WI: Boulangist Movement Comes to Power

Discussion in 'History Before 1900' started by Delta Force, Apr 28, 2017.

  1. Delta Force

    Delta Force Administrator
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    Georges Ernest Boulanger was a popular French general and Revanchist who led the Boulangist movement in France during the 1880s. He gained a significant following among conservatives and monarchists and his movement was able to contest elections and win seats in across France, including a seat for himself.

    In January 1889, Boulanger won election to the Chamber of Deputies from Paris. Some of his supporters urged him to launch a coup and become head of France, but Boulanger wanted to come to power through legal means and refused to launch a coup. However, the government feared his growing support and issued a warrant for his arrest of charges of conspiracy and treason soon after the election, so he decided to flee the country.

    Could Boulanger and his movement have possibly taken power in France through elections or a coup? Apart from Revanchism, what would Boulangist policy look like?
     
  2. lordroel

    lordroel Member

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    You mean becoming emperor of the 3rd French Empire.
     
  3. Delta Force

    Delta Force Administrator
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    Boulanger had a lot of monarchist support so declaring himself emperor wouldn't go over too well. It would probably be more in the vein of Italy or other countries where he would rule with a monarch as figurehead.
     
  4. lordroel

    lordroel Member

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    You mean having him as Prime Minster with a puppet king ore emperor on the throne he can control.
     

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