He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 425

(425) Dividing Spain by Crowning Co-Kings

In fact, co-kings in Spain are not an unfamiliar system.

“Hmm, so, my lord is also ascending to the throne? How about that.”

Eugene’s declaration at the Tuileries Palace was not merely a proclamation of his claim to the throne.

It was an event where Eugene declared he would directly obtain the throne.

Unless a revolution occurs in Spain and it becomes a republic, there must be a basis for obtaining the throne.

There must be legal, hereditary, and traditional justification and lineage.

However, neither the Bonaparte family nor the Beauharnais family has any basis to claim the throne.

That is, if Marie didn’t exist.

On the other hand, Marie, the direct line of the Bourbon royal family and designated successor by the former King Carlos IV, clearly has the right of succession.

In such cases, Marie usually becomes queen, and Eugene governs as regent as her consort.

However, Eugene is saying he will become king himself.

Of course, there are precedents.

“Like the Glorious Revolution in England, Spain has often had co-kings ascend to the throne.”

The French Empire’s cabinet ministers smacked their lips at Eugene’s nonchalant answer.

When James II was ousted in England, William, the Stadtholder [governor] of the Netherlands, seized the throne through the succession rights of his wife, Mary, the daughter of Charles II.

At that time, William was crowned co-king with Mary.

Even after Mary’s death, he continued to rule as King of England.

So, Eugene’s claim does not necessarily contradict the interests of France, but there is a problem.

There is no reason for the French Empire to support the daughter of the Bourbon royal family, who was expelled after the Great Revolution.

However, there is a reason for the empire to support Eugene, the Emperor’s adopted son and still the Viceroy of New France.

Eugene looked at the ministers of the Imperial Cabinet and said.

“This is not for my personal gain.”

“If it’s not for your personal gain, you could just reign as the queen’s representative. Of course, that’s if the kingdom remains.”

“I’m bringing up that issue. All the colonies outside the Atlantic could be lost, Talleyrand.”

Eugene suddenly stared at Talleyrand.

“If Spain continues to be embroiled in war like this.”

Cambacérès, Lebrun, Carnot, and other veterans of the revolution and meritorious subjects of the empire, remained silent.

After all, Napoleon, who was sitting at the head of the table, had made up his mind.

Why bother looking bad to the Viceroy?

It is a matter with a high possibility of failure, but if the Viceroy succeeds, the vast colonial empire of Spain could fall into French hands.

However, Talleyrand, who is not even the Minister of Finance, continues to object to Eugene.

“Viceroy, it seems you have already made up your mind, but is there anything the home country can do to help?”

“Military matters have already been conveyed to Marshal Berthier. Maintaining the Viceroy’s Guards from the 4th Corps, and Masséna’s 2nd Corps.”

“Is that enough? Unfortunately, it seems General Masséna is also stuck in front of Madrid.”

When Talleyrand sneered, Eugene smiled and retorted.

“If the Foreign Minister is wise, I believe he will help on his own. As will the other ministers of the cabinet, and the parliament.”

Just as Talleyrand’s brow furrowed, Eugene placed his hand on the cabinet table and said.

“Gentlemen, this is a proxy war with England.”

“We all know that.”

“No, those who are not soldiers do not fully recognize it. It’s not a war where we fight England head-on, but a war where England and France compete in Spain.”

Eugene’s hand pointed to a globe in the corner of the cabinet meeting room.

“The result will determine the hegemony of the New World.”

In short, this is an indirect war where powerful countries compete in another country without engaging in a full-scale war.

It does not consume massive amounts of manpower and resources like a direct war.

However, if it fails, it must withdraw from the country that became the stage for the indirect war.

It is natural to be pushed back in the hegemonic competition.

But why is Spain so important in the New World competition?

“England is currently at war with America.”

“The battlefield that the Viceroy created and abandoned before coming here, perhaps?”

“Also, the British Navy is sailing towards Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico] and the South American continent, which are controlled by Spain.”

Eugene ignored Talleyrand and looked at the ministers, asserting.

“If we don’t retreat from Spain, or if we drag on for too long, all of South America could fall into British hands.”

In fact, this is what happens in the original history.

After the fall of the French Empire in the original history, England supports the South American independence movement instead of pressuring Spain.

Later, when South America and Mexico became independent in the 1820s, British capital was invested, and South America was virtually under British economic control.

If France had completely seized Spain, or if the Spanish war had not been dragged on, South American independence would not have progressed so quickly.

Napoleon also nodded.

“All the rights and interests linked to the American continent, including the newly secured New France, will be lost.”

“The rights and interests are not that great yet, Your Majesty.”

“But what if Spain is placed under my son’s crown?”

Napoleon ignored the advice cautiously offered by Finance Minister Mollien and exclaimed.

“Won’t our French Empire end up controlling almost all of the American continent!”

France is already seizing the central part of North America under the name of New France.

Also, the Canadian region, which is being invaded by Russia’s Filip, is in fact mainly composed of indigenous soldiers sent by France.

But to take over Nueva España, that is, Mexico, as well as Spain, which controls Gran Colombia, Argentina, and Chile in the original history?

In fact, France would occupy most of the New World, except for the United States and Brazil, which control the east coast of North America.

Of course, there is a logical fallacy here.

The premise is that Eugene, who became King of Spain, will absolutely obey Napoleon.

Talleyrand wanted to point that out, but Eugene preempted him.

“So, I ask for full support except for military power. In return, I will end the war in the shortest possible time.”

In the end, Talleyrand decided to leave it alone instead of pointing out further.

“Do you have a plan?”

In reality, even Napoleon failed to end the Spanish war early.

Currently, even with Masséna’s early deployment, it is not easy thanks to Wellesley’s guerrilla offensive.

So, does Eugene have some kind of ingenious plan?

Eugene answered as if it were obvious.

“Have you forgotten? When there were co-kings in Spain, there was no such thing as a Spaniard.”

At that moment, Talleyrand’s eyes widened.

The Viceroy, famous for this extraordinary method, is now trying to dismantle Spain.

***

Divide and rule is the best way for a conqueror to govern, not just for the British Empire.

“Separate Castile, León, and Aragon?”

Marie asked in the carriage, escorted by the Guards, on the way to Zaragoza.

“Originally, Spain was not one country. Hundreds of years ago, it was a political entity born when Isabella I and Ferdinand II married, and the couple ruled.”

“Then it was one country from then on, right?”

“No. Until Philip, Louis XIV’s son, that is, Felipe V [Philip V], ascended the throne, Spain was still a system where different countries shared only the monarch.”

Eugene spread out the map and his eyes gleamed.

“Now, we’re going back to the system before the Bourbons ruled.”

So-called regionalism is one of the problems that remained in Europe until later generations.

But Spain was a country where regionalism was particularly severe.

Because it was originally a political entity that was not conquered, but tied together by the marriage of a monarch, with completely different countries and languages that were quite heterogeneous.

In particular, the former Kingdom of Aragon, centered on Barcelona, and the former Kingdom of Castile, centered on Madrid, have been competing and killing each other for a long time.

“But wouldn’t the people of Madrid dislike that?”

“Sharp. That’s an accurate analysis. The old Castilians would be horrified. In fact, when you think about it, the New World colonies were originally the Kingdom of Castile’s.”

“Then, won’t the rebellion get worse?”

When Marie frowned, Eugene smiled and soothed her.

“Anyway, all of Spain is swept up in anti-French sentiment. Rather than that, it’s better to divide and respond.”

As if in response, gunshots were heard outside the carriage.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

Marie was startled, but Eugene wrapped his arms around her and glanced out the window.

Viceroy’s Guard Commander Junot nodded and ordered the soldiers to continue.

It seems that the enemies only attacked briefly this time and then retreated.

Hugging the trembling Marie, Eugene said.

“Well, it’s not like there’s no plan for Castile. Don’t worry too much.”

“Oh, how are you going to persuade them? Everyone hates us like that.”

“We have to threaten them.”

Just as Marie’s eyes widened, Eugene smiled coldly.

“If the war continues like this, all the New World colonies will become independent.”

That’s what actually happened in the original history.

No, in the first place, the ruling class of the New World, the Criollos [people of Spanish ancestry born in the Americas], were able to rise up because Spain lost its power due to the French invasion.

In a sense, it’s a bizarre situation where the cause provider is threatening.

Marie looked at Eugene with suspicious eyes.

“Will that really work?”

“We don’t need to persuade the people of Castile. We only need to persuade the great nobles.”

“That’s not like the standard-bearer of the revolution. Why is that?”

Eugene gently pressed Marie’s nose and answered.

“Because to the people, you are the legitimate successor declared by the former king.”

The loss of the New World is not something for the people to worry about.

It is a problem for the upper class who are still making huge profits from overseas colonies.

Then, how should the people be persuaded?

Those who are still guerrillas and shooting guns are all people who have lost their fields and homes due to the French invasion.

“This is where faith becomes important. My princess, who is a devout Catholic.”

Marie, who had been blinking her eyes, giggled and snuggled up to Eugene.

“Hmph, you know you can never get a divorce, right? According to Catholic doctrine?”

Eugene suddenly felt a fire burning in his heart.

The next moment, the two lovers began to kiss passionately in the carriage.

Outside, Guard Commander Junot whistled as he watched the swaying carriage, so loudly.

***

In Guadalajara, a small city near Madrid, Marshal Masséna of the 2nd Corps greeted Eugene.

“You threw a bomb as soon as you arrived, Freischütz [a lucky marksman]!”

Eugene chuckled at Masséna’s grumbling and asked back.

“Why, is the people’s rebellion hard to endure?”

“They were very happy in Aragon. We’re dealing with the people of Old Castile!”

“Just wait a little bit.”

Eugene looked around the city and smiled.

Crosses, hard to find in Paris after the revolution, stand out.

It is the sign of a church.

It seems that this city is also home to many devout believers.

“Soon, news will come from Rome.”

“What news are you talking about?”

“The Papal States.”

Eugene narrowed his eyes.

“The Knights of St. John will bring it in the name of the Pope. A devout Catholic forbids rebellion against a legitimate king. And.”

Just as Masséna was surprised, Eugene blushed and put his arm around Marie, who was standing next to him.

“In the Madrid Cathedral, with the blessing of Cardinal Fesch, the marriage of Queen Maria, or Marie, and King ‘Eugenio’ will be held.”

Maria is the Spanish pronunciation of Marie.

Eugenio is, of course, the Spanish name for Eugene.

So, Eugene decided to shake the public sentiment of Spain by appealing to Catholicism.

“This is my card, Masséna.”

It is the reverse version of the French atheist rumor that the British used in the Peninsular War in the original history.