Articles

It’s true there’s not much to be cheery about these days. But since the news is good, we’re not going to hold back. Everyone is “full steam ahead” for 2021. So here’s a foretaste of the delights to come. This week, we had a big…

During the strict lockdown that finally ended in France on 11 May 2020, most shops and commercial businesses had to lower their shutters. Hairdressing salons were no exception to the closures, and the eight weeks of lockdown saw hairstyles grow out of control. Hairdressers called on…

Each “Bullet Point” will confront a question related to the First Empire. My remarks are designed to form the basis for debate and, I hope, research. (Thierry Lentz, translation PH, May 2020)

Each “Bullet Point” will confront a question related to the First Empire. My remarks are designed to form the basis for debate and, I hope, research. (Thierry Lentz, May 2020, translation PH)

As dawn broke on 1 September 1870, Emperor Napoleon III was encircled by Prussian forces in the small town of Sedan. After a calamitous campaign, in which his army had seen far more defeats than victories, he had ordered his army (which at this point…

It was composed in the evening of 25/26 April 1792 and given the title Chant de guerre pour l’armée du Rhin (War Song of the Army of the Rhine), before becoming the Hymne des Marseillais (The Hymn of the People of Marseilles) then just simply La Marseillaise after it was adopted by the Fédérés of […]

The emergence of Prussia as a hegemonic power At the dawn of 1870, Prussia (under the rule of King Wilhelm I) was emerging as a hegemonic power in Europe. It had a modern, experienced army at its disposal. 1864 saw a Prussian victory in Second Schleswig War, followed by another against Austria at Sadowa on 3 […]

Each “Bullet Point” will confront a question related to the First Empire. My remarks are designed to form the basis for debate and, I hope, research. (Thierry Lentz, April 2020, translation PH)

This is the translation (published in The Times, 25 July, 1870, p. 5, col. 1.) of the Emperor’s proclamation to the French people. (Text based on the telegraphic dispatch printed in Toulon on 23 July 1870 © Gallica/BnF – ark:/12148/bpt6k5529865n)  

Napoleon burst onto the European scene on the back of his extraordinary military successes of 1796 and 1797. Quite naturally people wanted to know what the new Hannibal looked like. And despite the fact that he hated sitting for artists, it is at this point…