Napoléon et les Invalides (in French)

 
From the editor:
Of the many illustrious names who have helped to make France what it is, two in particular have left their mark on the Hôtel national des Invalides: Louis XIV, who issued Libéral Bruant and Jules-Hardouin Mansart with the task of constructing the building that would provide shelter for his soldiers, and Napoleon I, who made it a pantheon to the Nation's military glory. From the crypt housed in the Dôme au Musée de l'Armée, to the statue that watches over the inner courtyard and oversaw the retour des cendres from St Helena, the shadow and presence of the French Emperor is felt everywhere. As the Musée de l'Armée prepares to unveil its newly reorganised Modern History collection (1643 – 1870), the time seems right to revisit the subject.
 
Co-published by the Musée de l'Armée and Editions de la Revue Napoléon, supported by the Fondation Napoléon, “Napoléon et les Invalides” adopts a synthetic approach, examining every aspect, both famous and unknown, tying the Emperor to the Hôtel national des Invalides.
 
To set the scene, a number of articles will discuss a variety of themes, ranging from military history to art, before moving onto the history of the museum's collections themselves, tracing their own personal stories before they appear in their cases.
Attention then turns to the objects themselves. Richly illustrated, and full of detail, the catalogue will cover not only the most famous items, but also some not seen before. Weapons, insignias, uniforms, medals, artillery, luxury items and those of a daily use all feature and all evoke the Emperor, his marshals and other individuals unknown to us but who nevertheless contributed to the glory of the Grade Armée.