He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 430

(430) Eugene Finally Orders the Division of Spain

The 19th century is an era of unification, not division.

“Um, in my opinion, this seems like a step backward?”

Ippolito, now the chief aide to the King of Spain, clicked his tongue.

Of course, he was Eugene’s aide, and Stephanie was in charge of Maria’s.

Stephanie’s flamboyantly decorated chest stood out.

In fact, in Spain, which is more conservative than France, such attire might be considered unconventional.

While the nobles’ attention was drawn to the French-style ladies-in-waiting entering, Eugene responded quietly to Ippolito.

“No, it’s a decision that’s ahead of its time.”

“What era? Isn’t this going back to the Middle Ages?”

“Did you know? The Middle Ages were actually a society where adjustments were made through the authority of the emperor and the pope. It’s just that technology was underdeveloped, so that authority couldn’t realistically spread.”

Suddenly, Eugene smiled, lightly extending his hand.

“As the era develops, dividing it up actually makes it more peaceful.”

Marie, who was standing elegantly across from him, took Eugene’s hand.

The crown on her head was not a heavy one, but a light tiara.

Although the great nobles were gathered in the Royal Palace of Madrid, he deliberately emphasized splendor over authority.

It was a device to respect tradition but also to show that a new royal power had emerged.

-Step, step, step.

As the two monarchs walked in, the herald shouted vigorously.

“By the grace of God, the King of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, Jerusalem, Navarre, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, Majorca, Seville, Sardinia, Cordoba, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, Algarve, Algeciras, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, the East and West Indies, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Anjou, Burgundy, Brabant, Milan, Count of Habsburg, Flanders, Tyrol, Barcelona, and Lord of Biscay, Molina!”

In fact, Maria is fluent in Spanish, specifically Castilian.

She had learned it from a young age because she might marry into the Spanish royal family.

On the other hand, Eugene, who was slightly less fluent in Spanish than in English or German, clicked his tongue.

He was annoyed by the ridiculously long title.

“Why is it so long?”

“The French king’s title was originally quite long too, Eugene.”

“We should discard titles that aren’t actually held in the future.”

Marie chuckled and squeezed Eugene’s hand, and the herald, who had barely finished reciting the title, announced.

“Queen Maria and King Eugene enter!”

The nobles who had been waiting in the palace hall bowed their heads.

However, Maria and Eugene did not sit on the two prepared thrones.

Standing in the center of the hall, Maria looked at the nobles and began to speak.

“Today, my husband, King Eugene, will make an important announcement.”

As the nobles tensed, Maria spoke calmly.

“I believe some [Grandees] (high-ranking nobles) and [Hidalgos] (lower-ranking nobles) already anticipate this announcement. Furthermore, messengers have been sent to various places in advance for preparation. However, everything will be formalized with today’s announcement.”

[Grandees] are a general term for dukes and marquises.

[Hidalgo] is closer to knights in other countries.

It seems like the middle-class nobles are missing, but in Spain, mentioning these two classes refers to the entire nobility.

So, the matter that the co-monarch will proclaim today is a matter that notifies the foundation of the monarchy to the entire nobility.

Suddenly, Eugene took a step forward.

“Then, I will declare it with my partner, the King of Spain, Maria.”

As the Madrid defense generals, who were the first to surrender to Eugene, watched, Eugene said.

“Spain is not a single country. Castile and Leon, Aragon and Valencia, Catalonia, and Granada all have the right to have their own flags and Cortes [representative assemblies].”

“Oh, glorious co-monarch!”

“Finally!”

What was proclaimed on the day of the coronation was now being specified.

Moreover, it’s not just the two major old kingdoms, Aragon and Castile, that have the Cortes.

Each region of Spain, which used to be an independent country, can now have a [Representative Assembly].

Of course, there is something hidden that Eugene did not say.

The Cortes that Eugene is introducing now is not strictly the traditional Cortes of old Spain.

The model itself is closer to the French-style aristocratic and commoner houses of the civic regime.

However, there is no need to say that in this place and confuse the nobles.

In any case, the major premise that great authority is conceded to the nobles is no different.

But Eugene added a word.

“My words are not over yet.”

In the blink of an eye, Eugene pointed to the globe that had been brought to the end of the palace hall corridor.

“I have stayed in the New World for several years.”

“Yes? No, why suddenly the New World?”

“There, I met capable admirals, governors, and viceroys, heard many grievances, and confirmed with my own eyes that the territory of the New World is in a dangerous state.”

The huge globe showed the New World in full view.

In fact, unlike England or France, Spain does not operate its New World territories under a [colonial] system.

It is treated as the same region by administering it as part of the home country’s territory.

Of course, in reality, due to remote distances and conflicting interests, it cannot be equal to the home country, so there is always conflict between the Peninsulares (Spanish-born colonists) and the Creoles (American-born colonists of Spanish descent).

But if the Cortes is introduced to the home country, what should happen to the New World?

“Therefore, I would like to allow all territories in the East and West Indies, especially Nueva España [New Spain, i.e., Mexico], Peru, Nueva Granada [modern Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela], and Rio de la Plata [modern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of Bolivia and Brazil], to have their own Cortes and representatives!”

At that moment, the capital defense commander, Alava, exclaimed in surprise.

“Your Majesty, that could lead to the division of the New World territories!”

“Nonsense! Alava, my loyal subject! Trust me. Trust the insight of me, who directly pioneered the New World and set foot on that land!”

“But giving rights to the Creoles means—!”

Eugene shook his head.

“Not just the Creoles. I, and my partner, the King of Spain, Maria, do not want the people to be discriminated against based on skin color. Mestizos [people of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry] and Mulattoes [people of mixed European and African ancestry] will also have the same rights!”

At that moment, the nobles who were about to protest looked at each other.

Creoles, referring to white people born in the New World, are usually mostly local landowners.

On the other hand, Mestizos are mixed with Indians, and Mulattoes are mixed with blacks.

In Spain, the three groups were treated equally, aiming to treat them equally with the home country, with differences from the home country.

However, there was naturally a backlash locally, and the Creoles discriminated against people of color.

In fact, even when the South American independence occurred in the original history, only the Creoles had vested interests for nearly a century.

Suddenly, Massena, wearing a French military uniform, looked back at Junot, the commander of the guard.

“It seems like black slaves are missing?”

“That’s only possible in places like our Nouvelle-France [New France, i.e., French colonies in North America], where the white population is small. Massena, you haven’t been to the New World, have you?”

“No, but I can tell. Everyone has a complicated face?”

Massena retorted sarcastically.

“They understand that this is a [Creole] check [a move to limit Creole power].”

So, Eugene is not simply installing a parliament in the New World based on the spirit of revolution.

Rather, the key is to bring in the lower and middle classes who have not been recognized for their rights and suppress the New World upper class.

Of course, it also provides an outlet called parliament so that the Creoles, the upper class of the New World, or the Creoles in French, have difficulty in rebelling.

Then Pelafex shouted loudly.

“Let’s follow His Majesty’s decree!”

The nobles were surprised and began to shout.

“Glory to the co-monarch of Spain!”

“Blessings to Emperor Eugene, who opened a new era!”

“Now, tradition will be revived again, and it will become a country where the Cortes is independent!”

They were embarrassed by the New World issue, but in any case, Eugene’s [reform] weakens the royal power and expands the rights of the nobles.

Because in the wide area where the Cortes is established, everything requires the consent of the Cortes to do something.

Conscription, taxation, and even punishment for nobles all require consent.

It sounds like they can’t even stop the nobles’ tyranny, and Massena sneered again.

“Somehow, it sounds like the country is going to be a mess.”

Junot shrugged.

“From France’s point of view, it’s good.”

Furthermore, the Spaniards have no reason to revolt, so it’s good.

***

Near the British fortress of Gibraltar, gunfire rings out loudly.

-Bang! Click, bang! Click, bang!

It’s definitely not a gun fired by the regular army.

It is being fired with hunting muskets, and the number is quite large, so gunshots are heard continuously.

It’s like an attack by so-called [guerrillas] (irregular soldiers).

Fleeing from the attack, the self-proclaimed ‘Louis XVII’, the Count of Artois, shouted.

“Why are the Spaniards attacking us? Weren’t we allies?”

Originally, the Count of Artois came to this country with the British army during the Madrid coup.

He acted as regent, claiming to be a relative of the Bourbon family, but Massena entered the capital.

Although Arthur Wellesley declared that he would fight a comfortable war of attrition, it was not so easy for those who wielded power in the court.

He barely escaped south with the British ambassador, but he is being attacked by the militia.

Suddenly, the British ambassador, Richard Wellesley, opened his mouth.

“Count Artois.”

“Call me King Louis! I am clearly the rightful King of France!”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Anyway, the reason why the Spanish have turned hostile to us is simple.”

Looking back at the militia who were chasing and scattering in the distance, Richard Ambassador frowned.

“It’s because Granada is about to gain autonomy for the first time in almost 400 years.”

The north of Gibraltar is the land formerly known as the Kingdom of Granada.

Of course, most of the Muslims who ruled this land have long been expelled to North Africa.

However, it is also true that local residents have always suffered from heavy central taxation and secretly dreamed of independence.

But the central government voluntarily stops controlling it, so the militia had no choice but to transform into [royalists] (supporters of the monarchy).

“Why is Freischütz [Eugene] doing that? If the region gains autonomy, there is nothing the king can do. He has to get the consent of the parliament every time he moves an army. Above all, it is difficult to collect taxes!”

“Since it will become a French colony anyway, it doesn’t matter.”

“I feel sorry for my nephew. He must be crying out in humiliation on the bed right now. The noble Bourbon bloodline, to some lower aristocrat!”

As the self-proclaimed Louis XVII shouted, Richard Ambassador snorted and headed to the Gibraltar fortress.

“I am also a lower aristocrat than His Majesty, so I am uncomfortable. First of all, prepare to leave for London.”

“What? Weren’t you planning to divide southern Spain with the Marquis of Romana?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t think it will be possible now.”

The ambassador took off his hat and greeted the commander of the Gibraltar fortress who came out to greet him, and muttered.

“Then, His Majesty or the former King of Spain over there will have to plan for the future in London.”

It can be seen that Carlos IV, the former king who designated Maria as his successor, is already being escorted by the British and staying in Gibraltar, coming out to greet him in front of the gate.

He is just moving according to the instructions of the British with a helpless attitude.

It was a moment that showed that Britain had not yet given up on the moment to intervene in Spain.

***

However, the Iberian Peninsula is already recognizing the new king.

-Clatter.

As 200,000 southern troops were lined up, one horseman stepped forward in front of the army.

It is the Marquis of Romana, the commander-in-chief of the Spanish army.

Suddenly, Ippolito whistled as he watched the army behind the Marquis of Romana with binoculars.

“Wow, it looks like at least 200,000?”

“Even so, the government doesn’t have any money now, so they’ll all have to be disbanded. Besides, most of them are disorganized.”

“Surely they won’t suddenly point their guns at us?”

Eugene chuckled at Ippolito, who was worried about the assassination.

“The Marquis of Romana has a lot to protect to use such clumsy tricks.”

In any case, the Marquis of Romana must protect his title, territory, and interests invested in Madrid.

If he suddenly assassinates Eugene in this place, there is a high possibility that he will lose everything.

Above all, the Marquis of Romana himself is a man who values ​​honor even in the original history.

“I greet the new King.”

As the Marquis of Romana, who stopped in front, paid his respects, Eugene smiled brightly.

“Welcome. Commander-in-chief of the army.”

“You’re not thinking of dismissing me, are you?”

“No, the commander-in-chief has a lot to do.”

The moment the Marquis of Romana raised his head, Eugene said calmly.

“Now that my partner and I have lost our resources in the home country, we have to do a lot of business in the New World.”

Local autonomy is directly linked to the weakening of central power.

In the end, all of this can only be attributed to money problems.

Because it means that central taxation becomes difficult.

Since ancient times, Spain has filled the poverty of central taxation with the interests of the New World.

The Marquis of Romana bowed his head politely again.

“If it is for Spain, I will gladly do it.”

With this, the First Spanish War of Succession came to an end.

Although, the turmoil in the Spanish New World territory was not over yet.