Negotiations between France and Spain leading up to the Treaty of San Ildefonso
were largely more forceful on the French side. Napoleon put a great deal of pressure
on Carlos IV to surrender both Louisiana and the Floridas in return for a throne
in central Italy. For France, 'The great river valley was to fill a twofold purpose.
It was valuable as a barrier of unlimited possibility against the American, and
for its proximity to the French West Indies.' 1 Although France missed
out on acquiring the Floridas from Spain, the transaction was completed with France's
aquisition of Tuscany from Austria (in Article 5 of the Treaty of Luneville, February
10, 1801) and 'By the Convention of Aranjuez, signed March 21, 1801, France received
Louisiana and Elbe in return for the seating of Prince Louis on the throne of
the newly created kingdon of Etruria, which included Tuscany and Piombino.' 2
- Elijah Wilson Lyon, Louisiana in French Diplomacy, 1759-1804, University
of Oklahoma Press, Norman, USA, 1974, 112.
- Ibid, 110.