Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 192 Paris, France
The Lyon train station in Paris, France, sees many passengers arriving from all over the country every day. But today the station is unusually quiet, not only because of the presence of guards, but also because Count Vallevskie, the French Foreign Minister, is there.

A train slowly pulled into the station, steam billowing from its locomotive. Valevsky ordered the band to play music to welcome this guest from afar.

Naserdin stepped out of the train carriage, and Valevsky quickly went up to greet him.

"Welcome to France, Shah!"

Nasserdin said after seeing the crowds waving the flags of both countries, arranged by the French government.

"Thank you for coming to the station to greet me personally. I am surprised by the enthusiasm of your people. I am confident that the friendship between our two countries will last forever."

“Shah, you’re too kind. His Majesty the Emperor is already waiting. Please follow me.”

Nasserdin boarded a carriage bound for the Tuileries Palace. They passed the Arc de Triomphe, saw the Seine River, and arrived at Notre Dame Cathedral on the Île-de-France.

At this time, Paris had not yet undergone the changes that would follow in later generations; everything remained as it was.

"His Majesty the Emperor has always wanted to meet the Shah, believing that Iran is fortunate to have such a good monarch."

"You flatter me, sir. Iran's current success is inseparable from the support of its people. Without them, what use would I be, no matter how good I am?"

"Haha, that's true."

The carriage arrived at the Tuileries Palace. From Henry III to Louis XIII, French kings alternated between the Tuileries and the Louvre. During the reign of Louis XIV, the residence was moved to Versailles, and the Tuileries gradually became less frequented.

After the outbreak of the French Revolution, Parisian citizens marched to Versailles to petition, subsequently taking Louis XVI and his family into Paris and housing them at the Tuileries Palace. Following the king's escape, the Tuileries Palace was occupied by both the National Convention and the Committee for Public Safety.

Following the Coup of 18 Brumaire, Napoleon I declared the Tuileries Palace the official residence of the First Consul. After Napoleon became Emperor in 1804, the Tuileries Palace was renamed the Royal Palace. Napoleon chose the Tuileries Palace over Versailles as his royal palace because the name Versailles was associated with the extravagance, tyranny, and autocratic rule of the Bourbon monarchs, and he feared that moving into Versailles would anger the public. Furthermore, the palace complex at Versailles was too vast, and after the looting and destruction of the French Revolution, restoring it to its former glory was impossible due to the financial and material resources required.

During the reign of Napoleon I, the interior of the Tuileries Palace underwent a large-scale renovation. Napoleon hired numerous architects and artists to embellish the palace, adding many new pieces of furniture, furnishings, paintings, and murals. The Tuileries Palace during this period became a model of the "Imperial" decorative style of the Napoleonic era.

Because the Tuileries Palace was looted and damaged during the 1848 Revolution, the Second Republic designated it as the presidential palace. However, after Louis Bonaparte staged a coup in 1851, transforming the republic into an empire, the Tuileries Palace once again became a royal palace. He undertook a large-scale renovation and refurbishment of the palace, making it magnificent and luxurious, and frequently hosting grand celebrations, ceremonies, banquets, and garden parties.

"Get ready, if there are any flaws in today's banquet, you're all in big trouble."

Empress Eugénie directed her attendants to prepare everything, while in the adjacent office, Napoleon III was discussing with his ministers what kind of cooperation could be made with Iran.

“Your Majesty, maintaining good relations with Iran requires considering our investments in the Ottoman Empire; conflict between them is inevitable in the future. Protecting our interests is the priority.” The Duke of De Persini, a key ally of Napoleon III, advocated for an alliance with Britain to alter the European order established in 1815 and achieve France's diplomatic goals. So far, the results have been excellent.

"That's what I think too. Our country's trade with the Ottomans has supported many merchants, and they all made their living through trade with the Ottomans. If they turn against us, it may have some impact on our economy."

The ministers' remarks angered Army Minister Drew: "Why do you think the Ottomans will turn against our country? We just helped them get rid of Russian oppression, and they are grateful to us."

"But we were in the Ottoman Empire..."

"I know that our country has a lot of trade with the Ottomans, but we should not be so narrow-minded. There is a much wider world beyond the Ottomans. France used to control more than half of the New World, but now only Algiers is under our rule."

This is bad for the empire's position; France must have more colonies than Britain. Only then can our factories sell more goods and earn more money, and only then can our country become prosperous and strong.

This is indeed France's goal: to expand its market, develop its economy, and return France to the top of the world.

But where should France go for colonization now? South of Algiers lies a vast desert, and while they wanted colonies in the Far East, Iran had already seized the opportunity. Going to Africa risked total financial ruin.

“We can cooperate with Iran. After all, the pressure on Britain is not only being borne by France. Otherwise, why would they order warships from our country?”

Iran has ordered an ironclad warship, and there are reports that it will place another order. Considering that the seas are traditionally British, this is a challenge to Britain's dominance.

"This is indeed something we can cooperate on. Iran has already signed trade agreements with Austria and Prussia, and we can also renegotiate agreements with Iran. I think Iran would be grateful to us."

Napoleon III had already made up his mind; friendly cooperation with Iran might bring some pleasant surprises. The French economy was now taking off, the establishment of the Crédit Agricole facilitated the flow of funds, and agriculture was also beginning to develop.

Most importantly, the Paris renovation project he commissioned Baron Haussmann to begin. Haussmann received instructions from Napoleon III to give Paris more space to expand, improve air circulation, bring together the city's scattered parts, and make Paris more beautiful.

Haussmann wielded more power than any of his predecessors. The French Senate simplified the laws governing land expropriation and granted Haussmann the privilege of expropriating land on both sides of any new street, requiring only a report to the Emperor, not to Parliament. This demonstrates how much Napoleon III valued this.

"Alright, I think the next conversation with the Shah of Iran will be very pleasant, after all, we will have a lot to talk about."

Napoleon III began preparing himself, as the Shah was approaching. He wanted to leave a strong impression of France so that it would be easier to discuss future cooperation.

(End of this chapter)