(The editor apologizes to those correspondents whose letters were replied to individually, rather than being printed below)
Dear Sir,
Why not Emperor of New France
But in fact, Napoleon wanted to take a scientifical journey from North to south to study all the americas and write a book on his discoveries. Never forget that Napoleon was a scientist, a brilliant mathematician who was member of the Institut des Sciences in France. In real life, many bonapartist colonies were established in Louisiana...without the 100 days and the white terror to kill most of Republican and Bonapartists french, many thousands, even tens of thousands could emigrate in Louisiana.
And about the 400 hundred men...they are the Old Guard, la Vieille Garde, still recognised as the best soldiers to have ever existed. Don't underestimate them
Yours,
Gen. Hoth
Thanks for the advice regarding Napoleon's intellectual weight. I think science and cultural pursuits would be one of the Emperor's priorities, especially since foreign affairs are closed to him. I can imagine many French, and even some Italians, Spaniards, Germans and Poles coming to Lousiana once the reactionaries get going in Old Europe.
Dear Sir,
I must register my extreme Indignation at the Presumption of the British and our American Neighbours. The French of the Empire of Louisiana are not the savage Beasts they imply we are by installing Garrisions, ostensibly for Protection of their Citizens! Why, just last week I had some Americans at the Fete celebrating the breaking of the Siege of New Orleans! We are perfectly capable of treating these Foreigners with the Decorum they deserve.
Yours,
Mssr. Rene-Gilbert de Baie.
M.de Baie,
I'm afraid the garrisons are here to stay, at least for the time being. At least the Americans are friendly to Napoleon's regime (though they doubtless have their own interests at heart). The British are outwardly hostile to all things French. The biggest danger is that the Brits and Americans will have more conflict with each other than with the Louisianais.
Dear Sir,
With Napoléon and his Vieille Garde in la Nouvelle Orléans...I'm sure the occupying regiment will not stay long!
Yours,
Gen. Hoth.
The problem with chasing out the occupiers is that they both have large borders with us. It's going to take some time to reassert independence.
Dear Sir,
Wouldn't Spain already be losing control of Mexico?
Napoleon leading the Mexican revolution?
Yours,
Enewald
That's perfectly true - but the Bourbons aren't willing to admit it. They still think they have a chance to hold on to their North American Empire, and they want Louisiana to be part of it. But their weak position is reflected in the fact that they are contributing nothing to guarding the Emperor.
Napoleon would be happy to see Mexico go its own way, but for now he can't do much except behind the scenes.
Dear Sir,
I agree with general_hoth. Louisiana is just... to american! Emperor of New France sounds much better. Louisiana would stay Louisiana, just that Napoleons title would be Emperor of New France.
It'll be nice to see an undeveloped colony blossom into a power under the rule of one of the greatest people in history. Remember to take Texas and New Mexico! I want to see an old and disgruntled Napoleon in cowboy attire overlooking his extensive ranch.
Yours,
Vesimir
Developing an American colony was one of the reasons I chose Louisiana to play. I also wanted to divert the inevitable rise of the USA. Napoleon the cowboy? That's an unusual image1
Dear Sir,
And if I may, Louisiana doesn't exist...it's Louisiane!
Yours,
Gen. Hoth
Bien sur, monsieur, you are quite correct. I'm just using the English name for now out of convenience. Although Louisiane would make it seem less American.
Dear Sir;
I find it absurd that the man who ruled France in opposition to the kings would continue to have his new home named after one of them. Messr. Bonaparte strikes me as a gentleman who would take any victory where he can, so he would ostensibly rename Louisiana to something more republican or Bonapartist. New France, as suggested by previous letters, seems more appropriate. And yes, I am aware of the paradox of referencing a letter that hasn't been printed yet.
Sincerely,
E. F.
There is a certain irony to the situation, yes. But I think the name Louisiana has become entrenched in its inhabitants' minds. Spain kept the name when they took it from France, as did the USA (also, New York, Georgia, the Carolinas and Maryland are all named after British royalty). I'm not sure that Napoleon would be much different. New Orleans is also named after the Duc d'Orleans - should I change that?
Dear Sir;
I suspect the parties involved would be none too pleased to hear M. Bonaparte declare himself "Emperor of New France." After all, this implies a certain revancharde tendency on M. Bonaparte's part, with claims to Quebec. Moreover, the Bourbon king might find the step from "L'empereur de la Nouvelle-France" to "L'empereur nouveau de la France" a bit too short.
Yours,
G. B.
I think I agree with you. My preference, I think, would be to stick with Louisiana/Louisiane for now, and have 'New France' as a cultural union tag including Quebec. That'd give me something to aim for.
***
To all - no updates this weekend, so more debate on the naming issue is encouraged. I'm also ambivalent about the culture I should use for Louisiana - French and French-Canadian are accepted cultures, but I wanted a new primary culture. I'm torn between Louisianais (of my own invention) or Cajun (but does that imply an African influence?). What do my esteemed readAARs think?
