Napoleon proclaims the birth of the Cisalpine Republic (pinterest)

Portrait of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte by Marie-Guillemine Benoist

Napoleon is so baby in this one

Jean-Baptiste Greuze, painting c. 1803

(The year before he became emperor btw)

OKAY HEAR ME OUT:

All of these edgy science fiction / fantasy novels about overthrowing evil empires and then becoming the very thing that you sought to destroy and the main character ending up as bad as the regime they overthrew and all that, you know?

You could very easily make a dramatised version of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, transplant it into generic fantasy evil empire world, change the names of the historical figures to fictional names, and all the tumblrinas would eat that up.

Picture this: Napoleon Our protagonist is born the second child in a large family on Corsica generic fantasy island, is sent to a military academy in France evil empire, and begins to rise through the ranks of the army. A revolution occurs, in which the French evil empire monarchy is overthrown, and our protagonist, a supporter of the revolution, fights for the revolutionary government against royalist uprisings and the first coalition other evil empires. Along the way, our protagonist becomes increasingly powerful, as well as being an absolute slut. After a series of military campaigns, our protagonist, seeing the corruption of the directory new evil government, stages a coup and becomes first consul generic fantasy leader. However, over the course of the book, our protagonist has acquired a huge ego and lost many morals, and ends up themself the emperor of France fantasy kingdom. "Morally grey" shenanigans ensue. (Of course, our protagonist would have many many love interests, such as Josephine de Beauharnais hot milf, Jean-Andoche Junot hot best friend, and Tsar Alexander I enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-again.) (Main character would be characterised as being the most pathetic little person to ever exist who is frequently bullied for being quirky and not-like-other-girls)

"Victory belongs to the most persevering" - Nandopoleon Alonsoparte

+ First Consul Nandopoleon

Wow look I finally drew him properly! This was like the 2nd or so AU I've ever made, but honestly I feel so strongly about it that it's really intimidating to try and make a satisfying explanation post for it. I want it to be perfect ah. But I will one day! Maybe a web weave or smth in the meantime. But I digress. Napoleon Bonaparte = Fernando Alonso, please contact @/skitskatdacat63 for details.

In this painting I drew the uniform Napoleon wore during the Italian campaign in the 1790s, bcs I think it's so pretty, and not just the typical Napoleon outfit everyone knows(tho dw I'm in love with that one too.)

Though I will say, it was a bit weird drawing Fernando in navy blue(is this a sign for 2025?), so I had to draw him in the bright red First Consul uniform, to return some order to the world y'know

I ended up picking "victory belongs to the most persevering" as the Napoleon quote to use, but that was really hard to pick tbh. I literally have a whole folder of Napoleon quotes that remind me of Fernando LOL. Some others, to give you an idea:

"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."

"From triumph to downfall, there is but one step."

"Morality has nothing to do with such a man as I am."

"It requires more courage to suffer than to die."

Etc etc., again: I have a folder ;;;

I don't think this drawing was nearly as complicated as the Seb one, but for some reason it made me suffer more. I think you just get into this really intense mindset after drawing smth super detailed, and it's very frustrating. But I like it! His face was very confusing to me(the angle of the eyes), and then it randomly hit me how to draw it so that was cool. Look at him face :) handsome boy

Also here's the process! I think I'm gonna try and draw something each weekend as a gift to myself after the school week(if I have actual ideas for it lol)

1804 Charles Meynier - Napoléon Bonaparte, First Consul

(Musée de la Ville de Bruxelles / Maison du Roi)

A letter from Masséna to Soult, Paris, 28 Frimaire An IX (19 December 1800)

You no longer write to me, my dear Soult; where does that come from? Are you angry with me? Have you forgotten that I am your good friend? Write to me often, that will prove me different. What are you doing? The First Consul, to whom I have often spoken about you, does justice to your high military talents, and has never spoken to me about them except with the greatest interest. Farewell, my friend, never forget that I am sincerely attached to you. I embrace you. Masséna

At the time of this letter, Soult had (more or less) recovered from his wound that he had received during the siege of Genoa, had been released on parole from Austrian captivity (i.e., he was not allowed to go to war) and thus was employed in the military administration of Piemont.

I remember that Thiébault (who adored Masséna and despised Soult) in his memoirs claims that Soult, after Genoa, slowly distanced himself from Masséna - according to Thiébault, because he had gotten all advantages out of his relations with Masséna that he could, and now no longer needed him. In particular, Thiébault claimed that Soult later was furious about not being mentioned enough in the book Thiébault had written about the siege of Genoa. - Make of that, what you will.

N. Gotteri in her book on Soult does not mention Thiébault's claim. To the contrary, she lists several letters during the second half of 1800, that Masséna, Lefebvre and Oudinot (all in the entourage of First Consul Bonaparte now) had written to Soult, reassuring him of their friendship and of Bonaparte's interest in Soult. According to Gotteri, Masséna, Lefebvre and Mortier had even tried to convince Soult to come to Paris, but Soult had refused and preferred to stay with the army, where he was at home.

Maybe he regretted that decision later? Or maybe he still did not feel at ease about his personal situation (his broken leg, only released on parole)? Or, maybe the easiest explanation: Louise was with him at the time. He may just have been too busy doing household chores to keep up an extended correspondence.

source: bishopsbox

Bonaparte as first consul (1802), by Antoine-Jean Gros. Musée de la Légion d’honneur, Paris.

Bonaparte como primer cónsul (1802), por Antoine-Jean Gros. Musée de la Légion d’honneur, París.

Original Protocol of the Delivery of Louisiana by Spain to France, at New Orleans on November 30, 1803

Record Group 11: General Records of the United States GovernmentSeries: Perfected TreatiesFile Unit: TS 86 AO: Treaty for the cession of Louisiana - English and French texts

[Handwritten] Pièces jointes à la depeche de Mr. Laussat n[']o 9. du 19. 7bre 1803. [Main body of document follows; French-language text on the left; Spanish-language text on the right (this pattern continues throughout the body of the document).] [French text follows -- first:] Les Soussignés : le citoyen Pierre Clement Laussat, Préfet colonial, commissaire du Gouvernement Français pour la reprise, au nom de la République Française, de la colonie ou Province dela Louisiane, des mains des officiers et autres agens desa Majesté Catholique, conformement aux pleins pouvoirs qu'il a reçus, au nom du Peuple Francais, du Citoyen Bonaparte, Premier Consul, en date du 17. Prairial an 11. (6. Juin 1803), contresignés, par le Secrétaire d'Etat Hugues Maret et pour S. E. le Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies Decrés et qu'il a tout présentement remis enpersonne aux Commissaires de sa dite M. C., conjointement avec l'ordre Royal daté de Barcelonne le quinze Octobre dix huit cens deux; Et les dits Commissaires [Spanish-language text follows (on right on original sheet/image):] Los infrascriptos Comisarios de S.M.C. D[']n. Manuel de Salcedo Brigadier de los R[']s Extos,.Gobernador Militar y Politico de las Provincias de la Luisiana y Florida Occidental, Ynspector de la Tropas veteranas y Milicias de ellas, Vice Patrono R[']l Juez, Subdelegado de la Superintendencia g[']ral [with tilde over the "r"] de Correos y c.[']a [?] y D[']n. Sebastian Calvo de la Puerta y O Farrill, Marques de Casa-Calvo Caballero del orden de Santiago Brigadier de los R[']s Ex[']tos, [with tilde over the "t"] y Coronel del Regimento de Ynfantería de la Havana, Comisionados por S.M. para la entrega de esta Provincia á la Republica Francesa, por R[']l. orden 18.. de Enero de 1803. El Ciudadano Pedro Clemente [full transcription at link]

The Dragon "Marengo"

Worldbuilding Post 1

Worldbuilding Post 2

Soult’s ADCs snippet

Dragon Soult Studying + more

Worldbuilding about psionic powers

napoleonic marshalate dragons au chronological tag

The Consul's newest dragon steed was a strange one, even for the creatures as myriad in shape and size as dragons were. His pale scales shimmered with a pearlescent gleam that hinted at a hidden rainbow, and this was all accentuated with the gold and velvet draperies of the Consul's current official draconic escort. "Marengo is not so chatty with any but myself!" proclaimed the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte. "So do not feel offended by his silence. But! His loyalty is not to be doubted, Murat." "Ah, my friend, I have absolutely no doubts about that," Joachim Murat said. He winked at "Marengo", observing idly the swirling depths of that large green eye staring back. A familiar voice said privately in Murat's mind, If you must ask, no, I did not choose this name. He originally gave it to his prized horse before deciding it would fit this form. I… am not sure it is my first choice. "We are a little acquainted, me and this 'Marengo'," Murat said, contemplatively. "A more loyal and brave beast you will not find! But he is quite a busy bird, with many commitments that force him to be unreliable." Jealousy does not suit you well, my friend, the dragon that was actually Bessières said to Murat with a hint of quiet amusement. Continued Murat, though with a bit of a laugh, "Are you sure he is fit to be your draconic consort?" "The position as I envision it," said Napoleon, "is a rotating one, to symbolise my friendship with the draconic French. Marengo will fill it as needed, with a few public appearances as necessary- so that his presence elsewhere will not be questioned." You don't need to worry about me, Murat, Bessières said. I do prefer to keep my time in this form to a minimum. But, I have offered my services to Napoleon and we agreed that the benefits of my instant apparition outweigh any risks to the both of us. So I will continue my duties both as human and as 'Marengo'. "As long as you know what you're doing, my friend," Murat said, and even he didn't know if he was talking to Napoleon or Bessières.

tiny bit of rambling about dragon Bessières and dragon shapeshifters under the cut

The transformation is magical so I'm leaning towards clothes just magically going somewhere and coming back but I haven't decided fully yet

Bessières usually has dark hair, but when he transforms back from a dragon it's streaked with light pale hair and slowly reverts to dark over time

Though this can be covered up by dye/powder/pomade, as a child his family dyed it dark and then he pomaded it white

But, and this is important, he doesn't actually powder his hair because he's a secret dragon. He still does it in that old fashioned way because he likes how it looks lol

If the dragon shapeshifter is seen while shapeshifting, they are trapped in that half-form, which often isn't viable for continued living.

Fortunately throwing a giant sheet over the whole process is probably enough, but Bessières usually does his transformations in a dark room where nobody is allowed under a sheet - if he's in Paris

I don't know if all dragon shapeshifters have a Secret Special Power or if the power is the same for all dragon shapeshifters or just unique to a "lineage", but Bessières has the power of what is described here as "instant apparition" but is more like... what dragons do in Pern

Basically he and his riders slip into this strange dreamlike dark place for a short period of time and then pop out where dragon Bessières has a strong mental image of

It's a lot faster than just flying there, but nobody wants to find out what happens if you stay in there for too long or if you get stuck there

Teleportation as a word was not invented then.

Bessières has to have been to the place before in order to magically appear there

Weird visions happen in the in-between place.

Can other dragons or humans learn to shapeshift? There's legends of that kind of thing happening. The Lindworm Prince is a pretty popular one.

Magic that isn't related to How Do Dragons Work does exist, but not in a... institutionalised or groundbreaking or effective way.

Yeah there's Bessimu here ;]

Napoleon Bonaparte, as first consul, in a little-known uniform. the uniform of a dragonder of the 9éme 1803.

Medal commemorating the establishment of what later became the column of the Grande Armée (Austerlitz column).

Link

Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul by François Gérard

Burton Philips’ description of Napoleon at the Tuileries in 1802:

“He is thin and of low stature; his countenance, though meager and sallow, is extremely animated, his eyes black and piercing, his hair black and cropped, his dress remarkably plain.”

Nathaniel Philips’ description of Napoleon at the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Easter Sunday in 1802:

“Bonaparte bowed in response to the applause of the populace. His carriage was drawn by eight superbly decorated horses. The great bell of Notre-Dame, which had been silent 10 years, was rung.”

Portrait of Napoleon from the same year, by Antoine-Jean Gros

(Source)

For Les Mis Letters context: A quick timeline of French history from the Revolution to 1806, when Myriel becomes the Bishop of Digne:

(I'm marking all the years just to make it easier to visually follow the timeline, but I'm only noting a few events that I think are relevant. Too much happens in this era to list it all.)

THE TIMELINE:

1789: Estates General, the storming of the Bastille (14 July), the National Assembly -> the National Constituent Assembly, abolition of feudal privileges

1790

1791: Constitution of 1791, the Legislative Assembly, France becomes a constitutional monarchy, the Haitian Revolution begins

1792: The Revolutionary Wars begin; the "miraclous" French victory at Valmy, France is declared republic, the National Convention replaces the Legislative Assembly, the Republican Calendar established, etc.

1793: Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette executed, the counter-revolutionary uprising in the Vendée begins, Constitution of year I, Reign of Terror begins

1794: Reign of Terror ends

1795: Constitution of year III, the more conservative Directory replaces the National Convention, First White Terror

1796: The War in the Vendée ends

1797

1798

1799: Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état (18 Brumaire); the Consulate replaces the Directory, Bonaparte becomes First Consul

1800

1801

1802: Bonaparte First Consul for life, the Revolutionary Wars end*

1803: The Napoleonic Wars begin*

1804: Napoleon declares himself emperor (and Myriel has a little chat with him), the Napoleonic Code

1805: Great French victory in Austerlitz against the Russo-Austrian forces, decisive British naval victory against the French in Trafalgar, Republican Calendar abolished

1806: Decisive French victory in Jena against the Prussians (Myriel becomes the Bishop of Digne)

NOTES:

Don’t worry, I won’t list any more specific battles, aside from Waterloo.

Valmy was the first victory of the French Revolutionary army, which proved that French volunteers could match against professional soldiers, Austerlitz is the big one for Napoleon, Trafalgar is the big one for the British, Jena is another big one for Napoleon, and finally Waterloo will of course end it all once we get there.

The only reason I’m even bringing up this many battles is because Hugo is a Napoleon nerd, so unfortunately you will have to hear about them (and many more) sooner or later anyway. (Also I added Valmy just for myself, Hugo only mentions it once in Les Mis)

* I'm not bothering to mark all the different wars; France was almost continuously at war from the 1792 to 1815 (the entire period of the First Republic plus the entire period of the First Empire) with only a few short breaks. People can't even agree on when the Revolutionary Wars turn into the Napoleonic Wars.

I also left out all the constitutions after year III, because there are too many of them and nobody cares.

There's Diplomacy, and then there's...

In response to Snow88's comment about Junot's time as ambassador to Portugal--"I also did hear that Junot was not particularly successful in Portugal during his ambassadorship as he did write something along the lines of 'The English are too well-entrenched in the Portuguese court, I don't think we can do much....'" The English were indeed well-entrenched in the Portuguese court when Lannes arrived in Lisbon in 1801, and he immediately began to remedy that situation. That oversized sword he habitually carried was not just to intimidate the prince regent but also to force the English ambassador to keep his distance. And if that didn't send the proper message, he literally ran the ambassador's coach off the road and into the ditch. He would interrupt meetings between the prince regent and the English ambassador by barging in and taking over, in most undiplomatic French. He would host dinners and balls and invite every soul in Lisbon but the English ambassador. After less than a year of these sorts of antics, Lannes had reduced the English influence at the Portuguese court to rubble. Then he went to work advancing French interests and succeeded amazingly well, to the surprise of First Consul Bonaparte and Talleyrand, who had secretly been colluding with a couple of Portuguese ministers to ensure failure. Difficult to compete with that sort of diplomatic approach.