| |
| |
WE'VE GOT...
... articles galore for you this week. The Parisian summer is fast approaching and some of us will be on our holidays. As is our wont around this time of year, we have put together a selection of recent book releases - traditional and digital - and exhibitions across Europe and the USA to keep you occupied during our summer period. If that is not enough, we also have our article of the month, in which Thierry Lentz examines the legitimacy of Napoleon's imperial regime. A bit further down you will also find a short text on some common falcons who have taken to nesting in some of the most famous Napoleonic monuments in Paris. Next up, we return to one of our recent book's of the month, with news of a book signing event taking place at the Fondation Napoléon itself: 28 June at 6pm is the date if you fancy meeting Michel Dancoisne-Martineau and getting your copy of Chroniques de Sainte-Hélène Atlantique sud signed. Bringing up the rear are details of a colloquium being held at Trinity College Dublin, which features a paper from Michael Broers on the professional class in Napoleonic Europe, plus our usual snapshots in history, with 200 and 150 years ago.
|
|
|
| |
ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
"Napoleonic legitimacies and the proclamation of Empire", by Thierry Lentz
On 18 May, 1804, the Sénat conservateur proclaimed that the government of the Republic had been handed over to an emperor and that Napoleon Bonaparte had become the "Empereur des Français" under the name of "Napoléon 1er". In this article from Thierry Lentz, the legitimacy of the new empire is analysed, with attention given to monarchical principles, the constitution, the Republic, historical roots and precedent, and the idea of "Nation" and popular support. Even if, in politics, actions speak louder than words, Napoleon could not avoid having to explain his imperial regime. And on the French side, the new article of the month is "Le corps médical britannique à Sainte-Hélène", by Albert Benhamou.
|
|
|
| |
FONDATION NAPOLEON NEWS
Book signing with Michel Dancoisne-Martineau, Paris, France
To mark the release of his new book, Chroniques de Sainte-Hélène Atlantique sud, Michel Dancoisne-Martineau will be at the Fondation Napoléon in Paris on 28 June, between 6pm and 8pm, to meet visitors and sign copies of his work. Chroniques de Sainte-Hélène Atlantique sud traces the lives of some of the lesser-known characters in the story of Napoleon's exile on the island, including Reverend Boys, Solomon "the Jew", and Betsy Balcombe. This event continues the Fondation Napoléon's close relationship with France's presence on St Helena: in November 2010, the foundation - in partnership with the Souvenir Napoléonien and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs - launched Operation St Helena with the aim of raising 500,000€ to save Longwood House. The appeal is still open, donations are still coming in, and names are continually being added to our roll-call of participants.
|
|
|
| |
NAPOLEON.ORG
Summer Selection 2011
The Fondation Napoléon's Summer Selection 2011 continues the formula from recent years. With summer just around the corner (for the northern hemisphere at least), we have put together a list of the latest reading material and cultural events to keep you occupied over the next few months. There's a particular focus on the internet and eBooks this time around. As well as the Fondation Napoléon's own digital services (napoleon.org, the digital library and Napoleonica. La Revue), for the first time we are bringing you links to certain works of history that can be digitally downloaded. That's not to say, however, that we have neglected the more traditional reading medium: this year's selection still contains plenty of "normal" books (and some not so "normal" ones) that you can pick up, hold and flick through at your leisure.
|
|
|
| |
NATURE & NAPOLEON
Kestrels nesting in Napoleonic monuments across Paris
The more urbanism spreads, the more nature fights back. The case of the common kestrel is a particular example. Amidst the many historical buildings and monuments of Napoleonic heritage in Paris, these birds of prey have made their nests. The Château de Vincennes, with its many nooks and crannies, is home to a small family of kestrels, whilst up on perhaps the most famous of the Napoleonic monuments in the French capital, the Arc de Triomphe, another falco tinnunculus has settled down next to a boot, a sabre, and a wounded chasseur à cheval.
|
|
|
| |
WHAT'S ON
"Empires and Bureaucracy" colloquium, Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Taking place between 16 and 18 June, 2011, is the "Empires and Bureaucracy" colloquium, organised by Trinity College Dublin. As part of "The High Age of Empire" panel on 17 June, Michael Broers, of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, will be delivering a paper entitled "'Les enfants du siècle': an empire of the young professionals and the creation of a professional, imperial ethos in Napoleonic Europe", which will look at the creation of a cohort of young professional administrators and magistrates in Napoleon's 'Grand Empire'.
200 YEARS AGO
The Punic Wars revisited
As Joseph returned to his Spanish kingdom intent on seizing back the initiative and the war in the Iberian Peninsula intensified (bulletin n°s 584 and 585), Napoleon took to the stands of the Palais Bourbon to deliver his speech for the opening of the Corps Législatif. In his State of the Union-esque address, he took the opportunity to again portray France as the Roman Empire, comparing the bitter struggle in Spain to the Second Punic War, and assured those in attendance that the insurrection was close to an end:
"The insurgents have been defeated in a great many pitched battles. Britain knows that this war is coming to an end. [...] She has sent [everything] she has to the Peninsula: England, Scotland and Ireland have been stripped. British blood has flowed in great waves in many glorious French assaults... This struggle with Carthage [...] will be decided on the Spanish plains! Britain will be exhausted, she will finally understand the evils she has, over the last twenty years and with such great cruelty, inflicted upon the continent [...] A lightning bolt will put an end to Peninsular affairs, and the fate of [Britain's] armies [will be decided]; Europe and Asia will be avenged and this Second Punic War will be concluded." [Speech reported in the Moniteur, 17 June, 1811.]
150 YEARS AGO
Napoleon III declares France's neutrality in the American Civil War
After Queen Victoria's own declaration of neutrality on 13 May, 1861 (see bulletin n° 584), Napoleon III followed suit, announcing on 10 June (which was subsequently reported in the Moniteur Universel on 11 June, 1861):
"His Majesty the Emperor of the French, taking into consideration the state of peace that exists between France and the United States of America, has resolved to maintain a strict neutrality in the current struggle between the Union government and the States seeking to form a separate confederation."
As well as being forbidden from signing up for either army or navy, French officers were also prohibited from accepting any sort of commission or letters of marque, and risked losing the protection of their government should they participate in any way in the arming or organisation of the ships, privateers, or army.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 588, 10 - 16 JUNE, 2011
Interested in the work of the Fondation Napoléon? Why not participate, either generally or in a specific project, by making a donation?
© 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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...
EVENTS
On now and coming up
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
Book signing
- Chroniques de Sainte-Hélène Atlantique sud: Michel Dancoisne-Martineau, Paris, France [28/06/2011]
Full details
Colloquium
- "Empires and Bureaucracy", Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland [16/06/2011 - 18/06/2011]
Full details
NAPOLEON.ORG
The best of the month:
- Book of the month
- Painting of the month
- Objet d'Art of the month
- Article of the month
NAPOLEONICA.LA REVUE
Available free on Cairn.info
NAPOLEONICA ARCHIVES ONLINE
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
Spring opening hours
Situated at 148 boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris, the library is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 1.30pm – 6pm, and Thursday 10am - 3pm.
Online catalogue
Digital Library
Contact
ACCOUNT DETAILS
To change your email address, unsubscribe, and sign up for the French information bulletin.
|
|
