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IN THE LETTER...
... this week, we have something for everyone. Our latest article of the month is the second paper presented by the Fondation Napoléon at the recent Consortium on the Revolutionary Era, a review of recent French works on the Napoleonic period, by Peter Hicks. Next up is an article for our younger readers: the birth of the Roi de Rome, the latest addition to our Kids' Corner. We follow this with some news of note for anyone with an interest in St Helena and documentation of Napoleon's exile on the island. The Château de Malmaison has recently acquired a watercolour painted by Denzil Ibbetson - well-known for his depictions of Napoleon on his deathbed - which shines further light on the changes made to Longwood during the deposed emperor's stay. And for those whose taste is more Louis-Napoleon, prince-president, we have a link to a database of primary sources relating to the short-lived Roman Republic, founded in 1849. We head towards the finish line with some cultural history, and an excerpt from Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798-1831, which traces the history of the Arab community in France during the nineteenth-century. 200 and 150 years ago, as is our wont, bring our letter to a close, with further cabinet reshuffles (in 1811) and talk of a duel (in 1861).
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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
"Recent works in French on the Napoleonic period: a review", by Peter Hicks
Originally presented at the 2011 Consortium on the Revolutionary Era, 1750-1850, this paper sees Peter Hicks offer a follow-up to his 2008 paper delivered in Huntsville and introduce a number of recent French works on Napoleonic history. Taking in recent publications by Jean-Paul Bertaud, Patrice Guéniffey, Pierre Serna, Thierry Lentz, and Emmanuel de Waresquiel, as well as developments in digital media on napoleon.org, Hicks discusses the worth of each of these books as well as the historiographical approach and general trends present in French history writing of the period at the moment.
The French article of the month is the intriguing "Quand Fouché et Savary faisaient fabriquer de la fausse monnaie", by Thierry Lentz.
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KIDS' CORNER
The Roi de Rome, son of Napoleon I
The Roi de Rome (King of Rome), Napoleon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, was the first legitimate son of Napoleon I, emperor of the French and son of a Corsican noble. His mother was Napoleon's second wife, the young Marie-Louise of Habsburg-Lorraine, daughter of the Emperor of Austria. On 20 March, 1811, twelve days short of a year since his parent's civil marriage, a 101-gun salute announced that the imperial couple had had a son (22 blasts would have meant a girl).
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SEEN ON THE WEB
New addition to the Château de Malmaison's collection
The Château de Malmaison has recently acquired a watercolour painting of St Helena, produced by Denzil Ibbetson, a British commissary who accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte on his journey to St Helena on board The Northumberland. An accomplished painter, Ibbetson produced a number of sketches and drawings during his time on the island, including a depiction of Napoleon on his deathbed, and numerous views of St Helena. This painting, which covers four pages, is previously unseen and offers a fascinating view of Longwood and in particular the "Generals' wing". The painting allows us to trace the development of the apartments used by Gourgaud and Montholon, demolished in 1860 and rebuilt (inexactly) in 1935. Using the turf wall depicted in the painting, which was installed in 1820 and removed in 1822, it is also possible to offer a relatively precise date of execution. This wall was erected to offer Napoleon some privacy from the round-the-clock surveillance on the island, and, as the painting makes clear, included a hole for the emperor's telescope, an aspect of Napoleon's exile of which historians were previously unaware. Link is external and in French.
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La Repubblica Romana del 1849 source database
With the Risorgimento commemorations taking place this year all across Italy, it seems an opportune moment to mention the Repubblica Romana del 1849 source database. This database holds digital reproductions of thousands of documents - including pamphlets, newspapers and manuscripts - relating to the Roman Republic of 1849. These sources, owned by the Biblioteca di Storia moderna e comtemporanea, are exceptionally useful primary sources in the study of the period of history between Pius IX's election and his return to Rome. Although primarily Italian-language sources, the database does contain the "Address of the Council of the Peoples' International League", produced in 1847, and available here. A fascinating study of British pacific liberalism, this document, written in reaction to the changing nature of European politics in the mid-19th-century, espouses self-government, "the Principles of National Freedom and Progress", and international understanding whilst criticising British insularity and European Absolutism. All links are external.
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PRESS REVIEW
Book review: Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798-1831, by Ian Coller
One of the latest book reviews published on the Institute of Historical Research's website, Reviews in History, concerns Ian Coller's Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798-1831. Of particular relevance at the moment following the recent introduction of a law in France banning the wearing of the niqab and burqa in public, this book traces the history of the Arab community in France during the nineteenth century. The preface is available to read via the University of California Press website. The Reviews in History website also includes Ian Coller's response to the review. All links are external.
200 YEARS AGO
The reshuffle continues
Having replaced his representative at the Russian court (see bulletin n°578), Napoleon continued his diplomatic reshuffle and relieved Champagny, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, of his duties. On 17 April, 1811, the French emperor wrote to the Duc de Cadore, informing him of his decision:
"I have only praise for the services that you have rendered in the different ministries with which I have entrusted you; but affairs abroad are in such a way that I have decided, for the good of [the State], to employ you elsewhere." [Letter from Napoleon to Champagny dated 17 April, 1811, n° 17,614, Correspondance de Napoléon Ier, Second Empire edition.]
France's relationship with Russia was rapidly degenerating and Napoleon's decision to promote Maret, Duc de Bassano, to the vacated post was a clear indication that he intended to keep an even closer eye than normal on the department's dealings. As for Champagny, his brief memoirs are telling for the few details he offers regarding his removal. Noting that the two of them did not see eye to eye on Russian affairs, he added (admittedly with a good fourteen years' worth of hindsight) that, "he dismissed me because he wanted war with Russia, [something] I might have prevented."
Hardly one for sentiment, Napoleon lost little time in moving on, writing on two occasions to Maret, newly installed at the ministry, on the same day of Champagny's departure. The Duc de Cadore was subsequently made intendant general des domaines de la Couronne, an administrative post which dealt with the finances and management of the Maison de l'Empereur and the imperial estates.
150 YEARS AGO
Fight, fight, fight…
The Duc d'Aumale's virulent attack on the Bonaparte dynasty (see bulletin n° 576) and, in particular, the Prince Napoleon, caused quite a stir in Paris. As was the custom at the time, there were calls to answer such an insult with a duel. Plon-Plon was reluctant, but came under pressure from the imperial couple to do "the honourable thing". In a letter dated 16 April, 1861, Napoleon III advised his cousin:
"Go to Belgium and write to the Duc d'Aumale that you [...] can only consider his brochure in the light of a challenge; that, being unwilling that his exile should place a barrier between you [the duke was at the time resident in London], you have gone into a neutral country, there to await his reply."
The French empress Eugenie was even more forthright, and rumours swept through the French capital that she had accosted him at court one day, demanding coldly "Why are you here? I thought you were in London." Plon Plon however had no interest in fighting a duel over what he considered to be a trifling political matter and in any case would have stood little chance, according to Lord Clarendon (the British former Minister for Foreign Affairs) who described the duke as "a first-rate shot and swordsman, determined [...] to give his obese opponent the benefit of all the skill he could bring to bear on him." With the ball in Plon Plon's court, the affair petered out, and the Duc d'Aumale was able to claim a moral victory.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 580, 15 – 21 APRIL, 2011
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© This Napoleon.org weekly bulletin is published by the Fondation Napoléon. Reproduction or all or part of this bulletin is forbidden, without prior agreement of the Fondation Napoléon.
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OPERATION ST HELENA
The Fondation Napoléon and the Souvenir Napoléonien, in association with the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have announced an international fund-raising campaign to restore and save Napoleon I's residence on the island of St Helena. All the details regarding the campaign as well as donation forms and advice for donating from outside France, can be found on napoleon.org.
FONDATION NAPOLEON ON THE WEB
Each week we offer you a "mystery" link to somewhere on napoleon.org. Click on the link to discover a part of the website you might not have visited before...
MAGAZINE
Press review
- Book review: Arab France: Islam and the Making of Modern Europe, 1798-1831
- Book review: Understanding the British Empire
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