Book I: The Life and Death of Napolyon Bey Bonaparte
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Chapter I- A Corsican in Constantinople
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An excerpt from The Definitive Biography of Napolyon Bey Bonqparte by Jean Augustin, 1887:
… Napoleon Bonaparte departed Paris only three days before Royalists rose up in Paris, on the 1st of October. By all accounts he was scheduled to leave later, but he was eager to leave as he saw no opportunity for himself in France. After getting permission, Napoleon left a week early. [POD] The Directory, never trusting him due to his Jacobin ties, cared little what he did. Bringing Desiree Clary, his lover to whom he was engaged, along with him, Napoleon arrived at Montpellier, from there setting sail to Constantinople, capital of the Ottoman Empire.
By all accounts Napoleon's first few months in Constantinople were nothing if not uneventful. He and his fiancee got settled, and then he began to work as an artillery advisor for the Ottoman Empire. While little of anything happened, he was hopeful, saying many years later in his life that “I knew an opportunity would come. I only had to wait for said opportunity to come, and I would take it, and show the Sultan what I was worth.” He spent much of his spare time viewing the city and learning about the Ottoman Empire.
Then, in early January of 1795, his fiancee, Desiree Clary, informed him that she was leaving him and returning to France. Napoleon tried to get her to stay, feeling he had a strong bond with her, but she would have none of it. She was not willing to stay in this ‘wretched place’ any longer, and more so she was done with him. Accusing him of caring more of his work than her, she left him, returning to France.
Left: A later painting of Desiree Clary.
During the rest of 1795 and all of 1796, Napoleon threw himself into his work. No longer tied down by his fiancee, and hurt by her leaving him, he spent every minute of his time either working or studying the Ottoman Empire. Every piece of the government, every detail of information about the military, Napoleon learned it all. This was to have great benefit later when Napoleon…
… In early 1797, Napoleon’s opportunity came. Selim III, who was an avid reformer, was increasingly training more regular units schooled in the European style of warfare, and equipped by the French. Now, Selim III had decided to visit his new army and see the progress. As part of the visit, Selim III was going to view the new artillery unit, which Napoleon was training. Taking the opportunity, Napoleon boldy requested that he speak with the Sultan. The Sultan, curious why a French Artillery Advisor would want to speak to him, accepted. It was then that Napoleon shared his plan of dealing with the Janissaries to Selim III.
Napoleon had despised the Janissaries from the moment he arrived. Not only did they hold the Ottomans back from reforming, but the people of Constantinople feared and hated them. Upon seeing the Janissary barracks, Napoleon had hatched a plan that he would develop over the next few months, ultimately leading to him meeting with the Sultan and then the Fortunate Event (See Fortunate Event, pg. 256.)
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An excerpt from biography.com: Sultan Selim III:
… Selim III, who was a talented and energetic ruler, found himself slowly falling under Napolyon’s influence. Selim III was still his own ruler, but Napolyon’s ideas and plans were excellent, and they coincided with Selim III’s desire for a reformed Ottoman Empire. His dream of the Nizam I Jedid, the New Order, with a European style army and a reformed Ottoman Empire, became a reality, but at the cost of Napolyon Bey Bonaparte becoming more and more powerful.
Left: Soldiers of the Nizam I Jedid.
After the Fortunate Event, Napoleon had become a close advisor of Selim III. During this period, Napoleon became the spearhead of the reforms, and this arrangement continued until the Russo-Turkish War (1801-07)...
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An excerpt from The French Revolution by Jean Favre, 1892:
On October 3rd, several days after the now famous Napolyon Bey Bonaparte left Paris, Royalists in Paris declared a rebellion against the National Convention. General Menou was given command of the defense of the city, however he was severely outnumbered with only 5,000 soldiers to fight the 30,000 man Royalist Army.
On the 4th of October, the National Guard arrived at the La Peltier section of Paris to try to put down the rebellion. Menou, splitting his forces into three columns, planned that the assault was to begin in the evening. At the time the assault was set to begin, the commanders of the first two columns made excuses, not advancing. The third column, led by Menou, timidly advanced. Inviting the rebels to discuss terms of their dispersal, he withdrew when they promised to disarm. Seeing this as a sign of weakness, the rebels called up other parts of Paris to rise up in rebellion. Realizing his mistake, Menou launched a cavalry attack, clearing a small area of Royalists. Shortly after, the National Convention replaced Menou with Paul Barras.
At around 4 AM on October 5th, the Royalists launched a probing attack, which was repulsed at a heavy cost. At 10 AM, the main Royalist attack was launched. Being outnumbered nearly 6 to 1, the National Guard quickly began to waver, and by noon the National Guard fell apart.
Undefended, the members of the National Convention were almost all captured, given false trials, and either imprisoned or put to death...
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A bit of a slow Chapter I, mostly setting up future events and getting through Napolyon’s rise to power in the Ottoman Empire. Much of the parts on the French Revolution was as per OTL, but as it takes place only several days after the POD, and Napoleon was not present for the first day of the battle, I feel its pretty believable. Comments, questions, concerns?
