Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 87
Chapter 87
14. End of the Second Hundred Years’ War – 3
“Then why did you come to see me after the arrest warrant had already been approved by the Paris High Court? Were you going to mock me while watching me fall?”
Carnot replied to Talleyrand’s questions, while still keeping an expressionless face.
“Illyria’s governor and former police minister, Joseph Fouché[1], has disappeared. He must have escaped because he was afraid of the parliament and the tribunal’s judgement of his sins. You have had a secret relationship with him for a long time and have conducted various acts against France along with him, including agitation and leaking of secrets.”
“…”
“Therefore, I am proposing the following: as a reference, please reveal Fouché’s misdeeds and wrongdoings, and provide information on his current activities if possible. The price for the information will be included in the subsequent trial and will be taken into consideration to determine the level of your punishment.”
In short, it meant selling Fouché to receive better treatment. Talleyrand, who were listening quietly, burst into laughter and the atmosphere became colder.
“In the past, Fouché and I were not on good terms, we used to growl at each other every time we met at the Palace of Versailles. I still don’t like him much now. But I don’t want to blame others when I’m struggling.”
He could see what Carnot was thinking when he suggested this. It did not matter if he was making things up, so he spewed bad things about Fouché and drew a line.
The main target of the Paris High Court’s choice was not him, but Fouché. But Talleyrand kept his mouth shut.
“…Are you really going to feel better living the rest of your life as a traitor in disgrace? Do you want to tarnish your past, when you sincerely devoted yourself to France and made achievements?”
But Talleyrand remained still, without a smile. It meant that he had made up his mind. Seeing that, Carnot clicked his tongue inwardly.
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, who was now a traitor, had been a prominent figure during the French Revolution and the early days of the Empire.
His great contributions were to manage to attract the United States and Denmark into the war against Britain, and the departure of Prussia and Spain from the anti-French alliance.
It was Talleyrand who swayed the salons with his skillful speaking skills, preaching the political legitimacy of the ‘Coup d’Etat du 18 brumaire’. He was a great man of this era, in another sense than Napoleon.
“Take him away.”
Guards hiding behind pillars and behind the doors appeared with a rope. Talleyrand gave his hands without saying anything as if he knew that it would happen. It was the moment the giant fell.
===
Napoleon Bonaparte, who had successfully completed the Battle of Badajoz and was standing next to the fortress, was now feeling a sense of deja vu.
The memories of the past, where he faced the same scene, were revolving in his mind like a panorama.
‘It was February 2nd, 1805. The day when a nation, which has never declared a complete defeat since the Hundred Years’ War, knelt down in front of the Palace of Versailles and prayed.’
In the world where Napoleon came from, France was able to overcome all the challenges induced by the other powers of the European continent and finally hold the supremacy of the world. Even Britain, which resisted until the end, eventually succumbed to France’s all-out pressure and offensive.
This was also the first historical moment since the Roman Empire’s conquest of Britain, when Britain declared total surrender.
Of course, unlike in the other world, where they lay flat and begged for mercy, the situation in the United Kingdom was not so bleak here.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor of the French Empire. I am Viscount Charlton, Husley Collins. I must first declare to Your Majesty that I am the head of this peace mission and have been entrusted with full authority to negotiate.”
“Nice to meet you. So, what position do you hold in the current British Cabinet?”
“I’m ashamed, but I am serving as the Vice Foreign Minister. I am well aware that it is customary for the ambassador of the Kingdom based in France to take on this responsibility. However, due to the unfavorable circumstances, I will replace him with official documents bearing the royal seal and official records of the Cabinet.”
The secretaries were asked to review the confirmation procedures and official documents. Meanwhile, Napoleon looked at the marshals of the Empire waiting behind him.
They were struggling to prevent the corners of their mouths from going up, as if they were holding back their desire for joy.
‘It’s not surprising. It’s the first time that Britain has been sick like it is now.’
The safety of Britain’s mainland from foreign invasions had been guaranteed thanks to its geographical characteristics of an island country, being one foot away from the continent.
Spain, France, Denmark-Norway, the Netherlands, and many other countries that competed against Britain failed to attack its mainland beyond the sea, and so could not win with certainty.
As long as their terrifying navy, which was fearsome even if the British tried to land, was still lurking in the Strait of Dover, Britain was able to fool the continental countries by projecting its power at the desired time and place based on its mainland that was completely free from the fire of war.
It was precisely because of this geographical advantage that the British were able to play diplomatic games by switching alliances here and there under the pretext of protecting Europe’s balance and order.
From the British point of view, it meant leading a foreign policy pursuing extreme efficiency and practicality for their own interests, but for the countries affected, it was only a perfidious move.
It was particularly the case for France, which had been frustrated by Britain’s obstruction and maneuvering whenever it tried to expand even a little in Europe.
But Britain was now kneeling and begging for peace. How happy could the French be? They could watch with their own eyes the humiliating appearance of the British declaring defeat.
“I’m Georges Tulisson, and I’m in charge of negotiating for the Empire’s side. Let’s talk in good faith for the national interest and honor of both countries.”
At a glance, the faces of the British diplomats were dark and the faces of the French diplomats were very bright. It was clear who had the upper hand and who was uneasy.
And Napoleon, who led the whole game, was watching from a distance from the negotiating table with his arms crossed.
Rumors circulated that the British diplomats were having cold sweat as they were told that the French would run out and call for the war to resume if they did not like the content of the negotiations.
===
The British peace delegation came to Napoleon’s Corps, which had occupied the city of Badajoz and was besieging the fortress.
The armistice agreement, which they brought disguised as a letter, was showing the true face of Britain, which French soldiers had been waiting to see.
Shock derived from London’s financial markets engulfed their economy, which resulted in the British government losing patience with the war. As a result, Britain was forced to make many concessions when negotiating with France.
1. The United Kingdom will break out of the Iberian Peninsula war immediately upon signing the agreement and will not directly or indirectly support Spain and Portugal. Expedients such as hiring mercenaries and dispatching officers are also prohibited.
2. The United Kingdom will return to France the occupied Cape Colony (previously the Dutch Cape Colony in Southern Africa), the Caribbean islands including Guadeloupe, and French Guiana.
3. The United Kingdom will pay France for the restoration of 17 French ports, including Toulon, which was damaged during the coastal blockade. The Spanish ports occupied by France are excluded.
3. The United Kingdom will compensate for a total of 122 French, Danish and Spanish cargo ships seized during the trade blockade and the goods, resources and war supplies in them. In the case of damaged or decayed shipments, they will be replaced with gold or francs of the same value.
4. The trade blockade against the United Kingdom will be lifted. However, the United Kingdom will conduct tariff adjustment agreements with major European countries under the observation of French officials.
5. The United Kingdom cannot engage in any armed activities or sanctions against French ships that export weapons, gunpowder and other war supplies to the United States. The French ships will also be treated as exceptions to the British navigation ordinances.
In addition, the island of Malta, which had been occupied by the French and then by the British, would be returned to its original owner, the Order of Knights of the Hospital.[2] There were also petty agreements such as exchanging prisoners and paying ransom, to maintain their dignity.
Although it was an agreement that the British had to accept as they faced the difficulty of carrying out the war, it was not an unconditional surrender imposed by France.
In other words, the situation was different from that of the Russian expedition, so there were some concessions to make for both countries. This was one of the main issues.
“The United Kingdom must participate in the meeting of the agreement that you will conclude with Spain and Portugal. Thus, we will set up a table in the form of a trilateral meeting and the kingdom will be in charge of coordinating between all the countries so that there will be no room for further conflict or dispute. I would also like to receive a definite answer here that this treaty can be implemented only if you agree with this point.”
“Now that you’ve signed an armistice with the Empire, you’re an external country that has been ruled out of the Peninsular War. I understand that this would be possible under the international diplomatic convention that allows an external country to observe and arbitrate, if the country has no interests in either side. But I don’t think that Britain can play this role, as it was still in a fierce battle against the Empire a few days ago.”
“The Kingdom is in favor of the armistice because it does not want to completely break the balance of the European continent.
If you make concessions on this issue, the kingdom is willing to negotiate in favor of your country in other areas. I hope that you will remember that the ambition of King Louis XIV[3], the Sun King, sparked the Spanish Succession War, which was a misfortune for all of Europe.”
Without Britain, Spain and Portugal would not be able to maintain their front lines, as they would not be able to carry out the war, and the Iberian Peninsula would be in the hands of France.
The British were now saying that they did not want to see this, no matter the cost.
It seemed that these sneaky islanders were hiding this as they accepted all of the above proposals in a gentle manner. French diplomats showed signs of displeasure, but Napoleon was a little different.
‘It’s like you don’t want to cry but you slap me in the face.’
Britain seemed to be afraid of the rise of the French Empire that could engulf the entire Iberian Peninsula, but Napoleon had no intention of doing so.
Spain had a history of standing up as a nationwide enemy and resisting to death to fight the French invasion.
They had already completed resistance nationalism and there was no room for France to intervene.
‘Even if France were to annex the Spanish territories, it would take astronomical administrative power, finance, and time to fully integrate them into French society and to appease the Spanish people. How much blood would be shed in the process… It’s a terrible thing to imagine.’
France and Spain were so different in culture, ethnicity, system, language and history, that Napoleon had no confidence in assimilating them.
Contrary to the megalomaniac of this world, the current Napoleon did not want the annexation of Spain.
‘However, I will definitely get what I can.’
Internally, he had already set plans and goals for France to get the most out of it.
Now, all he had to do was taking a stance that said ‘I can endure more’ and reap the profits. It was time to end this tedious war that had been going on for nearly five years.
TL notes
[1] Joseph Fouché
[2] Knights Hospitaller
[3] Louis XIV
