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Editor says, what if Napoleon had escaped to North America? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s). This story was published in the August 2012 edition of Changing the Times Magazine.
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In 1815, a week after his fruitless return to Paris, Napoleon Bonaparte left Malmaison for Rochefort where he evaded English coast guards to board a vessel that carried him to the United States.
Napoleon's Escape to North America, Reboot
by Ed, Eric Oppen and Jackie RoseTravelling to Bolton, Massachusetts, he resided at the home of the merchant Sampson Vryling Stoddard (S.V.S.) Wilder, a noted member of the small American community in Paris. He was an acquaintance of both Talleyrand and Lafayette, and in addition to the influence of their political thought, had been deeply impressed by the changes brought about in society and politics under Napoleonic Rule. Compelled to act after the tragic defeat at Waterloo, he provided the fallen Emperor with his valet's passport.
Wilder dreamt of a meeting of minds with President Madison, a potential co-belligerent who had declared war on England in 1812. But Napoleon had set his mind on a new vision shortly after after he visited Malmaison where Josephine had died only thirteen months before. And so over the next six months he collected all his relatives around him, forming the nucleus of a national union, a second France. They headed West to found a Bonapartist dynasty that would dominate Mexican politics for the next two millenia.
This blog is a reboot of an article with the same name in which Napoleon didn't make it.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Alternate Historian, 2004-.Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Generals Source: History World Labels: Napoleon Bonaparte, Waterloo, Wilder, America, Escape. Editor says, in reality the emperor seriously considered this scheme, but finally declined, because he would leave his friends behind him. In authoring this article, we have used an idea proposed by Eric Oppen, and re-purposed content from Historum and History-World web sites.
~ But how could he raise an army large enough to conquer Mexico? Or would be arouse the Mexican peasants to revolt? Either way, would his forces then try to annex the American West? We'll have to stay tuned...
~ Napoleon in Mexico? The British would be after him, and so would the "continental" Spanish. ISTR that at that time, Mexico was still a Spanish colony---did Napoleon end up leading or generaling the revolution that threw the Spaniards out?
~ But what if it's the other way around...and he recruits Western Americans to invade Mexico?
~ "If Napoleon Had Escaped to America" in "If It Had Happened Otherwise"
~ Dominating politics sounds like the way to go: build up a nice series of ranches and plantations, build wealth... but how long would Napoleon live?
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