperor lay in his death bed, a situation was occurring within the Kingdom of Prussia. Through unofficial channels, members of Otto von Bismarck’s opposition had found out that the health of Emperor was abysmal. With such information available to him, Bismarck planned for an uprising against the French and House of Hohenzollern to take place on November 10th. However, due to unforeseen circumstances – a regiment of Imperial Guard soldiers were still at Berlin. Hastily the uprising was called off until the next night.

Thus as Napoleon II lay dying in Versailles, 544 miles away nearly ten thousand members of Bismarck’s opposition was beginning their uprising. Half of the regiment of Imperial Guard soldiers had left the Hohenzollern palace during the day, but secretly returned under the cover of darkness. Close to 10 pm in Berlin sentries spotted the torches approaching the royal palace, currently occupied by King Wilhelm I and his family – minus Princess Louise who had traveled ahead to Versailles days before.

French Guard Cavalry

The Imperial Guard quickly barricaded the magnificent entrance to the palace with available materials, including carriages and other elegant items. As the mob approached closer, three carriages were quickly being loaded with any significant possessions of the House of Hohenzollern. King Wilhelm I and his remaining family quickly fled the scene escorted by three hundred Imperial Guard Cavalry.

With the mob approaching, the Prussian troops who were assisting with the defense of the palace began to panic, with a few electing to flee. Unconcerned with the courage of the Prussians, the Imperial Guard stood their ground and prepared for a devastating volley. Though a volley was not to be unleashed; as the crowd heard that the King had fled the country and they choose to disperse.

On the next morning the Imperial Guard would withdraw from Berlin back to their staging ground around Halle, leaving the palace of the King vulnerable. As the night came, it would be brightened by the burning of the palace – though King Wilhelm I and the House of Hohenzollern was likely never to return – as they were by now on a special train from Halle to Paris.

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[Mr. Santiago]

I suppose this means the death of the Kingdom and the rise of a more belligerant State of Prussia, and they'll go to war with France at the very first chance they see, knowing Bismarck and his mob... That won't be a very smart decision...

[Treppe]

I want to point you to the following picture of
Napoleon II in 1841.

[TekcoR]

For those who have not seen, and to those who have:

Weekly AAR Showcase: The Son of the Emperor

[Nikolai]

For those who have not seen, and to those who have:

Weekly AAR Showcase: The Son of the Emperor

Hey! Congrats!

[TekcoR]

The Son of the Emperor
Descendants of Alexander
An Alternative History Affair

Chapter 1: Eternal Alexander
Marriage

The wedding on November 15th, 1854 was of spectacular importance – as it would further cement the legitimacy of the House of Bonaparte as the most powerful, and important members of European nobility. If the House of Bonaparte’s reign was in doubt, the armies of the Empire that stretched from the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, to the Spanish border and into India were willing to make a parade at any capital of a nation who thought otherwise. The Kaiser, along with the bride, Princess Louise arrived on the night of the 13th of November, under heavy guard. The Royal Family had been accompanied by 50 hand selected guards – in addition to a regiment of Imperial Guards personally assigned by Prince Philippe.

The wedding would occur with little fanfare outside of the French Empire and its allies who felt obligated to attend – otherwise the wrath of the Empire would be brought down upon them. From Italy, came King Jerome, who was beginning to feel the affects of his age. From Spain came Queen Isabella II, who sought to restore the relations between the two nations. Several prominent newspapers had accused Spanish border agents of turning a blind eye to British saboteurs crossing the border into France. From the ever loyal Portugal came Pedro V, who had recently been crowned in November of the previous year. Absent for obvious reasons were delegates from Austria, Russia and Britain which refused to acknowledge the inevitable French hegemony over Europe.

The wedding would take place without a hitch. Princess Louise was ceremoniously given a new title as Princess Louise of the French; which would terminate on December 2nd when her new husband would be crowned Emperor Napoleon III of the French. Though the coronation was several weeks away still, much work still had to be done. Most of the work that remained would be handled within the war councils that Crown Prince Philippe was leading. Paris’s most prominent paper had a “source” that stated the incoming Emperor would seek a new direction for the nation.

This “leak” or “source” would not be the only trouble for the soon-to-be-Emperor. Just eight days after the wedding, similar to his father, Prince Philippe was now subject to rampant speculation within the press that a heir would be born within nine or ten months from the date of the wedding. The administration refused to comment at this time, as it was deemed a private matter.

Go to: Prince Imperial - Table of Contents
Go to: Descendants of Alexander - Table of Contents

[TekcoR]

The Son of the Emperor
Descendants of Alexander
An Alternative History Affair

Chapter 2: Heart of the Enemy
I Am Not My Father

With the coronation having passed over a week ago, France was beginning to return to normalcy. Emperor Napoleon II had been buried in an elaborate ceremony next to his father at Les Invalides -- which was to have its dome plated in the finest gold. At Versailles, an elaborate plan had unfolded that would significantly increase the size of the French Army. The two years of constant war had stretched the professional army of the Empire thin – though far from a breaking point. Conscription, while law of the land had not lead to mobilization of the general population. Rather, on December 12th, 1854 a decree was announced seeking to increase the size of the Army by over 300,000 soldiers of all ranks.

In the winter months, veterans of the Army who had distinguished service throughout the wars were handpicked for a chance to become part of the Imperial Guard. Currently the Guard numbered close to 50,000 troops, with about 40,000 in winter quarters in Germania and 10,000 throughout Paris and Versailles. A separate guard army was to be created with orders to arrive at Brest before a departure date of January 17th, 1855. Their destination was not to be revealed until after the ships had set sail.

On February 4th, after a brief three day stay at Tangier, the detachment of 45,000 Imperial Guards along with 55,000 Army reinforcements departed into the Atlantic coast. Speculation had overwhelmed the newspapers within metropolitan France that the new Emperor had grown tired of the fighting in Europe and sought to expand France’s overseas dominion. The rumors and speculation were not entirely accurate or false. Within the war councils over the previous weeks, numerous scenarios were meticulously planned and weighed.

The first scenario involved an invasion of Russia – based around the design of Emperor Napoleon I’s invasion. A second, more realistic scenario called for the invasion of British – similar to previous conflict. The invasion of Britain would coincide with an invasion of Austria. The third, final option called for the departure of a hundred thousand troops to further challenge Britain’s grasp over India. However, none of the options would survive as planned – as they would be molded together.

In the final days of December 1854, a plan had been formulated that called for invasion of the Indian sub-continent and for a push towards Vienna. The push into Vienna was planned to begin in March of 1855 – after the recruits from the December 12th decree could be effectively trained and organized into a fighting force. The invasion of Britain’s crown jewel could not take place until at the earliest late April or early May 1855.

On March 1st, 1855, the most prominent newspaper within Paris ran an article stating that while France was still lead by a Bonaparte, she was using a different method to obtain the same objective. To summarize the article, the writer stated that Emperor Napoleon III while like his predecessors was not like them. The previous Bonapartes had focused almost solely on Europe – with a few minor exceptions. The current Bonaparte was to focus on France’s overseas empire.

Go to: Prince Imperial - Table of Contents
Go to: Descendants of Alexander - Table of Contents

[Viden]

Time to expand the colonial empire!

[Mr. Santiago]

Time to expand the colonial empire!

While reducing Britain's

[Danking]

While reducing Britain's

and anhilating Austria.

[Nikolai]

Either way, go, go, go Bonaparte!

[Papineau 37]

On March 1st, 1855, the most prominent newspaper within Paris ran an article stating that while France was still lead by a Bonaparte, she was using a different method to obtain the same objective. To summarize the article, the writer stated that Emperor Napoleon III while like his predecessors was not like them. The previous Bonapartes had focused almost solely on Europe – with a few minor exceptions. The current Bonaparte was to focus on France’s overseas empire.

Maybe Napoleon the Third will soon make a trip to the old french colony of New France?
May the Emperor save us of the british tyranny!

[NoMoreSanity]

My god, this AAR is amazing. Fantastic alternate history, excellent gameplay, and a rich narrative just makes me want to read more. This story is simply amazing, and you TekcoR are awesome for writing it. I lurk on the forums normally, but this is so good you deserve all the praise you can get. Can't wait for more.

P.S: As a side note, I was wondering where you got all the info and pictures on Napoleon II's early life? Wikipedia isn't offering much info or sources, and I wanted to learn more about his life myself, as I was planning on writing an alternate history work based on him. You've offered a simply amazing amount of info, and I'd just like to see some of this myself. Once again, thanks for the great AAR!