He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 77

(77) The Age of Revolution, Italy Does Not Exist

So, what was Italy like in 1795?

It simply didn’t exist as a unified nation.

Of course, the Italian Peninsula existed as a geographical region.

However, it was not a unified nation but a collection of various independent states, a situation that had persisted since the Middle Ages.

Nevertheless, France had repeatedly failed to conquer Northern Italy.

This was nothing new; it was a long-standing ambition.

They had been attempting it since the time of Charles VIII in 1494, a full 300 years prior to the present.

Why did they keep failing?

The Habsburgs, the imperial family of the Holy Roman Empire, were the reason.

This family had consistently interfered, maintaining their influence in the region.

The same was true even now, after the revolution.

The Holy Roman Empire, a loose confederation of principalities nominally led by the Habsburgs.

The collection of territories directly ruled by the Habsburgs is generally referred to as Austria.

Currently, the commander-in-chief of Austria’s front line, the Rhine Army, was the veteran general, Wurmser.

Wissembourg, the general headquarters of the Rhine Imperial Army, was abuzz with activity.

There, Commander-in-Chief Dagobert von Wurmser suddenly exclaimed loudly.

“What? Who’s coming? France is attacking?”

Wurmser wasn’t particularly surprised by the news itself.

His exclamation was more a result of his declining hearing.

Already 71 years old, he was a seasoned veteran who had fought against the Ottomans, Prussians, and Russians for a long time.

Especially during the War of the Bavarian Succession, he had defeated the Prussian army and made a name for himself as the protector of the empire.

The valiant old general who had once dominated the battlefield was now old, and his hearing had deteriorated significantly.

Colonel Johann von Klenau, the adjutant, shouted loudly to be heard.

“Yes! The French government has changed again! The new government has declared all-out war! They say they are invading Italy!”

“Changed again? Well, our Emperor has changed three times already! But why are they coming to Italy? I thought they were content with the situation in Lombardy!”

“Of course, the main attack is on the Rhine! This is just a secondary front! But it still looks like they have over 40,000 men!”

The current Holy Roman Emperor was Franz II.

The nephew of the famous Marie Antoinette’s brother, Joseph II.

Joseph II had died in 1790 due to deteriorating health while the French Revolution was in full swing.

He was 49 years old, which was quite young for an emperor.

His wife and daughter had died of smallpox in succession, so he had no direct heirs.

He was a musical emperor who had once discovered Mozart, but he was not skilled in war.

Fortunately, he died before the Revolutionary Wars truly began.

After that, his younger brother Leopold succeeded him, only to die of illness two years later.

Three years later, the young Emperor Franz II, only 27 years old, was now the supreme ruler of the empire.

He was Marie Antoinette’s nephew and Marie Theresa’s cousin.

The frequent changes of emperors in the early stages of the revolution were one of the reasons why Austria had struggled to achieve decisive victories.

But now it was different.

The Emperor was young and, although inexperienced, would likely rule stably.

In addition, members of the imperial family with military experience, including the Emperor’s brother, Archduke Karl, were leading the military.

Wurmser himself was a person recommended by Archduke Karl.

Therefore, Austria was also preparing for a full-scale counterattack.

Wurmser, an old general who was hard of hearing but possessed keen strategic insight, stroked his mustache thoughtfully.

“Hmm, 40,000 men. I need to find out more accurately. By the way, is there still no news from the Kingdom of Sardinia?”

Just as the commander-in-chief was muttering to himself, a general who had come to give his farewell greetings asked the adjutant.

“Why is Commander Wurmser suddenly talking about the Kingdom of Sardinia, Colonel Klenau?”

“Ah, Commander Beaulieu. Is this your first time serving in the Italian theater? If France wants to invade, they have to go through the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, don’t they? But since there’s no request for reinforcements, he’s just thinking aloud.”

“I see. You’re quite adept at interpreting him.”

Jean-Pierre de Beaulieu, now a commander heading to his new post.

His post was the commander of the Lombardy Defense Force.

His mission was to defend the Duchy of Milan, the Lombardy region, which was Austrian territory.

Originally, Beaulieu had been active in Flanders [a region in modern-day Belgium and Northern France].

He had defeated Duke de Biron and executed the defense of Flanders quite well.

However, when Flanders was eventually conquered, Beaulieu was temporarily dismissed.

Then he was called to the Lombardy Army.

He was going there feeling like he was taking a break from the fierce battles that had been taking place in Flanders.

As Wurmser said, there had been no significant problems in Italy so far.

In fact, he still held that belief.

Colonel Klenau also smiled without much tension.

“I’ve been serving General Wurmser since the early days of the French War [likely referring to the early campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars]. He’s been suffering on the Rhine, and now it’s time for him to rest. You might have to fight again, Commander.”

Beaulieu nodded.

Originally, the commander of the Holy Roman Empire’s expeditionary force to Northern Italy was the commander of Lombardy.

If the French army really invaded, Beaulieu would be the one to face them.

But would the French army really launch a reckless invasion of Italy?

Battles had already begun on the Rhine and in Flanders.

They wouldn’t have the resources to deploy troops or resources to the Italian front.

Then Wurmser, the old, deaf general of the Austrian military, shouted.

“Genoa!”

“Yes? No, Commander. What do you mean?”

“Hey, isn’t Sebotendorf stationed in Lombardy? Tell him to be careful. Also, to Count Argenteau! Prepare the letters immediately, Klenau!”

Wurmser’s gaze, who had suddenly shouted the names of the Austrian generals in Northern Italy, turned towards the adjutant.

Coincidentally, Beaulieu, who was next to the adjutant Klenau, made eye contact with Wurmser.

Beaulieu answered what he knew.

“Count Argenteau is a friend who was active in the Siege of Belgrade. He’s a brave officer, so he’ll carry out the orders well.”

Wurmser stroked his white mustache and nodded.

“Yes. The French bastards’ target is likely to be Genoa! Hey, who are you?”

It seemed that his memory had deteriorated with age.

Slightly doubting whether his judgment could be trusted, Beaulieu saluted.

Still, Wurmser was clearly Beaulieu’s superior.

“Are you talking about me? I’m Beaulieu. The new commander of Lombardy, sir.”

“Oh, yes. You’re going to be in charge of that area? You will lead the troops towards Sardinia and advance.”

“Yes? Commander, what are you suddenly talking about?”

Although he didn’t recognize his face, Wurmser seemed to know his name and gave accurate instructions.

However, Beaulieu narrowed his brow.

The Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.

Although the island’s name was used for the kingdom, the capital was actually Turin in the Piedmont region.

It was right next to Lombardy, but it was clearly an independent country.

There was a royal family that had started as the Duchy of Savoy, or Savoie in French, and had existed for nearly 400 years.

It was difficult for Austria to dispatch troops arbitrarily.

But Wurmser clicked his tongue and urged Beaulieu.

“Why are you pretending not to know! Isn’t it the Emperor’s goal to bring the Kingdom of Sardinia under the influence of our Holy Roman Empire on this occasion! In my opinion, there’s a high possibility that the French will attack as a feint. At best, they’ll be aiming for the Republic of Genoa! So.”

Wurmser’s eyes suddenly widened.

“Under the pretext of defense, you will advance into Sardinia. Aren’t we clearly part of the Anti-French Alliance [a coalition of European powers formed to oppose Revolutionary France]?”

The Anti-French Alliance.

That is, a military alliance of countries opposing France.

The Kingdom of Sardinia also hated the revolution and feared French invasion, so it joined this alliance.

Wurmser’s plan was to use this situation to extend his influence to Sardinia.

Especially now that France really didn’t have the resources to start an expedition to Italy.

Beaulieu nodded and then tilted his head again.

“What if the French really come?”

Then Wurmser clicked his tongue.

“Isn’t that why I’m telling you to send Argenteau first? Tsk, a friend with good hearing can’t understand what I’m saying!”

Only then did Beaulieu realize Wurmser’s strategy.

This was like a game of chess.

You move the pieces, but not with a single purpose.

If the French army didn’t move, they would simply intimidate the Kingdom of Sardinia.

But if the French army really moved, they could take the lead in defense, positioning themselves to respond.

Towards Genoa.

“Indeed, I understand. Commander!”

Wurmser suddenly grinned with a fox-like face.

“Do well. Or I’ll have to go there myself.”

The Italian Peninsula where a unified Italy did not exist.

There, the conflict between France and Austria was about to begin.

***

In fact, the French Italian Army had no immediate interest in Genoa.

At least not right now.

“Right in front of us is the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont. Behind it is the Duchy of Milan, and then the Republic of Venice. In the center are the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Parma, and the Papal States.”

“All enemies of the Republic.”

“They are also countries within the sphere of influence of the Anti-French Alliance, especially the Holy Roman Empire.”

Italian Headquarters, Nice.

Before preparing for departure, the operation briefing began.

Massena, who had been in Nice for quite some time, was explaining the current situation.

Pointing to the map of Italy hanging on the wall with a baton, Massena twisted his lips.

“All of these are like one huge force, Commander.”

The Anti-French Alliance.

In fact, almost all of Europe except Russia was arrayed against France in this emergency situation.

This formidable structure also applied to Italy.

France had no allies in Italy.

However, Napoleon shook his head firmly while looking at the map.

“You’re wrong, Major General Massena.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Do you know Italy?”

Napoleon strode towards Massena, who had been caught off guard, and pointed to the map.

“Italian is my mother tongue. My brother studied in Pisa. Based on that experience, let me tell you: Italy is not a single entity. Furthermore, the Austrian army cannot move as a unified force either. Not right now.”

Suddenly, Napoleon’s finger pointed to Nice, right in front of him.

“Here, do you think the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Duchy of Milan will act in unison?”

Currently, Italy was divided into the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Sicily, ruled by a branch of the Bourbon dynasty in southern Italy.

Furthermore, even Northern Italy, which was within the sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire, was not unified.

Western Sardinia-Piedmont, Central Lombardy, Eastern Republic of Venice.

In addition to this, there were numerous city-states and small lords, as Massena had just mentioned.

The Anti-French Alliance? The sphere of influence of the Holy Roman Empire? Enemies of the Republic?

They all seemed to be one, but they were distinct and often at odds.

Especially the initial opponents that the French Italian Army had to clash with.

The Kingdom of Sardinia and the Duchy of Milan were particularly divided.

Napoleon explained with a confident smile.

“Absolutely not. These two are on very bad terms. You can see that if you study history.”

“H, history?”

“Yes. The Kingdom of Sardinia was deprived of Sicily by Austria during the War of the Spanish Succession [a major European conflict in the early 18th century]. What they received in return was the island of Sardinia.”

In the 18th century, Europe fought countless wars without a full-scale, continent-wide conflict.

The War of the Spanish Succession, the Seven Years’ War, the War of the Bavarian Succession.

At that time, the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was then the Duchy of Savoy, lost the island of Sicily, which it had gained through war.

What they acquired instead was the island of Sardinia and the title of King, in name only.

Therefore, the Kingdom of Sardinia had a complex and often resentful relationship with Austria.

“Of course, they seem to be on Austria’s side right now. Why? Because we have a common enemy: France.”

If Austria did not exist, the Kingdom of Sardinia would be placed under the influence of France, a powerful neighboring country.

This was especially true now that the revolution had begun.

Like all European countries, the Kingdom of Sardinia was suffering from the risk of uprisings by its people.

A country where the king is killed and the people rule directly, a republic.

It was an ideology with a fervor that could stir up any citizen.

Nevertheless, the alliance between Sardinia and Austria was by no means solid.

Just as England had taken and abandoned Prussia’s hand during the Seven Years’ War.

“But alliances easily betray each other in crisis situations. It’s a historical rule of thumb. So.”

Napoleon pointed to each of the Italian states on the map one by one.

“One by one, divide and conquer them individually.”

The Sardinian capital Turin, the Milanese Duchy of Milan, and Venice.

And Rome to the south.

But he didn’t stop there.

Suddenly, Napoleon’s hand stopped at one place.

Naples, a kingdom still ruled by a branch of the Bourbon dynasty.

“That’s the essence of my strategy.”

Everyone held their breath.

How far was this man trying to go?

In fact, he hadn’t even had the experience of commanding a large-scale war properly yet.

Then Napoleon clicked his tongue.

“The problem is that we have to launch a blitzkrieg [a rapid, overwhelming military attack] to proceed with this.”

“A blitzkrieg?”

“Yes, Massena. We must not give the enemy time to prepare. Before they even notice, we must already be advancing.”

Suddenly, Napoleon looked at Massena, and then at all the division commanders and adjutants in the headquarters.

“Speed. That is the alpha and omega of this expedition’s success.”

This was the core task of the Italian expedition that Napoleon was envisioning.

***

Now, there was also a man in the Italian headquarters who thought that speed was his calling.

“Blitzkrieg! This is when I have to step up! Not that little brat!”

Outside the newly temporarily installed Italian Corps Postal Special Regiment headquarters barracks, a shout rang out.

It was Murat, the captain of the 13th Pyrenees Light Cavalry Regiment.

Napoleon had recently passed him on to Eugene, but he still didn’t listen at all.

“Heh heh, this is when Murat will make a contribution! Not in the backwoods of the Pyrenees, but towards Rome, the center of the world!”

No one could stop Murat, who was excitedly talking.

Eugene, who was still working on the paperwork for the newly formed unit, smiled bitterly.

Napoleon had sent him to hold the reins, but he didn’t have any ideas right now.

Wouldn’t he be able to force him once the battle started?

“I have to break his spirit. Should I really starve him?”

Then Ippolito dragged over the troop formation documents and clicked his tongue.

“Instead of starving him, putting a spirited guy like that on a ship would solve the problem quickly. It’s a shame.”

“What?”

“No, think about when we went to the Atlantic. Even the roughest sailors couldn’t come to their senses once a sea storm came. Sailors are much rougher than that guy.”

Come to think of it, Marceau, Tournet, and Ippolito all remembered not being able to stand on the ship.

Besides, there were many port cities in this area.

Even Nice was a port, even though it wasn’t a big one.

As he seriously contemplated borrowing a ship and sinking it, Eugene jumped up.

“Wait.”

Eugene’s gaze turned to a map on one side of the barracks.

“In this state.”

“What?”

“Maybe it’ll be killing three birds with one stone.”

The map was of France.

Italy, where the battle would take place, the Rhine front, which was already in combat, and Flanders, where a total offensive for the conquest of the Netherlands had begun.

But Eugene’s gaze was fixed on Flanders, not Italy.

In an instant, Eugene turned to Tournet.

“Captain Tournet! Send Sergeant Armand to Paris right now.”

“Yes? Uh, he hasn’t been back from Paris for long? Besides, he’ll be sent to Toulon as a conscription officer soon.”

“There’s something more urgent than that. Send someone else to Toulon. Ah, Chauvin would be good.”

At Eugene’s sudden order, the adjutant, Ippolito, tilted his head and asked.

“What’s going on?”

Eugene looked at Ippolito and quickly explained.

“I need to find out about the war situation in Flanders. Maybe we’ll need to use the navy.”

“Why?”

“If the British army puts all its forces into Flanders…”

What came to mind the moment he thought of the ship.

Originally, France would launch a total offensive in the Netherlands even in the original timeline.

England, an allied country, would dispatch a large fleet to save the Netherlands.

Although the Netherlands was defeated before they could even land properly, England did its best anyway.

But a fleet was an expensive thing, and England hadn’t yet embarked on a so-called total war.

Operating a large-scale fleet meant that it was too much for just one theater of operation.

Then, when they concentrated their fleet on the North Sea Netherlands, what would happen to the Mediterranean?

Eugene’s gaze turned back to the map, south of Nice.

“Corsica might be empty.”

Corsica, Napoleon’s hometown.

It was in the Italian cultural sphere, but it was not part of Italy.

It was an isolated island that was like a symbol of divided Italy.

It was also a maritime stronghold that could secure control of the western Mediterranean.

If that place was undefended.

“Take Corsica, tame Murat, and then…”

Eugene’s eyes flashed.

“We can completely deceive Austria.”

That was the three birds with one stone that Eugene had in mind.