He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 431

(431) The New World Colonies Begin to Stir

In a time before the telegraph, news from the Old World traveled slowly to the New World.

“The king has been overthrown! There is no legitimate king! Therefore, we have no reason to be ruled by the viceroy and his father!”

In May 1807, the land known as Nueva España, or [New Spain, what is now Mexico], was in turmoil.

The king had been driven out of the homeland, and a princess from France had become queen.

But all the New World colonies were [royal territories, possessions of the crown].

This meant that if the king lacked legitimacy, the justification for Spanish rule was greatly weakened.

People gathered in the square of Ciudad de México, or Mexico City in English.

“That’s right! Why can’t we treat the [Indios, Indigenous people] as we please?”

“And why are they stopping the slave traders? This is a violation of property rights!”

“Don’t collect taxes! What have you ever done for us? Give us our money back!”

But those gathered and expressing their anger were all white men and women dressed in fancy clothes.

These were the so-called Criollos [people of Spanish descent born in the New World], white people born in the New World.

They had gathered, enraged by the sporadic news arriving from the homeland.

A particular problem was that the new queen’s husband, Eugene, was a former viceroy of Nouvelle France [French for New France, a former French colony in North America].

It was already unpleasant that a Frenchman, not even of royal descent, had become co-king, but there was another issue.

The policies enacted by the new ‘Eugenio’ I in Nouvelle France.

He had freed black slaves, appointed indigenous nobles, and even distributed land.

Of course, from Eugene’s perspective, this was simply a choice to rapidly grow the sparsely populated Nouvelle France.

However, these were policies that were bound to provoke resentment among the Criollos of Nueva España.

Suddenly, viceroy’s guards stepped forward from the viceregal palace of Socalto in Mexico City towards the Criollos protesting.

“Who dares to undermine the authority of His Majesty, the King of the homeland!”

But a beautiful woman stepped in front of Viceroy Iturrigaray, who had come to disperse the protesters.

“Aren’t you a New Worlder? Then follow our cause! Governor Iturrigaray!”

“What cause? Wait, are you plotting treason, Signora [Italian for Lady]?”

“Not treason, but self-governance!”

The noblewoman, María Ignacia, shouted with blazing eyes.

“If there is no legitimate king in the homeland, we have the right to govern ourselves!”

María Ignacia Rodríguez, originally known as the goddess of Mexican independence in the original history.

However, at this time, she was merely a prominent figure in Mexico City, famous for becoming wealthy by marrying three husbands.

In any case, Viceroy José de Iturrigaray knew of her.

Iturrigaray, who was a viceroy in name but in reality a governor, frowned.

“Mrs. Rodríguez, our viceroyalty of Nueva España supports Queen Maria. This was also the case with my predecessor, Marquis de Marquina!”

“So you’re going to accept being a vassal state of France! Don’t you know what Nueva España is like? We can’t even use a single slave!”

“Well, that’s a different issue.”

However, Mrs. Rodríguez shouted with a spirit that did not match her small frame.

“We must protect the property and defend the rights of the New Worlders. If the governor will not join us, we must govern ourselves!”

This was not Mrs. Rodríguez’s personal opinion.

It was the claim of the Criollos residing here in Mexico City, or rather, the entire upper class of Nueva España.

Only a small number of Peninsulares [Spaniards born in Spain] from the Spanish Peninsula were on bad terms with the Criollos and opposed them.

Leaving the protesters alone, Iturrigaray returned to the viceregal palace.

At that moment, a man who did not look Spanish at all approached the balcony, clicking his tongue.

The man offered Viceroy comfort.

“Oh, Viceroy. What a mess.”

“Ah, Baron von Humboldt. It would be best if you stayed inside the governor’s residence.”

“I’ve seen Mrs. Rodríguez a few times in salons. I thought she was a smart woman. I didn’t know she would incite a rebellion like this.”

Alexander von Humboldt, lightly stroking his chin, said.

“Viceroy Eugene, no, King Eugene is a remarkable person. Resisting like this will only invite disaster.”

This man, the same age as Napoleon, would later become the founder of geography in the original history.

Originally a Prussian nobleman, he was famous for traveling the world, especially South America.

However, Humboldt’s greatest influence on history was something else.

Guano [bird droppings used as fertilizer].

He discovered rocks made of dried bird droppings in Peru.

He informed Europe of a substance that could replace saltpeter [potassium nitrate, used in gunpowder and fertilizer].

He was currently staying in Mexico City, studying geography, and happened to witness a protest against Eugene.

-Thud!

At that moment, a middle-aged nobleman in a fancy outfit rushed into the governor’s residence with his entourage.

“Something terrible has happened, Viceroy!”

“What is it, Marquis Sebastian Calvo de la Puerta y O’Farrill, 2nd Marquis of Casa Calvo? It seems like only yesterday that you went to Nouvelle France to request support.”

“That’s not the problem now! In Cuba, Admiral Cisneros has sent a royal decree directly!”

The man who would become the governor of Louisiana in the original history, Marquis of Casa Calvo, screamed.

“Expand and reorganize the cabildos [Spanish colonial town councils] in all cities! Create a Cortes [Spanish parliament] to oversee all of Nueva España! And the local viceroys and governors must respect the representatives of the Cortes!”

Admiral Cisneros of the Spanish New World Fleet, who had returned to Spain, had returned.

Along with the royal decree of the new King ‘Eugenio’.

But the viceroy stood up abruptly upon hearing the contents of the royal decree.

“Good heavens, what are they thinking in the homeland! No, His Majesty the King has been to the New World!”

As if in response, a loud cry echoed from the square in Mexico City.

“Freedom of slaves and property! Let’s fight for our rights!”

With Mrs. Rodríguez leading the charge, a fierce shout echoed.

-Waaaa!

It was the cry of those who would undoubtedly cause chaos if the Cortes was established.

***

3,600 kilometers south of Mexico City is a city called Caracas.

“What do you think, López? Of the declaration I wrote?”

This city itself is not well known to anyone who is not South American.

However, the name of a modern country in the original history is well known for a strange reason.

The capital of Venezuela, a country that prospered because of oil and then failed because of oil.

In the center of the land called the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada, a young man was showing a beautifully written sentence to his friend, asking.

“It’s very passionate. But there’s one problem, Simón.”

“What problem?”

“The former king was deposed because of England, and the current king lacks legitimacy. But the queen is the successor appointed by the former king, Carlos. In this situation, how many citizens will actually participate?”

The friend, Luis López Méndez, shrugged.

In fact, the declaration was too passionate for Méndez, who was a lawyer.

Also, to people who have lived in a world where the king exists, even if he is far away.

Above all, the purpose of this declaration is extremely radical.

“If it’s a revolt for independence.”

The young man, Simón, laughed heartily and patted Méndez on the shoulder.

“Even so, I swore in Rome. I will not give freedom to my arms until the independence of [Latin America] is achieved!”

In this era, it was one of the essential education courses for the elite of the American continent to visit Europe when they were young.

Simón, who was born into a prestigious family in Nueva Granada, had naturally traveled to Europe.

But when Simón went to Europe, Europe was caught up in the whirlwind of the French Revolution.

That is why Simón was moved by the spirit of the revolution and dreamed of a [republic, a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives].

Méndez, a friend who was not as passionate as Simón but still sympathized, nodded.

“Okay, then who should be the leader? This is an issue that needs to be discussed with the Freemasons of Nueva Granada.”

“Is there any need to think of anyone else? General Francisco de Miranda. He participated in the French Revolution and is a pioneer who started the independence expedition! Of course, we must honor him as our leader this time!”

“Well, isn’t he just a British stooge?”

Simón and Méndez’s conversation has a significant point.

Freemasons, Miranda, and the independence expedition.

In 1807, South America was already caught up in the independence craze, ahead of Mexico.

In particular, in the Nueva Granada area, the Freemason organization spread from England is at the forefront, and an underground independence movement is underway.

It was General Miranda who actually led this movement to revolt.

Miranda participated in the American Revolutionary War, was suspected by the Spanish authorities and exiled to England, and then participated in the French Revolution.

He even actually participated in the revolutionary war under Dumouriez.

However, after Dumouriez tried to revolt and failed, Miranda’s life was also twisted and he eventually returned home.

But even after returning home, Miranda did not give up and worked to liberate the New World colonies from Spain.

What Simón calls the [independence expedition] is one of those revolts.

In the original history, Simón was praising the general who would eventually become his enemy.

-Thump!

Suddenly, the sound of the mansion door opening loudly echoed from the first floor.

“Bolívar, are you inside!”

Simón was startled and went down to the first floor to greet the uninvited guest.

“What’s going on, Mr. Bello?”

“A royal decree has been issued.”

“Yes? Ah, from the homeland? What good is that? Aren’t the French woman and her husband creating a puppet state of France anyway?”

Simón’s teacher, Andrés Bello, shook the proclamation document and shouted.

“It’s different! Now, the homeland has authorized the establishment of a Cortes to oversee Nueva Granada! Of course, it’s a problem that not only Criollos but also Mestizos [people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry] and Mulattoes [people of mixed European and African ancestry] can become members!”

Simón and Méndez were startled and looked at the proclamation document.

“Cortes? Could it be that they are allowing autonomy?”

“This is not just a lie.”

“Huh? No, how can you be so sure, Simón?”

Simón stared intently at the proclamation document and shouted.

“Look at the fact that they even included arrogant Mestizos and cheeky Mulattoes! Isn’t that a tactic the Peninsulares use to keep us Criollos in check? Then, that means the Cortes really has power!”

Suddenly, Simón looked back at the [comrades] gathered on the first floor and shouted loudly.

“The revolt is canceled! I will seize the Cortes! Quickly, gather the influential figures of Caracas!”

Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios y Blanco.

A man commonly known as Simón Bolívar.

The 24-year-old who would later become the liberator of Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru in the original history.

Bolívar was about to move.

***

Again, 7,300 kilometers south of Caracas is a city called Buenos Aires.

“José, you’ve come too.”

For a moment, a young man who was awkward in the military uniform he was wearing for the first time in a while looked up.

He saw a friend he had studied with at the Madrid Military School in the old days.

However, after becoming adults, they lived in different hometowns and assigned units, so they only occasionally exchanged news.

The young man, José, greeted his friend whom he had seen again from afar and asked.

“Bernardo, how did you get summoned?”

“Well, isn’t it because we all worked as officers in the [homeland, Spain]?”

“Or, could it be that the Lautaro Lodge was discovered?”

The two young men exchanged glances.

[Lodge] refers to a branch of the Freemasons.

Furthermore, the Lautaro Lodge is a Freemason organization spread throughout South America, and it is a group that supports Miranda.

In short, it is the birthplace of the South American independence movement.

Then the door opened again.

-Click!

The viceroy of the Río de la Plata, Rafael de Sobremonte, entered and nodded.

“Oh, you’ve come. Lieutenant Colonel José de San Martín, and Lieutenant Colonel Bernardo O’Higgins.”

“Why did you summon us? Your Excellency Viceroy.”

“It’s very simple.”

The two young men Sobremonte had summoned were young officers who had achieved merits in the homeland, that is, Spain.

Also, officers who have achieved merits not in the viceroyalty but in the homeland are naturally valuable talents in the New World.

Therefore, Sobremonte has known the two young officers, who are also from influential families, for a long time.

However, he did not know that the homeland would pick the two of them and call them.

“Their Majesties, the new King Eugenio and Queen Maria, have called you two to represent our Río de la Plata. Along with the order to elect you as members of the newly created Cortes.”

José de San Martín and Bernardo O’Higgins.

In the original history, they would each become the independence heroes of Argentina and Chile.

However, the two men, who were still just promising or subversive young officers, looked at each other and asked the viceroy.

“Us?”

As expected, Sobremonte, the cowardly viceroy who fled from the British in the original history, answered boldly.

“Furthermore, they ordered you to come to Madrid in the shortest possible time. This is a royal decree.”

So, Eugene is now summoning the heroes of the South American independence movement.

Before the war of independence has even begun.