Chapter Summaries

Joseph planned a sweeping reform of France’s government, replacing personal rule by officials with a professional, salaried bureaucracy governed by formal responsibilities and discipline. He believed France’s recent victory and the Royal Family’s high prestige would let him overcome resistance, and the chapter ended as Eman reminded him of an upcoming meeting with the Regent of Denmark.

• Joseph drafted a plan for a Cabinet led by a Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, with ten ministries and specialized bureaus beneath them.
• Joseph proposed formal job responsibilities, professional training, government employment, strict discipline, performance-based promotion, fixed salaries, and pensions for officials.
• Joseph anticipated that the reform would face resistance from powerful bureaucrats but expected new employees and lower- and middle-ranking officials to support it.
• Joseph argued that France’s prestige and military power would enable him to push the reforms through, while other countries copying them could strengthen France’s influence.
• Eman interrupted Joseph’s writing to remind him that he would meet the Regent of Denmark in twenty minutes.

Joseph challenged Frederick of Denmark to explain how the Armed Neutrality League could resist a British blockade without using force, then proposed broadening it into an international organization to establish maritime law. Frederick agreed to travel across Europe to recruit members, while Joseph expected the effort to take years; the next day, the Dutch Prime Minister arrived at Versailles.

• Frederick met Joseph at Versailles and argued that reviving the Armed Neutrality League could restore trade and pressure Britain to end its blockade.
• Joseph asked whether Denmark or Russia would actually attack British ships, prompting Frederick to admit that the League might need nonmilitary ways to pressure Britain.
• Frederick's suggestion led Joseph to propose expanding the League into an International Maritime Convention Organization that would establish international maritime law and penalties for violations.
• Joseph proposed free passage beyond territorial waters, and Frederick pledged to persuade European nations to join the organization.
• The day after Frederick departed, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands arrived at Versailles Palace.

Joseph considered how France could benefit from helping Austria withstand Prussia and the Ottomans, while the Ottoman envoy urged France to support the Sultan’s bid to reclaim territory. He saw a chance to expand the International Maritime Convention through the Holy Roman States, but had not found a way to protect Austria without costly intervention or damaging relations.

• Schimmelpenninck left Joseph’s audience disappointed after the Dutch could offer only a loan of just over 1.1 million Dutch Guilders.
• Eman informed Joseph that the Ottoman special envoy, Hamud Zagaros, was preparing to meet him at Versailles Palace.
• Zagaros presented lavish gifts and invoked France and the Ottoman Empire’s alliance before calling for the Ottomans to recover territory from Austria.
• Joseph considered securing Austria’s support for expanding the International Maritime Convention among the Holy Roman States, Italy, and the Ottomans.
• Joseph weighed using a Dutch loan and Archduke Karl’s military skill to help Austria, but could not see how to delay Prussia or the Ottomans without further costs and diplomatic trouble.

Joseph arranged French arms and military training for the Ottoman Empire in exchange for trade privileges, while steering the Ottomans toward a war with Austria that would give Austria time against Prussia. He invited the Ottomans to join the International Maritime Convention and offered extra guns if they persuaded other countries to join.

• Joseph realized Russia could help Austria by deploying troops near East Prussia, keeping Prussia from opening another front while Austria fought the Ottomans in Wallachia.
• Zagalos requested guns, cannon, Topjis New Army training, and offered France Levant trade privileges and priority purchases of Egyptian sugar cane and Syrian cotton.
• Joseph offered the Ottomans twenty-five thousand Austrian M1722 Flintlocks, forty Austrian cannon with shells, and instructors to train their soldiers during the march to Wallachia.
• Joseph invited the Ottoman Empire to join the International Maritime Convention, and Zagalos agreed to present the proposal to the Sultan.
• Joseph offered the Sultan three thousand additional Flintlocks if he persuaded countries such as Georgia to join the Maritime Convention Organization.

Schimmelpenninck paid Höttinger 300,000 francs for French support against the Dutch Rebellion, while Joseph used Queen Mary to secure Austria a 13-million-franc loan and a delay in Prussia's planned attack. Franz II accepted France's terms and agreed to support the International Maritime Convention as Austria prepared to quell the Rebellion and face the Ottomans.

• Höttinger told Schimmelpenninck that the Crown Prince would restrain the Flemings and permit Dutch troops to return for 300,000 francs, then later suggested the Netherlands join the International Maritime Convention.
• Franz II rejected Rothschild's demand for ten years of Salt Tax revenues as collateral for a 3-million-Florin loan, but agreed to the terms after learning Austria needed funds to prepare for war.
• Count Moses told Franz II that Queen Mary had offered Austria a 13-million-franc loan at 16% interest, and Franz ordered the funds used to prepare supplies for Liegnitz.
• Moses relayed that Queen Mary would try to delay Prussia's attack until after July so Austria could suppress the Rebellion and defeat the Ottomans first.
• Franz II agreed to join the International Maritime Convention after Moses explained its purpose, and he ordered Marquis de Besserard summoned.

Kaunitz died after reflecting on his diplomatic legacy, while Russia celebrated the engagement of Alexandra and France’s Crown Prince. France’s envoy Antoine presented Catherine II with 33,000 muskets as a betrothal gift, and Alexandra appeared for the ceremony.

• Kaunitz told Metternich that Austria had to rely on France and explain the value of diplomacy before dying in his son-in-law’s hands.
• Russian nobles celebrated the Russo-French marriage alliance as Antoine, Talleyrand, and the French delegation arrived at the Winter Palace.
• Antoine revealed that Joseph had sent Russia 33,000 Charleville Flintlock Muskets with ammunition, delighting Catherine II.
• Alexandra appeared at the Winter Palace in her wedding gown as the engagement ceremony reached its final stage.

Alexandra’s marriage alliance with France was celebrated in Saint Petersburg as Talleyrand persuaded Zubov to prepare Russia for a coming Persian invasion of the Caucasus. Zubov left to warn the Tsar, while Joseph’s broader plan aimed to draw Russia and England into a prolonged struggle in Central Asia.

• Alexandra accepted the French envoy’s blessings and the Crown Prince’s token as the marriage contract was read and the three-day celebrations began.
• Talleyrand told Zubov that Russia should treat a proposed campaign as a military exercise and said he would negotiate in Vienna afterward.
• Zubov suggested sending Russian troops to Moldavia, but Talleyrand warned that Persia might invade Georgia and that Russia risked fighting on two fronts.
• Talleyrand described Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar’s ambitions and the planned Persian advance into the Caucasus, information Joseph had obtained from historical records.
• Joseph’s plan was to prepare Russia for war, keep it engaged in the Caucasus after Paul I took the throne, and draw England into supporting Persia.
• Zubov, alarmed by the warning, hurried to report the Persian threat to the Tsar.

Talleyrand urged Zubov to win a major victory against Persia to improve his standing with the Tsar. Meanwhile, Baron Scheller’s journey through Palatinate was interrupted when he encountered locals who supported the French king’s reforms and rejected the rioters he wanted to join.

• Talleyrand told Zubov that defeating Persia and expanding into the Caucasus could earn him the Tsar’s favor, and Zubov resolved to pursue military glory.
• After finding the Rhine crossings destroyed, Scheller and his wife detoured through Palatinate and rented a room from the Nicklas family in Kastellaun.
• When protesters marched past, Scheller wanted to support them, but Mr. Nicklas mistook his words for sympathy with rioters and ordered him to leave.
• Mrs. Nicklas and Mr. Nicklas described higher wages, safer policing, cheaper goods, public entertainment, and plans for free schooling under the French king.
• Mr. Nicklas explained that serfdom had been abolished and that former serfs could buy land, leaving Scheller questioning whether Parliament could have improved the town’s life.

Scheller traveled from Nofelden to Reims by French wooden railway and saw how rail transport and steam-powered industry had strengthened France. The chapter left him in Reims, where he learned that the neat gray clothes worn by many pedestrians were factory uniforms provided under a labor decree.

• Scheller abandoned his hired carriage in Nofelden and paid for a Light Express rail carriage to Reims.
• Scheller realized that France's cheap, high-capacity railways could greatly improve military supply transport.
• Scheller saw coke plants and steam engines in Lorraine and compared France's steel production with Austria's.
• Scheller and his wife arrived in prosperous Reims and noticed many pedestrians wearing matching gray clothes.
• A French traveler explained to Scheller that the clothes were factory uniforms required by the Labor Protection and Safety Decree.

The Scheller couple reached Elijah’s home in Reims, hoping to borrow money to save their son Lucas from punishment for rebellion. Elijah agreed to lend them the funds, revealing that his cosmetics business was far more profitable than they had assumed.

• The Scheller couple arrived at Elijah’s cramped-looking house and worried that he could not afford to lend them money.
• Elijah welcomed them and explained that his wife Irene had gone to the opera with Viscount Jonathan, while he had his own companion, Madam Yvette.
• Madam Scheller told Elijah that Lucas’s life could be saved if they paid 3,000 Florins before next April.
• Elijah promised to withdraw more than 4,000 Francs from the bank the next day and lend it to them.
• Elijah explained that the crates in his home contained Paris Angel cosmetics for sale in Damascus and that the shipment could earn more than 10,000 Francs.
• Madam Scheller was surprised that Elijah lived in a modest house despite his successful business, and he explained that it had cost 18,000 Francs.

Baron Scheller learned that Elijah could afford to lend him the money he needed, while Corinna’s return to Reims brought news of the French army and her injured sweetheart. The chapter left Elijah stunned when Corinna announced she had decided to get engaged to Twaite.

• Baron Scheller realized Elijah’s house and cosmetics business made him wealthy enough to lend 1,700 Florins.
• Corinna returned home and told Elijah she planned to join her friends in welcoming General Massena’s troops, despite Elijah’s objections.
• Elijah told the Schellers that Corinna loved Twaite, a tailor’s son who had gone to the Police Academy and served with the army.
• Corinna came home late and secluded herself after learning that Twaite had lost his left hand.
• The next morning, Corinna told Elijah she had decided to get engaged to Twaite.

Corinna insisted she would marry Twaite despite Elijah’s objections, so Elijah went to confront Twaite’s family. Their meeting was interrupted when General Massena arrived to visit Sergeant Twaite.

• Corinna told Elijah she loved Twaite and would marry him, but Elijah locked her in the basement.
• Elijah and Scheller withdrew 4,600 Franc and applied to exchange it for gold coins, which would take three days.
• Elijah learned where Twaite lived and went there with Scheller to discuss Twaite and Corinna.
• Old Twaite welcomed Elijah, and the wounded Sergeant Twaite came out to speak with him.
• A visitor announced that General Massena had come to visit Sergeant Twaite.

Twaite was honored for losing his left hand while saving comrades and became engaged to Miss Corinna, with General Massena officiating. He accepted retirement from the legion and looked toward a future with his beloved.

• The Military Affairs Department arranged Twaite’s pension and subsidies under the Crown Prince’s regulations.
• General Massena announced Twaite and Miss Corinna’s betrothal and Twaite’s honorable retirement at their engagement ceremony.
• Twaite said he still wished to fight for France, but General Massena urged him to cherish his life and serve France in other ways.
• Twaite saluted General Massena and the legion’s banner, then kissed Miss Corinna.

General Massena publicly honored Sergeant Twaite with a Silver Iris Medal, a disability pension, and opportunities for further education or employment. Elijah, who had opposed Twaite’s relationship with Corinna, was shaken by his new status and offered to arrange his schooling.

• Moeno delivered Twaite a 6,000-Franc disability pension and decorated his home in preparation for Massena’s visit.
• Massena saluted Twaite and presented him with the Silver Iris Medal for his bravery in the Battle of Cologne.
• Massena explained that wounded meritorious soldiers could attend the Royal Academy of Public Administration without entrance exams and receive full financial support.
• Massena advised Twaite to complete foundational studies first or consider work as a military instructor or logistics manager.
• Elijah, startled by Twaite’s prospects, offered to enroll him at the Reims Chamber of Commerce School.

Elijah arranged Henry Twaite and Miss Richter’s engagement, while Baron Scheller abandoned his manuscript and began writing in praise of France’s Crown Prince. As the Army of Italy returned home, Napoleon and Desaix discussed defying the Crown Prince’s order not to exploit Austria’s vulnerability.

• Elijah asked Mr. Twaite to discuss Henry and Miss Richter’s engagement, and General Massena agreed to witness it.
• The engagement ceremony was arranged with Massena as witness, while Scheller watched in disbelief.
• Three days later, Scheller heard that the Crown Prince had issued the French Hero Decree, tore up his manuscript about the church, monarchy, and Parliament, and began writing “Let the Splendor of Versailles Palace Dispel Europe's Long Night.”
• Desaix learned from Napoleon that the Ottomans had assembled troops in Bulgaria and urged an attack on Klagenfurt Fortress, but Napoleon said the Crown Prince had ordered the army not to do so.
• Napoleon told Desaix that he had already submitted an unsuccessful report to the Crown Prince, then suggested they might find ways to act on their own.

Napoleon persuaded Desaix to lead a planned unauthorized counterattack that could bring French troops into Vienna, while the chapter also showed Wellesley preparing to disrupt Franco-Spanish forces in Portugal. It left Napoleon committed to pursuing further war and Wellesley relying on supply-line raids and Portuguese resistance.

• Napoleon described a scenario in which Austria attacked the French garrison at Udine and Desaix's forces captured Klagenfurt Fortress on their way toward Vienna.
• Napoleon revealed that he had coordinated with Director Fouche and asked Desaix to command the operation; Desaix agreed after hearing the Intelligence Bureau's motives.
• Napoleon arranged to transfer Desaix back to Oudinot, replacing colonel Sérurier.
• Wellesley watched Spanish troops assault a bastion near Porto and dismissed Graham's concerns about the Portuguese flank.
• Wellesley explained that Colonel Hill had left camp to harass enemy supply lines and that he planned to organize Portuguese nobles on the Meseta Plateau into a resistance force.

Junot’s forces seized food from towns near Porto to keep the Spanish-led siege supplied, while Wellesley proposed evacuating and burning the surrounding settlements to starve the besiegers. The chapter left Wellesley planning a counterattack after General William Beresford finished training mixed formations and the enemy’s supplies were cut off.

• Junot’s French troops captured Elsut Town, and Major Caldes’s Spanish soldiers requisitioned its food for the army besieging Porto.
• Junot expanded local requisitioning to supply the Spanish-led forces, whose ranks had grown to thirty-three thousand despite repeated attacks on their supply lines.
• Wellesley told Portugal’s Minister of War, Miguel Fulhas, that the allies needed to deprive the besiegers of food rather than request more troops.
• Wellesley proposed moving Porto’s surrounding population south of the Douro River and burning nearby towns, but Fulhas objected before agreeing to inform Crown Prince João Maria José.
• Wellesley said General William Beresford would finish training the mixed formations within two months, after which the allies would counterattack once the enemy’s logistics were cut off.

Wellesley prepared to use Portuguese troops against the Franco-Spanish forces, while Archduke Karl raced to confront the Ottomans in Wallachia. The chapter ended with Mustafa learning that the Topjis New Army had occupied Bucharest.

• Wellesley organized mixed formations of English and Portuguese soldiers and expected his forces to defeat the Franco-Spanish army.
• Prince João ordered Portuguese residents near Porto to evacuate south of the Douro River, and Junot found the villages deserted and stripped of supplies.
• Archduke Karl learned that an Ottoman force had reached south of Bucharest and hurried his army toward Olt Pass.
• Archduke Karl ordered his troops to abandon most supply wagons, bypass Bucharest, and prepare for a decisive battle near Isperih.
• Mustafa received word that the Topjis New Army had occupied Bucharest and smiled at gaining the initiative.

Mustafa’s Ottoman army was caught in Archduke Karl’s coordinated ambush, and Austrian forces broke through its ranks. As Hahnmayer prepared to exploit the breach, a white-uniformed infantry force appeared on the grassland.

• Mustafa dismissed the first warning of Austrian troops, then learned that they had routed the Bulgarian Legion and sent Janissaries to reinforce the flank.
• After the Guard Corps drove back the Austrians, Mustafa sent six battalions of the Topjis New Army in pursuit and shifted his central forces west.
• Austrian cannon fire struck the Ottoman army from the north, and advancing Austrian infantry drove the surprised Janissaries into retreat.
• Mustafa ordered Halil’s Left-Handers to attack, but Archduke Karl sent fifteen Hussar squadrons against the weakened western flank.
• The Austrian cavalry routed a bow-and-spear legion and opened a breach, but Hahnmayer saw white-uniformed infantry advancing toward his force.

Archduke Karl’s Austrian army defeated the Ottoman forces at Isperih, but dwindling ammunition threatened to halt its advance. Captured Ottoman supplies replenished the Austrians, and a message on the ammunition revealed that Marie Antoinette had sent it.

• Hahnmayer mistook Ottoman soldiers for French troops, then withdrew his cavalry after König warned that the Ottomans were closing the gap and trapping his men.
• Mustafa ordered the Topjis New Army to defend the northern flank, buying time for his main force to retreat toward the White Lom River.
• Archduke Karl’s forces captured more than thirteen thousand Ottoman soldiers, but Argentau warned that Austrian ammunition was nearly exhausted.
• Argentau found Ottoman supply carts containing thousands of crates of M1722 ammunition, shells, and gunpowder, allowing Archduke Karl to resume his attack.
• Archduke Karl read the Latin message on a crate: “Marie Antoinette sincerely wished you well.”