Napoleon's Europe
In 1815, the guns of Europe fell silent after a generation of new constant war. Much to the despair of the ancien regimes of Europe, the might of Napoleon, together with his Russian allies, proved insurmountable. Unable to close the blockade of Europe after the Battle of Trafalgar merely put the French fleet to flight, not destruction, the economies of Europe survived the British attempt to strangle the Continental system. Talleyrand similarly was isolated by Napoleon as his blatant corruption would prove too much for his once friend. Shut out from power, Talleyrand was not able to talk Tsar Alexander out of his support for the Despot of France. The final conflict, the War of the Sixth Coalition, saw two entire British armies captured in Europe alone as well as a third in the Americas against the upstart Americans, the Duke of Wellington captured in Spain by Napoleon, and Constantinople fell to a Franco-Russian army. Forces for peace forced the Pitt government of Britain to sue Napoleon for peace. For a decade after, Napoleon's Europe seemed unshakable and eternal, with his foes either cowed, or beaten into submission.
But this seemingly invincible foe, who had stared down the entirety of Europe and won, was not immortal. As the years passed, his health started to wane, his political and military instincts increasingly less sharp. Suddenly, in February 1821, the Emperor's health took a turn for the worse. By March, he was bedridden, with only his favored Marshals acting as his mouthpieces, and later, regents. As news of the great Emperor's illness spread, all of Europe held its breathe. Plots for independence were schemed, and even in France those long pushed in the shadows by the grandeur of Napoleon's victory saw a chance for the return of true liberty to France. In May, Napoleon would pass away in Paris of cancer, leaving his 10 year old son, Napoleon II, as Emperor of France. In truth, the military would quietly take over that very same day. As news of Napoleon's death spread, before a funeral had even been held, Europe erupted as all finally saw their chance to escape the French yoke.
The regime reacted poorly, and ordered an immediate new Levée En Masse to break this way of Revolution. No sooner had the conscription orders been released than the war weary streets of Paris joined the anti-Napoleonic revolts of Europe, rallied by the liberal noble; Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. Once darling of the original Revolution, cast aside by his slide to the side to Order, the Marquis de Lafayette took up arms once more in the name of liberty, believing himself the only one who the rest of Europe could possibly accept of the seemingly inevitably coming 2nd Republic. The June Days would lead to young Napoleon II ordering his troops to stand down, announcing his abdication and left the country. In the coming settlements, the old Napoleonic Empire would be withdrawn from. A new day of Liberty dawned in France, even as chaos reigned in the rest of Europe from the sudden withdrawal. Vive la République!
IntroductionWelcome to a slightly non-traditional Napoleonic Victory timeline, rendered in Victoria II: Heart of Darkness! I am using a self-modded version of the Historical Project Mod as the basis for this, creating a new time of a French held left bank of the Rhine, a Rhineland confederation, an east looking Prussia and more! More information about all the major players in the Timeline will be forthcoming, but in the meantime, for those curious for a Timeline I have provided a rough one. I also intend to provide some overviews of the newer or more changed countries if I have time. The general aim of this playthrough will be the defense of France's newfound holdings against allcomers, and more importantly - telling a story of Europe where otl it was the Age of Reaction, known for its long peace, it is a time of chaos, nationalism, and a Concert of Europe full of almost perfectly balanced players all equally wishing to kill each other (especially in Germany).
This is my 3rd AAR, but it has been over 3 years since my last pettered out. So may be rusty at first, but I hope I can entertain you with this story of mine! Prologue Coming soon!
In 1815, the guns of Europe fell silent after a generation of new constant war. Much to the despair of the ancien regimes of Europe, the might of Napoleon, together with his Russian allies, proved insurmountable. Unable to close the blockade of Europe after the Battle of Trafalgar merely put the French fleet to flight, not destruction, the economies of Europe survived the British attempt to strangle the Continental system. Talleyrand similarly was isolated by Napoleon as his blatant corruption would prove too much for his once friend. Shut out from power, Talleyrand was not able to talk Tsar Alexander out of his support for the Despot of France. The final conflict, the War of the Sixth Coalition, saw two entire British armies captured in Europe alone as well as a third in the Americas against the upstart Americans, the Duke of Wellington captured in Spain by Napoleon, and Constantinople fell to a Franco-Russian army. Forces for peace forced the Pitt government of Britain to sue Napoleon for peace. For a decade after, Napoleon's Europe seemed unshakable and eternal, with his foes either cowed, or beaten into submission.
But this seemingly invincible foe, who had stared down the entirety of Europe and won, was not immortal. As the years passed, his health started to wane, his political and military instincts increasingly less sharp. Suddenly, in February 1821, the Emperor's health took a turn for the worse. By March, he was bedridden, with only his favored Marshals acting as his mouthpieces, and later, regents. As news of the great Emperor's illness spread, all of Europe held its breathe. Plots for independence were schemed, and even in France those long pushed in the shadows by the grandeur of Napoleon's victory saw a chance for the return of true liberty to France. In May, Napoleon would pass away in Paris of cancer, leaving his 10 year old son, Napoleon II, as Emperor of France. In truth, the military would quietly take over that very same day. As news of Napoleon's death spread, before a funeral had even been held, Europe erupted as all finally saw their chance to escape the French yoke.
The regime reacted poorly, and ordered an immediate new Levée En Masse to break this way of Revolution. No sooner had the conscription orders been released than the war weary streets of Paris joined the anti-Napoleonic revolts of Europe, rallied by the liberal noble; Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette. Once darling of the original Revolution, cast aside by his slide to the side to Order, the Marquis de Lafayette took up arms once more in the name of liberty, believing himself the only one who the rest of Europe could possibly accept of the seemingly inevitably coming 2nd Republic. The June Days would lead to young Napoleon II ordering his troops to stand down, announcing his abdication and left the country. In the coming settlements, the old Napoleonic Empire would be withdrawn from. A new day of Liberty dawned in France, even as chaos reigned in the rest of Europe from the sudden withdrawal. Vive la République!
Introduction
This is my 3rd AAR, but it has been over 3 years since my last pettered out. So may be rusty at first, but I hope I can entertain you with this story of mine! Prologue Coming soon!
Table of Contents (WIP)
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