Realistic Frankfurt Proposals

[jkarr]

So the Frankfurt proposals were a way to end the Napoleonic Wars in 1813 between the Coalition, lead by Metternich, and Napoleon, which would've left him as Emperor of France "within its natural borders", dropping everything else. Obviously it failed due to his ego/optimism and the end of the war going much worse for him. But what would've happened had he accepted?

Would all the members have agreed to the peace deal (especially the British and Russians)? What would the French themselves think? The fate of Frances and its allies Colonies? Napoleon needing to abdicate? The fate of the French Bourbons? And how would Europe have being split following these proposals, rather than following OTL?

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurt_proposals -

 

[Alcsentre Calanice]

And Napoleon should abandon Italy, Poland, Westphalia, the left bank, the Netherlands and Dalmatia to the European reaction?

French soldiers fought since 1792 against Austria and Great Britain to maintain the gains of the Revolution. And you want them to simply resign?

 

[Janprimus]

And Napoleon should abandon Italy, Poland, Westphalia, the left bank, the Netherlands and Dalmatia to the European reaction?

French soldiers fought since 1792 against Austria and Great Britain to maintain the gains of the Revolution. And you want them to simply resign?

History showed why. After the battle of the Nations AKA the battle of Leipzig in 1813, the tide was really turning.
Basically when the allies or mostly Metternich offered it to Napoleon, it might have been too soon for France; but when Napoleon was finally ready to accept those terms, he was way too late and finally had to accept much harsher terms.

 

[Perkeo]

And Napoleon should abandon Italy, Poland, Westphalia, the left bank, the Netherlands and Dalmatia to the European reaction?

Since when do Italy, Poland, Westphalia, the left bank, the Netherlands and Dalmatia belong to the French heartland???

French soldiers fought since 1792 against Austria and Great Britain to maintain the gains of the Revolution. And you want them to simply resign?

Metternich offered them to "maintain the gains of the Revolution" and to keep their "natural" borders, so France is hardly in a position to complain about fairness.

Besides, Napoleon can accept those terms for the time being and still wait for an opportunity to change the status quo.

 

[Matteo]

Since when do Italy, Poland, Westphalia, the left bank, the Netherlands and Dalmatia belong to the French heartland???



Metternich offered them to "maintain the gains of the Revolution" and to keep their "natural" borders, so France is hardly in a position to complain about fairness.

Besides, Napoleon can accept those terms for the time being and still wait for an opportunity to change the status quo.

You are right. The Netherlands, Dalmatia Poland, Italy or Westphalia never could have become a part of France in the emerging age of nation States and France had no rightful claim on these territories.

There were however several reasons for Napoleon refusing to reckon diplomatically the abandonment those territories as Metternich proposed.

First of all, as I've already mentioned in an other thread, Napoleon did not trust Metternich's offer because it committed but Austria. And for the past 10 years, Napoleon's problem is that he needed a commitment from Britain. Otherwise he would first have abandoned these territories at Austria's demand. And then he would have had to drop more in order to reach a real and lasting peace with Britain.

Secondly, Napoleon still thought he could turn the table on the battlefield and restore his hegemony on continental Europe.

Thirdly, Napoleon hardly could abandon all the people who were founding their hopes on him, especially the polish people who fought so bravely in his armies.

This being said, these wars were not a war of a coalition abiding by international law and demanding by the stability of frontiers on national or dynastic basis against an insatiable conqueror. It was just a conflict between several imperialist powers, one of which (France) had been exceptionnaly successful on the continent while the others had finally found a way to put it down thanks to its disastrous russian campaign of 1812.