He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 481

(481) The New Kaiser Proclaims the Holy Roman Empire

Voltaire once quipped:

“This body, which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire, was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.”

He was mocking the fact that the Holy Roman Empire was, in its final days, effectively not a single nation.

Of course, Voltaire could say such things because he lived during the height of the French monarchy.

Had he lived during the revolutionary period, Voltaire wouldn’t have been able to say such a thing.

However, there are still those who believe in the empire’s true existence and yearn to revive it.

Archduke Karl, brother of the last Emperor Franz II, shouted from Buda Castle:

“The Emperor, that fearsome Napoleon, is trapped in winter!”

Recently, Karl had been living a life of quiet desperation.

Partly due to worsening epilepsy, but mostly due to the defeat at Austerlitz.

Since that defeat, Karl had faced continuous difficulties just preserving his throne.

Domestic discontent from the Hungarians, foreign pressure from France, and above all, his own self-doubt and illness.

But now, Napoleon, the cause of all these troubles, was trapped in Russia.

Although he seemed to be staying there voluntarily, Karl knew the real reason was his army’s predicament.

Moreover, former Chancellor Metternich, who had rushed from Paris, was also exclaiming:

“Your Majesty, now is the perfect opportunity!”

“But what if Napoleon returns? We could be isolated and destroyed, like the Austrian Empire before us.”

“Isn’t the Russian expeditionary force already disintegrating?”

Metternich pointed to a map on the wall next to the royal office, his eyes gleaming.

“The only army remaining in Napoleon’s grasp is the 200,000 left in Russia. The rest are scattered!”

Napoleon had raised a total of 600,000 troops.

Of these, 200,000 of the elite and 100,000 Polish soldiers went to Russia, losing 50,000.

The remaining 300,000, the [Northern Army], are stationed in Warsaw.

Although there are over 800,000 reserves in France, they are without a commander-in-chief.

Therefore, the only army Napoleon directly commands is the garrison in Saint Petersburg.

Even if 250,000 remain, foreign deployments and long marches will cause further losses.

Thus, it is reasonable to assume that only about 200,000 troops can return.

Knowing this from his long military experience, Karl nodded and asked:

“Metternich, what is the plan you envision? Tell me.”

Metternich cleared his throat and explained:

“First and foremost, we must block the path.”

“The path? The retreat route? Isn’t that already blocked by the *rasputitsa*, or whatever that mud is called?” [Rasputitsa refers to the season of the year with muddy road conditions due to melting snow or heavy rains.]

“I am not familiar with tactical matters. What I know is international blockade.”

The diplomatic expert, Metternich, drew on the map with a pen.

“We must turn everything between France and Russia into anti-Napoleon territory. Or at least, stir up anti-Napoleon uprisings.”
The former Holy Roman Empire territories, Switzerland, and even Italy.

All areas conquered, suppressed, or integrated by military force.

Few still genuinely accept the hegemony of the French Empire.

Napoleon is trapped in Russia?

Then there will be many who harbor resentment.

Naples, for one, will become a hotbed of rebellion.

Karl considered this plausible and asked again.

“What’s next?”

“We must seize the disintegrating Russian expeditionary force, soon the Warsaw garrison.”

“How? They are all independent forces. And I have no authority to command them.”

Again, Metternich’s answer was clear.

“Proclaim the King of Prussia as the Holy Roman Emperor. And in return, Your Majesty will obtain the position of commander-in-chief of the Allied forces.”

But this was too radical, and Karl couldn’t answer.

Not just claiming the title of Emperor, but recommending the King of Prussia?

This meant abandoning the imperial throne that the Habsburgs had maintained in every way.

Instead of Karl, Radetzky, now the commander-in-chief of Hungary, exclaimed in disbelief.

“Chancellor, are you mad?”

“I am still quite sane, Marshal Radetzky.”

“How can you hand over the sacred imperial throne to the Hohenzollerns instead of the Habsburgs!”

However, Metternich retorted confidently to Radetzky.

“The throne is not what matters! What matters now is hegemony! If we create an alliance to capture Napoleon this time, and defeat him again, then the throne will simply roll to Your Majesty’s feet!”

At that moment, Karl realized.

The nominal throne is not what matters.

Victory.

Only that will revive the Holy Roman Empire and bring the throne back to the Habsburgs.

“Yes, my brother, who went to America, also founded the Austrian Empire.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Radetzky, my loyal subject, I know your loyalty well. But what matters now is one thing.”

Karl pressed his cheek, slightly trembling from epilepsy, and his eyes gleamed.

“We must prevent Napoleon from returning to France, and seize him and kill him!”

This is an era when people must march on foot.

Unless they go by ship.

For the French army to return to their homeland, they must walk a staggering 2,700 kilometers [approximately 1,678 miles].

If the anti-French forces do their best, they can certainly stop Napoleon.

Then Metternich added.

“Your Majesty, we are not finished yet. To achieve what you have said, we need one last condition.”

“What is it?”

“The Confederation of the Rhine must turn against him.”

Metternich smiled as he explained to Karl, who looked puzzled.

“To do that, you must shake the King of Bavaria.”

King Maximilian of Bavaria seems loyal to France at first glance.

However, he had shown signs of trying to defect several times before the Battle of Austerlitz.

What should be done to turn Bavaria around?

The power of the army must be shown.

“I must go to war. Issue a general mobilization order in the Magyar region! Make Vienna the territory of our main family again!”

At Karl’s command, the Hungarian generals, including Radetzky, saluted in unison.

-Chuk!

Now is the time for Karl of Hungary to move again.

***

Warsaw is busy without any movement.

“What? Are you saying that a request for aid is coming from Vienna now?”

Louis Bonaparte, Grand Duke of Bohemia, jumped up.

With 300,000 expeditionary troops and 100,000 surveillance troops, he had effectively been the supervisor of 400,000 troops.

But the expeditionary force was too slow, and the war ended before it even reached Russia.

The roads became treacherous, so they retreated to Warsaw, but the rapidly changing political situation left Louis disoriented.

Armand Caulaincourt, the former ambassador to Russia, nodded and reported.

“That is correct, Your Highness, Grand Duke Louis of Bohemia. The French soldiers stationed in Vienna are all being expelled.”

“Why is Hungary suddenly doing this!”

“It seems they believe His Majesty will not be able to return.”

Then Louis shook his head in disbelief, looking around at the monarchs present.

“That’s nonsense! My brother is just resting in Russia! Isn’t that right, Grand Duke of Warsaw?”

The person who caught his eye was Augustus, Duke of Saxony and Grand Duke of Warsaw.

But Augustus did not have a friendly face.

Suddenly, Augustus looked at Louis and retorted.

“Huh, am I really the Grand Duke of Warsaw?”

“Wh, what are you talking about?”

“I, Augustus, have always been loyal to Emperor Napoleon.”

Grand Duke Augustus of Warsaw trembled his eyebrows and shouted.

“But, I heard that when punishing the usurper of Russia, His Majesty promised the Polish people that he would establish Poniatowski as the King of Poland?”

All of this was true, and Caulaincourt couldn’t refute it.

It had already been three months since he left Russia and was appointed as Louis’ aide.

Napoleon did not withdraw his promise to revive the Kingdom of Poland.

But the king of the revived kingdom is said to be Poniatowski.

Then what happens to the Duke of Saxony, who already holds the title of Grand Duke of Warsaw?

Louis waved his hands hastily.

“No, Your Highness. That’s just a misunderstanding. It means dividing the Russian territory.”

“That too! Isn’t that my territory as the Grand Duke of Warsaw! Originally!”

“Well, you would have had to achieve something to get a share.”

At that moment, Grand Duke Augustus stormed out of his seat.

“This is truly disappointing! I cannot accept this!”

The Grand Duke of Warsaw left the palace of the Duchy of Warsaw.

Even so, the expeditionary force stationed in Warsaw is in turmoil.

The expedition has clearly ended, but no return orders have been issued.

But as the situation in Europe becomes increasingly ominous, even if there is no fear of losing their titles, the monarchs’ dissatisfaction is bound to increase.

Louis sighed and looked around, then asked another soldier.

“This is a disaster. I don’t know if we can hold out until my brother returns. What should we do? Senior General Laharpe?”

Laharpe, who had also returned from the Russian expeditionary force as Louis’ aide, smiled bitterly.

“His Majesty has delegated full authority to Your Highness.”

“It’s easy to say full authority, but isn’t it just passing the buck?”

“His Majesty King Eugene did say something different.”

In an instant, Laharpe whispered.

“If necessary, just sneak His Highness away and desert.”

Louis was dumbfounded and asked.

“What, what are you talking about?”

Just then.

-Bang!

Suddenly, a gunshot echoed, and General Michel Ney, covered in blood from fighting outside, burst in.

“Your Highness, this is a disaster!”

“Wh, wh, what’s going on! Ney!”

“The Prussian army is attacking our troops!”

In a flash, Laharpe moved faster than ever before.

“It seems like now is the time. Your Highness, follow me!”

Louis trembled all over, but had no choice but to follow.

“If, if we run away like this, the, the expeditionary force will be destroyed!”

In any case, Louis is responsible for commanding the 300,000-strong Northern Army of the Russian expeditionary force.

But if they desert in the face of the enemy, what responsibility will the Emperor hold him accountable for?

Thinking about Napoleon’s nature of blaming others, Louis ran in a panic.

-쾅!

But if he had stayed, he would have died in the midst of the fierce shelling.

***

A new flag was raised at the Palace of Warsaw, where the command of the Russian expeditionary force had been until yesterday.

“Today, we have risen up to resist the tyrannical Napoleon!”

The one shouting from the platform was none other than the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm.

He is surrounded by Prussian generals.

Even though they were not the main force of the expeditionary army, Prussia took the lead because they moved first.

Friedrich Wilhelm looked around at the audience and shouted.

“How many people have died at the hands of the French army? How much food and money has been taken from France? How much territory has been trampled under the hooves of France?”

“Countless, many!”

“That’s right. But the devil who took everything from us is trapped far away in the frozen soil.”

After pausing for a moment, Wilhelm’s eyes flashed as he drew his sword.

“Now, I, Friedrich Wilhelm, will be the standard-bearer to resist France. Along with the revival of the old Holy Roman Empire!”

All of this was agreed upon with the envoy of King Karl of Hungary.

But neither the Prussians nor the Germans who participated in the Russian expeditionary force know that fact.

They only know that a new flag has been raised to oppose Emperor Napoleon.

Suddenly, Blücher shouted.

“Kaiser Friedrich!”

Then shouts began to fill the entire palace.

-Heil Kaiser!

Now, a new [Kaiser] [German for Emperor] has begun to dream of the revival of the empire.