Napoleon in 1812

15. Interlude – 1

Caulaincourt, who was in charge of the negotiations at the French table in the palace of Madrid, achieved 100% of what Napoleon had ordered him.

He took the best possible benefits from the enemy countries, which were uncomfortable with the expansion and growth of France. Anyone walking under the tricolor flag should rejoice in this victory.

Even if it was a bit frustrating now, the future would praise the outcome of these negotiations. But there was a single Frenchman who was defeated while all the other French were victorious.

“Are you trying to convince me to accept this ridiculous negotiation result?”

An official letter in a monotonous form was delivered to him by Caulaincourt and a diplomatic delegation. The single sheet of paper concluded that Joseph Bonaparte would abdicate the Spanish throne in favor of Fernando VII.

The Emperor’s brother tore the official letter bearing the Emperor’s seal to pieces but was still angry, and shouted at the Foreign Minister Caulaincourt without hesitation.

“We are the only ones here, so tell me the truth! Is this because of the incompetence of the Imperial Foreign Ministry at the Madrid Conference!? Or is it Napoleon’s will!?”

“…Everything is the result of His Majesty’s judgment.”

“Hahaha, I knew it! It was the intention of my brother, the Emperor of this Great Empire!”

“Be careful what you say and what you do, my King!…”

Louis-Gabriel Suchet, who had been assisting him throughout the Peninsular War, tried to stop him. Joseph Bonaparte’s anger was fully understood by those around him who had long served him, and the people of the Imperial Cabinet felt sorry for him.

Joseph Bonaparte was originally King of Naples, but became King of Spain because of Napoleon’s insistence.

Joseph explained to his brother several times that he was satisfied with the Kingdom of Naples, but the Emperor insisted on making him King of Spain. Joachim Murat succeeded him as King of Naples.

It was natural for the Spanish people to rise up like wildfire because their king was deposed and a foreigner took his place.

Joseph I urgently asked his brother for help when the flames of rebellion started everywhere, and the Emperor seemed to be eager to help him at first, but his attitude changed over time.

The troops dispatched to the peninsula were gradually forced out of the country, in the name of an expedition to the East. Joseph I fought desperately against the Allies despite his lackluster supply, but eventually lost Madrid and was reprimanded by his younger brother the Emperor.

“His Majesty the Emperor, of course, was not satisfied with our achievements. He’s been dealing with his arrogant enemies with his genius mercenary skills given to him by God, so how pathetic must we have looked to him when we could not even push one British guy back?”

Obviously, it was unfortunate and sad for an individual. But that individual also needed to keep the line to a certain extent.

Caulaincourt and the other members of the diplomatic delegation understood Joseph Bonaparte’s inevitable circumstances, but their expressions became colder as the sarcasm against the Emperor grew worse.

Napoleon was not just the Emperor of the French Empire. He was a savior for his country and a hero for his people. It was not acceptable to speak ill of him.

“That’s enough. His Majesty will also remember your hard work and sacrifice.”

“His Majesty must have some consolation and reward to give you afterwards.”

Suchet and other quick-witted generals noticed the signs and tried to ease his mood.

In any case, Joseph lost his Spanish throne but was not sent out as an average man at all. The Emperor gave him a new title, King of Sicily.

As a result of the Madrid Conference, France acquired the islands of Sardinia and Sicily, in addition to the Basque Country and Catalonia.

The Emperor established a new satellite state called the Kingdom of Sicily by combining the two islands and delegated their sovereignty to Joseph Bonaparte.

“Then when should I leave for my new job?”

“…It’s not a job. It is Your Highness’ kingdom, to be ruled entirely by Your Highness.”

“You’re making jokes, man. The Empire is rising day by day, and the Emperor is alive, so what do you mean ‘the kingdom to be ruled by me’? Such an uncivilised…”

“Haha… hahaha! His Highness seems to be very tired.”

“His Highness’ spirit and body are exhausted from the long war. Everyone, please leave. Ahem!…”

The generals said with their eyes that this incident should be put on hold. This situation was settled once Caulaincourt and the delegation with him stepped down.

===

“When I was a kid, I called him ‘Bonnie’, cared for him and helped him a lot. All the members of our family did their best to support the Emperor… No, he wasn’t the Emperor back then, and we helped him make all these achievements. I supported and counseled him.”

Joseph lamented his situation as he opened one bottle after the other, and the French generals who were caught up in it were embarrassed.

While some generals were catering for him, Suchet and the others were able to get out of the drinking party.

“His Highness’ words and actions are becoming increasingly harsher… Aren’t we supposed to stop him? I’m afraid something bad will come out of this.”

“Even if he talks like that, he will be able to shake off everything and work tomorrow. His Majesty the Emperor knows it, that’s why he’s leaving him alone.”

Suchet was well aware of Joseph’s personality. He was grumbling, but would not have the heart to plot something against Napoleon. Except for the Emperor, all the members of the Bonaparte family were like that. There were greedy people but lacked courage.

“It’s us that matters. Everyone should be careful of their actions. The war is over, but the situation has become stricter. If you are dragged away by His Majesty for nothing, you won’t get anything.”

“…”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know the way you look at the sweet advantages of being close to the King? We’re wild dogs, barbaric warriors who have to live on battlefields. It’s a pity, but we don’t have to stay with His Highness who is no longer King of Spain.”

It was a cool-headed judgement, but that was how those around him evaluated the situation. What could army officers expect from Joseph, who became the king of some islands? Their desired achievements, military success, splendid honor… none of these could be offered by such a king.

“You’re cold, but you’re right.”

“From the very beginning, we were part of the Imperial Army, part of Louis-Gabriel Suchet’s Corps.”

Suchet nodded. In the end, soldiers had to line up well. And they did not judge that line to be behind Joseph Bonaparte.

===

“No matter your position under his command, His Majesty is the Emperor of the Empire and the most dignified and honorable person. To make such a disrespectful remark about him!…”

“All the members of the imperial family are very passionate and greedy, and I’m worried about the future of the Empire.”

“Don’t you dare say that. The affairs of the imperial family are for the imperial family to deal with, not for us to discuss.”

Caulaincourt was not as worried as anyone else. He knew that the Emperor was a great and special man.

In the past, he did not have the respect of everyone in France, but his reputation and fame soared to the end of the sky as he achieved a great feat that no one in French history had ever achieved, overthrowing the frozen empire and even subduing the islanders across the sea.

Some French even started to admire him like a living divinity. Caulaincourt had watched with his own eyes the historical scene of France’s old enemies surrendering to him. The intellectual who had rolled over the political arena for quite some time realised it at that moment.

The Emperor’s reign would never falter, and loyalty and obedience to him were the only way to survive in politics within the Empire.

“Everything will eventually go according to His Majesty’s will. We only have to follow him faithfully and assist him. Just think about it. Who will be the real winner of this huge, political war? I can’t think of anyone except the Emperor.”

Strictly stick to the strong and to the winner. Caulaincourt intended to follow the most basic rule by which social animals were living.

All the diplomats following him nodded. They had to be loyal to the Emperor. Then they would enjoy wealth…

===

My dear friend and comrade, and the bravest man in France. Not long ago, I heard that your second son was born. Is his name Lucien? Judging from the naming skills, it seems that it was you who chose his name and not the Bonaparte queen, which is very unfortunate for the child.

“Hey, that bastard.”

Murat[1] grumbled as he read a letter from his old friend, Józef Antoni Poniatowski, the Duke of Warsaw, who was now King of Poland. However, he could not erase the friendly smile that was drawn on his lips.

I heard here in Warsaw that the war on the peninsula was finally over.

Polish people are taking to the streets to praise the great victory of the Empire and expressing His Majesty the Emperor’s war epic in writing and play.

The Polish people’s enthusiasm for His Majesty is so great that I, the King, feel a little jealous. But wasn’t he the true savior of this country?

If I had chosen not to ascend to the throne of Poland but to remain a Marshal of the Empire, I would have been able to go to the peninsula and watch these battles and events that would go down in history.

I’m glad the Polish soul has been revived, but sometimes I miss the life of a soldier living on the battlefield. Don’t you feel the same too?

The battlefield engulfed in gunfire, where soldiers put down their lives and fought according to orders, walking on the thin line between life and death.

A frail life that could disappear with one bullet. Some people felt thrilled and excited in such a situation.

None of the soldiers had ever heard Joachim Murat say that he was afraid to die.

The braver and bolder you were, the more addicted you became to this feeling. Murat, who had saved France from a crisis with a decisive cavalry charge in the past, would never forget the thrill of the moment, and still missed it. He became the king of a country, but he was such a man.

I am confident that I know you well, just as you know me. You are the embodiment of the desire for fame and conquest that knows no restraint. Please don’t do anything stupid that might offend the Emperor.

“…”

You have been with the Emperor for the longest time among the Marshals of the Empire, and you are close enough to speak informally to him in private. The closer you are, the less formal and polite you can be, but this was technically possible in the past because you were on par with each other. Since ancient times, keeping a distance from the ruler, being not too far and not too close to him, has been the way to leave to longest. Don’t forget my words.

Murat was a typical cavalry commander of this era and had risen to this position from the very bottom.

Although he was ignorant of complicated political battles, intrigue, and international diplomacy, he had an animal sense to notice the subtle atmosphere in human relations. Murat thought a lot about Poniatowski’s advice.

Everybody in the Empire knows that your exploits at the Battle of Hrodna were the best. But it’s a different matter to ask the Emperor for something. Keep the line, my dear friend. Don’t show your greed for Sicily.

I don’t know when it started, but His Majesty has certainly changed from before, and the standards and ‘exceptions’ that he has allowed for you and some other commanders are likely to change. You’d better remember what kind of embarrassment the Duke of Essling (André Masséna) went through…

Murat folded the letter from the King of Poland while thinking deeply. In the past, he would have tried to claim Sicily, as Poniatowski wrote.

This was because the Kingdom of Sicily, the predecessor of the Kingdom of Naples, also included the island of Sicily, as its name implied.

However, when Murat saw the Emperor after a long time, he was able to tell that the Emperor’s tendency and habits had changed significantly from before.

What would the Emperor look like if he asked for Sicily? He could not predict it at all. It was the biggest reason why he was hesitating.

‘Huh… Murat died because he had too much temper.’

That could happen if he pretended not to fear the Emperor, who was now on the road to the greatest success. Murat accepted Poniatowski’s advice. He would keep his thoughts to him for a while…

TL notes

[1] Joachim Murat was King of Naples and was married to Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister.