He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 130

(130) Conquering Rome, the Eternal City

In the late 18th century, Rome was the capital of the Papal States.

-Bbaam! Bbaam-bbaam! Bbaam-bbaam-bbaam!

As the military band blared its trumpets, countless citizens lined the streets, trembling with fear.

Five thousand cavalrymen were arriving from the north of Rome.

The conqueror of Northern Italy, the annihilator of the Austrian legions, the proclaimer of revolution.
The Papal States of Rome, which had opposed revolutionary France, also succumbed to the new conqueror.

With the Pope having declared no armed resistance, the armed cavalrymen rode in.

“Did we really need to make such grand preparations?” a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a red cardinal’s hat, asked with a displeased expression.

Standing next to him was an old man wearing a pure white hat, the highest authority in this city, where numerous high-ranking clergy reside: the Pope.

Pope Pius VI turned to the cardinal and replied.

“I am not pleased either, Cardinal Imola.”

“Then why are you making these preparations?”

“Because we only have 5,000 troops, and the Kingdom of Naples will not protect us.”

With a deep sigh, the Pope declared, “The Emperor has already been defeated in Italy, Cardinal Imola.”

The Emperor, the representative of the Holy Roman Empire and the ruler of the Austrian House.

Emperor Franz II, the head of the Habsburg family.

Although it was Argentau, Beaulieu, Wurmser, and Alvinczy who fought, all those generals served the Emperor of the Empire.

From the early days of the French Revolution, Austria fought representing various European countries due to its ties with the Bourbon dynasty.

Austria had been completely defeated in Northern Italy.

Even if the Pope did not declare it, everyone in Rome knew this fact.

Nevertheless, Cardinal Imola, Niccolò Luigi Chiaramonti, spoke to the Pope again.

“General Bonaparte is not in an entirely advantageous position, Your Holiness.”

“I have heard that the Empire has defeated France in Bavaria. But they have not crossed the Rhine, have they?”

“Could it not drag on in a stalemate? In the meantime, the Imperial Army might return to Italy…”

The Empire has not yet been defeated by France.
Moreau, who was in charge of the Rhine front, was defeated by Archduke Charles and pushed back to Mainz.

Of course, it is true that they are far from being able to push to Paris.

Nevertheless, if the Empire mobilizes its forces, could they not recruit about 50,000 troops again?

The Pope shook his head.

“Believing so, we missed the opportunity to surrender. Now, they will not end it with just reparations. Those terrifying soldiers of the revolution.”

When Beaulieu was defeated, the Pope thought the same as Cardinal Imola.

Even when the Duke of Parma declared surrender and the Grand Duke of Tuscany only dreamed of escape, the Pope sided with Austria.

Because he had not forgotten the French Revolution’s disregard for the Church, the confiscation of church property in France, and the massacre of clergy and nuns.

However, Wurmser died, and Alvinczy, the last hope, was also defeated.

The Austrian army is said to be scattered and hiding or fleeing back to their homeland.

In this situation, it is unreasonable to think that Austria will rule Northern Italy again.

Nevertheless, there is a reason why Cardinal Imola does not like surrendering to France.

“According to the initial notice, they demanded 37 million *livres* [French currency] in reparations.”

“The contributions of the faithful will be depleted. Tsk.”

“Will they end it with that? They are the ones who confiscated church lands. They committed the same acts not only in France but also in Sardinia and Milan. What if they commit such acts in this Papal State?”

They might face not only huge reparations but also the abolition of the Papal States.

This is a situation that the Catholic Church cannot accept.

Should we not at least negotiate before surrendering?

The Pope frowned and replied.

“It is inevitable that we will lose some territory. However, we must ensure the survival of the Vatican and the Papal States. We must prevent them from turning this place into French territory or a republic.”

Suddenly, the Pope’s gaze turned to the welcoming line for the ‘conqueror,’ towards the rear.

“Fortunately, we have a good ‘card’ at our disposal, do we not?”

That is, the 1,000 other French troops who entered Rome a few days ago.

Along with the dignitaries whom General Sérurier, the ruler of Milan, had personally written a letter requesting to be treated with utmost respect.
The Pope treated these dignitaries with great respect instead of using them as hostages.

To make a good impression, even a little.

The Cardinal licked his lips.

“Will it work on that conqueror who seems to have no blood or tears? He is the one who fought the Imperial Army and did not leave a single prisoner properly. I would rather threaten him.”

“Family is different. And so are their children.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Just then.

“The French army is coming!”

A messenger announced, seeing the cavalrymen running in the distance.

Cardinal Imola tensed and stared at the dust.

Indeed, what is the new conqueror thinking?

***

Looking at the Roman walls to the south, Napoleon sighed deeply.

“Should I have gone to Milan? What do you think, Marmont? Is Josephine angry after all?”

He was thinking about his fiancée, Josephine.

Marmont, his adjutant and artillery commander, quickly looked around.

However, the other adjutants, including Eugene, all avoided eye contact.

Because they did not want to answer such a difficult question.

Inevitably, Marmont politely offered an answer that would do the least damage.

“Well, wouldn’t Madame de Beauharnais understand well enough?”

“Not at all! You don’t know Josephine, Marmont! She is very self-centered, selfish, and willful!”

“Ah, yes. That is. Well, General Eugene de Beauharnais is here too.”

Just as Marmont was quickly passing the buck to Eugene, Napoleon nodded and shouted.

“Eugene! Don’t you agree? Your mother is a really selfish woman. She never sent a letter first, did she? I always had to send one for her to barely write back!”

Of course, it was Napoleon who came to Rome without looking for that selfish Josephine.

In a public sense, it is an excellent decision to prioritize the strategic structure over his lover.

However, Josephine, who probably has little interest in the strategic structure, will obviously not understand at all.

Moreover, if what Eugene had guessed before the expedition was correct, there is a high possibility that Josephine is really angry.

Instead of explaining all this, Eugene pointed to the wide-open main gate in front.

“Commander, this is Rome. That wall is the famous Aurelian Wall.”

“Who doesn’t know? I ordered us to come. And I only brought you and Lannes’ cavalry. Why? Because we needed a *blitzkrieg* [lightning war]!”

“Furthermore, it is where the Pope resides. It is the religious capital of Catholicism, and the city that the revolutionaries in Paris most wanted to trample on.”

In fact, the reason why Paris wanted to conquer Italy was not because of Austria.

Rather, the anti-religious revolutionary ideology was much greater.

Because the revolution was about Catholic clergy overthrowing the old regime, who were the first nobles.

Immediately, the property that the revolutionary government focused on confiscating was all church property.

And the capital of that Catholic Old Church is Rome.

“Now Rome has surrendered to Commander Napoleon. You know the historical significance of this, don’t you?”

The one who conquered the church was the conqueror of the era.

This is the early modern period when religion still has considerable power.
The era of the eve of modernity, when the revolution is overturning even people’s thoughts.

Napoleon twisted his lips and burst out laughing.

“Ha! When I see this, I really think this guy has no blood or tears. He’s worse than Goose [likely a nickname], the chief of staff! To say that conquering this city is more important than seeing his own mother!”

“Isn’t he your son, General? He must resemble you.”

“Hey, Masséna! Eugene is only my stepson, not my biological son! I’m not that heartless!”

Napoleon smiled as he replied to Masséna, who had come with the minimum escort.

“But he knows my intentions most accurately. Yes, it’s Rome. I have become the conqueror of Rome!”

Eugene smiled and brushed off the word that slightly pricked his heart.

Stepson.

Indeed, no matter how much Napoleon cherishes Eugene, there is a line that cannot be crossed.

That is, he is not a direct descendant.

This line cannot be crossed not only by Eugene but also by Napoleon’s brothers.

However, now is not the time to think about this issue first.

Eugene casually said, turning his gaze back beyond the Roman gate.

“There, the Pope is visible. He came out himself.”

A clergyman wearing a pure white hat was seen riding a white horse.

White horses tend to be old, and therefore gentle and peaceful.

The Pope ended up riding a white horse as a symbol of peace instead of a white flag.

The Pope greeted Napoleon’s cavalry with his head held high.

“I, Pius, the servant of Christ, greet the conqueror of France.”

Pius VI.

The religious representative of the old era who faced the French Revolution in Rome.
The clerical monarch of the Papal States, who condemned France for not only confiscating the property of religious people but also massacring them, and participated in the anti-French alliance.

But now he is an old man who has been forced to surrender by the overwhelming Napoleonic army.

-Clatter!

Suddenly, Napoleon spoke from his horse, staring respectfully at the Pope.

“I, Napoleon Bonaparte, the guardian of the revolution, greet Your Holiness. The Papal States will be maintained, and the safety of Your Holiness and the Roman Church will be protected by the French Italian Legion.”

Napoleon chose to preserve the Papal States.

***

In fact, it is an obvious choice.

‘Because I haven’t completely defeated Austria yet.’

Eugene did not dismount, riding his horse behind Napoleon.

Napoleon, the other adjutants, division commanders, and high-ranking generals were all the same.

They all politely observed etiquette without any disrespectful attitude.

However, they did not dismount, did not take a submissive posture, and of course, did not particularly recognize the Pope’s authority.

Rather, it is as if a soldier of a mere republic, not even a monarch, is looking at the Pope with an equal gaze.

This attitude has a significant implication.

That Napoleon is, in fact, the representative of the entire France in Italy.

Even though the Director of the Directory, Saliceti, is not present at this place.

But no one thought it was strange.

Especially the high-ranking clergy and Roman nobles who came out of the Vatican.

“Oh! That’s a relief.”

“The Papal States will be maintained.”

“God, thank you!”

But Napoleon added in Italian with a Corsican accent.

“However, I would like you to hand over the Papal States and *Romagna* [a region] spanning across Northern Italy to France.”

In reality, it is a territory equivalent to one-third of the Papal States.

In particular, Romagna is important.

Because it is a strategic route to the eastern end of the Papal States, leading to the southern Italian peninsula.

Napoleon said softly to Pope Pius VII, who widened his eyes.

“Because it is essential land to eliminate the remnants of the Habsburgs and Bourbons.”

In southern Italy, there is the Kingdom of Naples.

A country ruled by the descendants of Louis XIV and the descendants of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty.

Also, when the French Bourbon dynasty, their kin, collapsed, they strongly protested and participated in the anti-French alliance, an enemy country.

The Neapolitan Legion even came to the Battle of Toulon, where Napoleon first fought in actual combat.

In the Battle of Borgetto, commanded by Eugene, the reinforcements of the Kingdom of Naples were also annihilated.

In short, Napoleon declared that he would seize the northern Italian hegemony and extend his hand to the south.

The Pope nodded, forcing a smile.

“Of course, General. It’s all up to you, General. But.”

Then, this time, something that would shock Napoleon flowed from the Pope’s mouth.

“Have you met your fiancée? She came from Milan first and is waiting near Rome.”

Napoleon’s fiancée, Josephine.

Before Napoleon could answer, he widened his eyes.

The person who was more surprised than anyone else, Eugene, jumped off his horse and shouted.

“My mother came to Rome?”

October 13, 1795.

Napoleon entered Rome.

With the news that Josephine had arrived one step ahead.