Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 1

Prolog

The French Republic, which achieved a revolution that overturned the old system called Ancien Régime, became the target of all the other powers in Europe. In the aftermath of the revolution, the military officiers who were from the nobility vanished, leaving behind only empty shells, and the republican army became simply a group of idiots.

Napoleon Bonapartelll appeared at that time.

Napoleon defended his country by defeating all the allied forces that invaded the French territory despite leading these fools. He also marched west of the Rhine to reclaim the long-cherished French ‘natural border’ and, in the heat of the invasion, conquered northern Italy, forming the largest territory for France since Charlemagne.

Napoleon was the Republic’s savior and the hero who strengthened France. As Napoleon was gaining national popularity and fame, the leaders of the presidential government became jealous and wary of him. In order to topple Britain, the Republic’s biggest opponent, the government ordered him to attack India, its colony, and in the process, to capture Egypt

“…omitted)… Even if we land in Egypt and take down Cairo, we cannot continuously supply the troops to maintain our position. Moving from Egypt to India is impossible, no matter the cost. The operation planned by the government has no possibility of success and it would be foolish to turn a potential ally of the Republic (the Ottoman Empire) into an enemy. I am not a leader who will drive the Republic’s youth to hell… (omitted)…”

Napoleon, who was relieved of his duties because he refused to follow orders, used the media to reach the people and the soldiers. The impact of the sincere words of the Republic’s hero was beyond imagination.

The people stood up and protested, and intellectuals and the media criticized the government. The Republic’s national army was also on Napoleon’s side. The panicked government harshly repressed the protestors, giving Napoleon a reason to raise the army.

Napoleon used the division that was loyal to him to take over the chaotic Paris, establishing a government under his leadership, and gave himself the position of President.

“The Legislative Assembly, the National Assembly, and the General Government. Everyone did politics for their own interests and power. No one took care of the lives of the people. I will take care of them from now on. The people of the French Republic are those who deserve the protection and respect of the state from the moment they are born. I will make the French people proud of their country wherever they go in the world.”

After becoming president, Napoleon stopped the war and devoted himself to the internal affairs of the Republic. He worked to revive the economy and industry, while minimizing the outflow of national wealth, corruption and inefficiency of the administration. As capital began to gather to a certain extent, Napoleon established a state-owned bank, which sought to improve the credibility of the international financial market. His government invested the military expenditure into the quality of life of the people and the revitalization of the national economy, including the construction of canals, roads and irrigation waterways for the agricultural land development, and the construction of villages and cities.

Napoleon judged that cotton looms, spinning machine, cotton cloth, and steam engines, which had been invented in Britain, were the industries that would lead the future world economy. He led the process of copying and improving the British models by bringing together numerous engineers and scientists in France, and established an industrial complex to extract coal from coke furnaces. From 1798 to 1802, when Napoleon was president, the size of the French Republic’s economy was more than doubled, the production of iron tripled, and the average income of the people and the national finances grew by 20 percent annually.

The slowing population growth rate rose rapidly again, surpassing 40 million people. The people were no longer starving, and happy laughter poured down the streets and villages. The French considered Napoleon their savior for his mythical achievements and gave him absolute support and praise. The generals, bureaucrats and ministers urged Napoleon to become Emperor.

Napoleon refused to do so.

Britain was the most wary country as France grew stronger. Especially, looking at France, which dominated the European cotton and wool market by imitating the industrial revolution in its own country, Britain even felt a threat for its own survival. Britain spread numerous political lobbying funds to the Schönbrunn Palace, the Potsdam Palace and St. Petersburg, 21 calling for the re-establishment of the anti-French alliance. Britain was not the only country threatened by France’s growth, so the Coalition, centered around Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia, was formed again. 121

“I declare the existence and safety of the French Republic. Those who threaten the sovereignty and people of our good Republic will be defeated unconditionally and there will be no compromise.”

On November 1st 1802, Napoleon declared war on the Coalition, which included Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Portugal and Sweden, on the occasion of the ‘Declaration of Nemours’. Soon Napoleon called in his allies Spain and Denmark and asked for troops from the sister republics of France, such as the Batavian Republic and the Parthenopean Republic. It was the beginning of a great war involving almost all European countries.

“The God of War Himself.” – Carl Ludwig – 141 “We were just dwarves in the palms of giants.” – Alexander | – [] “What strategy can you use against a man who can win an unwinable battle?” – William Pitt – [6]

Despite not standing on the battlefield for four years, Napoleon’s strategy and tactics were not rusty at all. He won 10 battles throughout Germany and Northern Italy, including the Battles of Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena and Auerstedt, and achieved the feat of suppressing 180,000 of the troops allied against him with only 40,000 losses. 171

Prussia and Austria, which were hit directly, were surprised and quickly ask for a cease-fire. They never stood up to France again. On the other hand, Napoleon judged that it would be hard to beat Britain at sea. Therefore, he only sent the navy to destroy British trading ships and merchant ships, avoiding naval battles as much as possible.

It was a strategy to increase the financial burden of Britain, that needed a huge number of ships and sailors in order to block all the French coasts. In the meantime, Napoleon made a tremendous record of killing 115,000 Russian troops in the Battle of Eylau and the Battle of Friedland, and even led Russia to break away from the Coalition. Portugal could not fight back against Spain, and Britain was left alone as Sweden slipped away when Russia fell out.

Britain’s finances were already at their limit after the French fleet’s trade destruction war, weakening the British control on the European market, and with the explosive war funds, huge military subsidies for each country, and worsening domestic economy. British taxes rose exponentially during the war. Britain’s citizens, who were unable to withstand the taxes, staged massive protests and strikes, asking to stop the war immediately. Having defeated all his enemies on the continent, Napoleon announced a naval project and planned to build 50 of the latest battle ships. British Admiral Horatio Nelson was killed in a fierce battle with the French, Spanish, Neapolitan and Danish combined fleets.181 The United States prepared for a new war, targeting the British colonies in the New World. Britain could no longer withstand it, and ended up signing a peace treaty with France.

The other allies were able to conclude the end-of-war talks on light terms, but that was not the case for Britain, which had led the anti-French alliance from the beginning and resisted until the end. Britain had to face very humiliating and harsh demands to hand over the entire colonial land of the North American New World instead of being subject to compensation, tariff cuts, or patent adjustments.

On February 2nd 1805, two years and three months after the Declaration of Nemours, Napoleon declared the end of the war. France was recognized by the leading powers as Europe’s largest hegemony and world superpower. The French people proudly sang the anthem of the Republic and praised Napoleon.

“I think I’m done with my work now. I have served my 10-year term, so I want to step down.”

In 1808, Napoleon declared his honorable retirement. All generals, ministers, bureaucrats, and even the media and the people hung onto him, but he resigned neatly, following George Washington’s example, saying that more power would be no different from despotism. The last thing he did was to propose a referendum for a five-year presidential term.

After his retirement, the new government always seeked out Napoleon, who was supported and loved by the whole French people. Napoleon had quietly retired to his hometown in Corsica and only intended to take command of the military in the case of a national crisis. He was therefore very upset by the government’s attitude of asking for his opinion every time a new policy or bill was implemented.

Napoleon eventually set out on a voyage to Louisiana. France’s North American colonies, including Louisiana, which was returned from Spain, and Canada, formally controlled by Britain, were now larger than the entire Europe.

“The potential of this huge land is endless. France’s future lies right here.”

The western part of the New World, which had yet to be pioneered, had been recognized by European powers as an implicit French territory. France’s North American colonies still had enough room to expand and develop. Although the yellow fever and other infectious diseases had plagued the pioneers, they did not stop their enthusiasm. Napoleon decided to spend the rest of his life on this new land.

***

“…Your Majesty, Your Majesty! It’s time for you to wake up.” What kind of idiot calls me with the title of a monarch? Hearing the wrong title, Napoleon frowned at the man who was shaking and waking him up in the midst of extreme fatigue.

“…How on earth are these attendants trained… Huh?”

“Y-Your Majesty?”

The resentful face of the middle-aged man caught by the collar (he later found out that his name was Baron Fain191 and was Napoleon’s secretary) belonged to a stranger he had never seen in his life. All the people around the middle-aged man were looking at him with surprised faces. Napoleon jumped out of his seat in a sense of discomfort piercing his whole body. Then he opened the curtains covering the carriage and closed them again.

…I don’t know where this is, but I can see for sure that it’s not New Orleans, Louisiana’s top port city, where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico to create a magnificent view. A thick endless forest, the smell of freshwater, different from the sea, and a line of French troops. When he confirmed that this was the Neman River, in Russian territory, Napoleon could only ask.

“What the hell is this?”

TL notes

[1] For more information: Napoleon Bonaparte

[2] Residences of the Austrian, Prussian and Russian rulers. For more information: Schönbrunn Palace, Potsdam Sanssouci Palace Saint Petersburg Winter Palace.

[3] War of the Second Coalition

[4] Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen

(5) Alexander l of Russia

(6) William Pitt the Younger

[Z] War of the Third Coalition

[8] Battle of Trafalgar

[9] Agathon Jean François Fain