Napoleon in 1812 - Chapter 88
Chapter 88
14. End of the Second Hundred Years’ War – 4
“All right. That’s a good enough condition for our side.”
“I commend Your Majesty for your wise judgment.”
After push-and-pull negotiations, a rough framework was established. Britain would be allowed to be an observer, instead of making concessions little by little in the already established convention. It could have lasted longer, but Napoleon declared an end to it here.
“But you’d better be careful when you’re setting up a breach. If it extents too much, the agreement between our countries could be a torn piece of paper. I’m not lying.”
Napoleon continued to stick to his attitude that he did not care whether the war continued, which was the reason why British diplomats could not keep their heads up.
“…We will keep that in mind, Your Majesty!”
“Phew!…”
British diplomats did not stop fanning despite the fresh temperatures. They were aware of their precarious situation. In fact, the French side was doing the same thing.
Russia, Prussia, Austria, Sweden. Reports of their unusual behavior were coming in every day, and England, who would be secretly interacting with them, could not have not known.
It would be a pain in the neck if all four countries joined hands and rebelled against France in unison. And even more so at a time when the peninsular war was not over. If the United Kingdom took advantage of this well, the British would not have to make such concessions.
‘But the good thing for us is that the cooperation between the United Kingdom and them is not consistent, and that there is no decision maker in the British delegation here.’
Britain’s diplomatic staff had probably received firm orders from their home country. No matter what they had to give in, they had to conclude the negotiations.
As they tried to follow their guidelines, the accumulation of losses in the negotiation process was inevitable. There was such a big difference whether the decision maker was nearby or not.
And the result was Napoleon and the French diplomats pressing the British envoys for peace. The British were currently only interested in overcoming their own crisis, and they seemed to be refractory about external expeditions and financially supporting other countries.
Through this, Napoleon was able to guess that British society was as sick of war as France and that the power within Westminster had been reversed.
If the leading power had changed, then the new leaders would firmly stick to a line opposite from before to prove that they were different from their predecessors.
‘Britain will not be a threat to us for a while. It was the best choice to use Colin.’
Nabot would never have imagined that his hidden slush funds would be used in this way. But what could be more joyous than having eliminated Britain, the most annoying axis of the anti-French alliance, by exerting its effectiveness tens of times?
After learning that the dog, that stopped barking, had no intention of biting, Napoleon struggled to suppress a smile of satisfaction. Now the only task left for him was to pick up the fruits of his hard work.
“Please formally convey my wishes to the Provisional Government and to Fernando VII: If you don’t want to see the Alcázar Palace of Seville turn to ashes, just accept the negotiations.”
===
When Britain declared its withdrawal from the war, Fernando VII and the Seville Parliament were terrified and begged the British ambassador.
If you’re out, how can we fight this war? Do you really want us to hand over the whole Iberian Peninsula to those French?
However, there was no way that an ambassador could do anything about an order issued in his home country. The British ambassador locked the embassy door and remained silent to avoid the difficult situation.
‘Even though we fought while changing our country’s foundation, the front of the peninsular war was pushed to Seville. Our defeat in this war is a foregone conclusion if Britain leaves us here. We have to make a decision before it’s too late.’
The atmosphere of the Alcázar Palace was extremely depressed and some servants even shed tears. With each day spent in despair, the short and stern threat contained in Napoleon Bonaparte’s message was unbearable.
Fernando VII and the Seville Parliament came to the negotiating table after much consideration, and Portugal, who had been watching from the side, joined as well. A tripartite meeting was held with France, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
The site of the ceasefire negotiations on the Iberian Peninsula was the capital of the past Spanish Empire, the palace of Madrid, where tricolor flags were flying as it was now occupied by France.
All three countries were working on an agreement on the end of the war. Because they had no more strength or will to fight.
Spain and Portugal, hit hard by the long war, were completely devastated, and even their colonies had declared independence.
France also welcomed the success of the talks because there were not a few people who were sick of the long-running war, and the cost of military supplies that were constantly being consumed was astronomical.
“It’s going to be a dinner as luxurious as the one held last year in Dresden.”
Looking at the numerous luxury wagons of different patterns approaching from afar, Michel Ney said so, not hiding his admiration.
Napoleon did not know the details of the ‘Conference of Dresden'[1] because it was before he came to this world, but he knew that Nabot gathered key figures from French allies and satellite countries before his trip to Russia and showed off his vanity.
It was so splendid that the people gathered at the Palace of Madrid spoke of the legendary meeting with King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and Francis I of the Austrian Empire.
On the Spanish side, Martino de Borbón, the governor of Andalusia and cousin of Fernando VII, was appointed head of the negotiation team as the king’s representative.
He arrived at the palace of Madrid escorted by Count Enrique, the deputy commander of the Spanish army and Royal Guard, and was followed by diplomatic officials.
Portugal’s Prime Minister José Felix, head of the interior affairs of the Lisbon government, attended the meeting as the entire royal family was currently in Brazil, and Portugal’s commander, Count Amarante, escorted the delegation.
Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, who had fought bitterly against Count Amarante, was looking at him with sharp eyes.
On the British side, Viscount Charlton, who led the armistice agreement with France, participated as a direct observer.
His position of Vice Foreign Minister was too high to be included in a group of observers, but the importance of the matter overshadowed it.
In addition, the prominent officers of the Allied forces, who had repeatedly tormented France in the Peninsular War, sat together.
The complex nuances in their eyes pleased the French generals. In the end, the winner of the war that was pushed again and again would remain France. Then, murmurs came from behind Napoleon.
“Oh! He’s the…”
“Well… his figure is nothing special.”
“He has some stoutness, too. Where does he come from?”
Napoleon turned his eyes and looked straight ahead. Brown curly hair, blue eyes, aquiline nose, powerful chin and cheekbones, and a colorful uniform embroidered with red, navy blue and khaki.
Napoleon knew who he was even though he had never seen him before. The man noticed Napoleon, made a surprised expression and soon walked toward him.
“Are you the one who put me and the Allies into despair and into crisis over and over again? I would like to hear from you if you are the one I am supposed to call Your Majesty.”
“I would like to ask you this. You are the general who sent a third of the French troops who fought on the peninsula to Valhalla, right?”
Napoleon Bonaparte and Arthur Wellesley could not take their eyes off each other. As the two were identifying each other, the number of aides and guards surrounding them reached hundreds.
Such numbers of soldiers, and the fact that they used to fight each other just a month ago, naturally created a tense atmosphere.
“I don’t think it’s a very good place to talk to each other about what we have in our hearts. Would you trust me and follow me?”
“Why wouldn’t I trust Your Majesty’s intentions? I will tell the men to wait here for a while.”
“But Commander…”
“Don’t forget that this is not a battlefield, but a sacred place to discuss armistice.”
Arthur Wellesley was accompanied by only a few of the guards and assistants, and ordered the rest of them to work in rotation.
Napoleon was already walking in front of him as if he knew it would be like this. Wellesley followed him with a hard expression on his face.
===
Unlike the main palace, which ran at the height of splendor, the detached palace of Madrid was a place of rest with Rococo’s exquisite delicacy and simplicity.
The neighborhood was bustling with high-rank officials and diplomatic staff from all over the country invited to the talks, journalists who came to cover them and capture the outcome of the negotiations, and Madrid citizens who came to watch.
However, the detached palace where Napoleon was staying was under the strict control of the French guards, so he could enjoy its quietness.
“Bourbon Santos, imported from Brazil. Expensive goods cost that much, but now it seems that I can’t live without this.”
“It’s the finest coffee our royal family and gentlemen enjoy. I didn’t expect to see it here.”
Napoleon smiled softly at his gaze, which had many meanings.
“Everyone knows that the fleet of the kingdom is very strong and that its nets are tight. But the smugglers’ obsession for profit is more secretive and sophisticated than that.”
Arthur Wellesley smiled bitterly. Each country had imposed a severe hostile trade blockade on the other, but the luxuries needed by the leaders were still there, and were constantly going back and forth between the two countries. In the end, it was the people of both countries who suffered from the sharp trade war.
“I was very surprised to hear that the Marquis had joined the observers. As you know, Britain has already signed a prior agreement with the Empire, so its movement is bound to be restricted at this meeting. It was already shocking that the Vice Foreign Minister came in person, but I think it is too much for the Marquis to come as well. Does Britain have any intention of pressuring the people of the Empire with the prestige of the Marquis?”
“I would like to inform you that I had no other choice because His Highness gave me such orders. As Your Majesty said, even if there are hidden intentions, as a loyal soldier of the kingdom, I have no choice but to follow these orders. But even if that’s the case, if Your Majesty the Emperor is nearby, will my prestige be of any use?”
“Well, let’s say it is. But unfortunately, George IV’s arrangement will not have much effect. Because I’m going to hold the Marquis like this. Will you be my companion until the meeting is over?”
“Do you mean it? It would be such an honor for me. I didn’t know that the Emperor of the French Empire would value me so much that we could spend time on an equal footing.”
By the window of the detached palace, next to a terrace with a fountain, the best commanders of France and England sat face to face. Secretaries and guards, who were listening to their conversation from a relatively close distance, swallowed their saliva.
This was because, like the famous meeting of Hannibal Barca and Scipio Africanus, of the Duke of Marlborough and Karl XII, of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Marshal de Villars, this was a historic moment that would be remembered long after.[2]
“You don’t have to be so stiff. You and your kingdom have signed a treaty with a desire for peace, and so we will never meet again on the battlefield.”
“I am well aware of the ruthlessness of international relations. After all, the Treaty of Amiens[3] was only a temporary peace in the end. Your Majesty remains the most feared enemy of the kingdom.”
Napoleon still smiled and Wellesley still had a stiff face. The atmosphere had subsided coldly.
TL notes
[1] Conference of Dresden
[2] Hannibal and Scipio Africanus, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Charles XII of Sweden, Prince Eugene of Savoy and Claude Louis Hector de Villars
[3] Treaty of Amiens
