Articles : 1400
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ArticleCamden Place, (Chislehurst, UK) the last home of Napoleon III150 years ago on 20 March 1871, Napoleon lll the exiled Emperor of the French, who had been held captive for 195 days in Germany, was released to join his wife the Empress Eugenie and the Prince Imperial in the South of England at Camden… -
ArticleTalking Point with Thierry Lentz : Le bicentenary has begunThe 9th of March was an important moment in our Napoleonic Year, with the inauguration of the exhibition “Drawing for Napoleon“, (see also this month’s image, below) organised by the National Archives, with the support of the Fondation Napoléon and the Maison Chaumet. Three days… -
ArticleTalking Point with Peter Hicks : William Clark, an old soldier’s storyIn the Dundee Courier and Argus dated Monday 11 September 1876, was published an account by 83-year-old William Clark of his time guarding Napoleon on St Helena, 55 years earlier. If we are to believe his story, he might even have been one of Napoleon’s pall… -
ArticleTalking Point with Pierre Branda > Positive discrimination in history? Really? (March 2021)It’s not always a fair wind for France across the Atlantic. The one that’s blowing very strongly at the moment is a case in point. I’m talking about the fad of favouring individuals or groups of them, supposed or real victims of discrimination, with the… -
ArticleTalking Point with Alessandro Hicks (independent scholar) > When Napoleon ‘invaded’ Japan (February 2021)Though seen today as the most westernised country of the Far-East, Japan from the early 17th century to 1854 pursued a policy of Sakoku 鎖国 (secluded country) cutting itself off from the outside world. It is a remarkable fact then that, before being forced open by the American naval officer Commodore Perry… -
ArticleDocument and commentary > Napoleon’s last will and testamentThis is a brand new introduction (February 2021) by Chantal Prevot, librarian at the Fondation Napoleon, to the transcription (in English translation) originally published here in January 2007. Introduction to Napoleon’s last will and testament In mid-April 1821, as Napoleon was feeling his strength decline,… -
ArticleTalking Point with François Houdecek: When “Bonnie” Prince Charlie met “Boney”!Historians of Napoleon are always keen to open a sale catalogue dedicated to his period. With the arrival of the bicentenaries, many wonderful objects and fascinating manuscripts have emerged often related to people known simply for their name. Over the nearly 15 years work on the edition… -
ArticleTalking Point with Michel Dancoisne-Martineau: A mysterious key from Longwood goes under the hammerOn Monday 11 January 2021, a key supposedly to the room in Longwood House in which Napoleon died went under the hammer at a renowned auction house. The final price: £81,900. The object came with a handwritten note bearing the words: “Key of the Room at… -
ArticleTalking Point with Elodie Lefort > Looking after your collection – Episode 1: Books and your libraryWell the weather’s getting worse and even though the confinement has slightly lifted here in France, it’s probably best to stay in. We thought it would be good to make the most of this time by bringing you a series of “Talking points” offering expert… -
ArticleTalking Point with Peter Hicks > “Soldiers, you are naked!”In March 1796, a twenty-six-year-old Corsican general harangued his raggle-taggle troops in the mountains above Nice. “You are naked”, he cried, “poorly fed … I wish to bring you into the richest plains in the world.” Not far from the bi-millennial anniversary of Hannibal’s crossing…