[Alt. History] captive Napolean

[xerxes]

I thought I would pick your brains for this concept.

Let's say the folks holding N.B. after his first defeat don't take him to Elba. Someone hatches a different plan. They spirit him away (with his family) and drop him off on the docks of New Orleans with only enough cash to get lodging and food for five days. Then they leave. What happens after that?

How do the local government officials react?

How does the U.S. President react when word gets to him?

[Dalillama]

Why on Earth would they do such a thing? Also how? Napoleon surrendered on terms, which terms included an honour guard who went to Elba with him. The reason he was sent to Elba is that, unlike Louisiana, Elba wasn't full of French people who would be likely to form a loyal army for Napoleon's triumphant return.

[Dalillama]

Having confirmed the dates, also remember that the U.S. and Great Britain were still in a state of active war at the time of Napoleon's surrender, a war which the U.S. entered as an ally of France. There is no world in whivh your scenario is plausible, I'm afraid. Possibly a history where his honour guard fought him clear and he and the survivors fled to their American allies to rally French America and keep the fight going. Quebec would probably declare for him pretty quick, and Louisiana

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

There is no world in which your scenario is plausible, I'm afraid.

Indeed. If he had a traitor among the British aiding Napoleon, they'd have a better plan. If they didn't before they secured him, they would have shortly afterwards, because he'd devise it.

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Possibly a history where his honour guard fought him clear and he and the survivors fled to their American allies to rally French America and keep the fight going.

Although getting across the Atlantic with the entire Royal Navy of the period after you is not trivial.

[Dalillama]

Originally Posted by johndallman

i


Although getting across the Atlantic with the entire Royal Navy of the period after you is not trivial.

Presumably he had spme cunning plan to deal with that, else he wouldn't have broken out. I don't know what, but I'm not a military genius either. Anyway, that's the closest to a plausible explanation for Napoleon turning up in New Orleans in 1814 I can think of offhand. Conceivably, in an alternate history where the Haitian Revolution failed, he might've been made ruler of Haiti instead of Elba, and gone to Lousiana instead of France when he left, I suppose.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Presumably he had spme cunning plan to deal with that, else he wouldn't have broken out. I don't know what, but I'm not a military genius either. Anyway, that's the closest to a plausible explanation for Napoleon turning up in New Orleans in 1814 I can think of offhand.

The best way to get him out is to fake his death, then smuggle him out when the heat is off.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

a war which the U.S. entered as an ally of France.

Are you sure?

The US and France were not on particularly good terms at that time. The US had recently had a mini naval war with France, destroying a lot of their West Indies trade, and then the "XYZ Affair" created a lot of outrage. The "Convention of 1800" ended the US-French alliance that had been around since the Revolution. The US bought Louisiana, but then, Napoleon was having a fire sale, trying to get out of North American and keep that territory out of British hands, so it was obviously in the US interest to grab it while it was being offered. The US was officially neutral in the Napoleonic wars, including a Congressional declaration of such, and was fairly hostile with both Britain and France, embargoing them both -- though somewhat more distrustful of Britain.

Certainly with the War of 1812, both France and the US were fighting Britain, but I don't think it was as allies. Just an extra sideshow for Britain, with the US able to rattle its sabers (or sails) knowing that the British Lion mostly had other things to worry about.

Was there a treaty between the US and France that declared cooperation sometime after 1800 (and before 1815)?

At any rate, New Orleans does seem a very unlikely place for the British to send Napoleon, as well as an unlikely place for Napoleon to want to go. There are any number of other countries either would probably choose before the US.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Having confirmed the dates, also remember that the U.S. and Great Britain were still in a state of active war at the time of Napoleon's surrender, a war which the U.S. entered as an ally of France. There is no world in whivh your scenario is plausible, I'm afraid. Possibly a history where his honour guard fought him clear and he and the survivors fled to their American allies to rally French America and keep the fight going. Quebec would probably declare for him pretty quick, and Louisiana

Lower Canada probably won't declare for him, quickly or otherwise. Historically, Quebec was separated from France when it was still a monarchy. It remembers the American Revolution's attempt to overthrow the monarch as an attempt by those Boston merchants to suppress Catholicism, the French language and French civil law by invading Montreal and Quebec. Just to make matters worse, they also tried to palm paper money off on the merchants of Lower Canada. (Lower Canada had experience with paper money in the form of "playing card money" during the Ancien Regieme, and it didn't evoke fond memories.) The French Revolution was regarded as more of the same and the rise of Napoleon didn't attract Lower Canadians. If anything, it cemented their allegiance to the UK.

[xerxes]

Originally Posted by Dalillama

Why on Earth would they do such a thing? Also how? Napoleon surrendered on terms, which terms included an honour guard who went to Elba with him. The reason he was sent to Elba is that, unlike Louisiana, Elba wasn't full of French people who would be likely to form a loyal army for Napoleon's triumphant return.

Lots of alt. history ideas are founded on something far-fetched just because it would a fun setting for stories or games. GURPS Alternate Earths and GURPS Alternate Earths 2 have timelines that are kind questionable as to feasibility.

But, perhaps my set up is not so outlandish, after all. Anaraxes points out that France and the USA aren't allies. Let's suppose the Brits really want to "stick it" to the USA. Maybe a good way to do that would be to dump Bonaparte in Louisiana hoping that he will try to form a kingdom for himself and thus "spoil" the Americans' recent purchase. The folks there who had until recently been part of France might have more affinity for him that those English-speaking swine from the East coast.

So, suspend your disbelief for a moment. I'll repeat my questions. How would the local American officials react to the situation upon first learning of the arrival? How would the U.S. Prez react to news of arrival?

[dcarson]

The fleeing the British option it might be that New Orleans isn't the first plan but given wind conditions and where the British ships are it is the best hope you can reach.