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THIS WEEK'S LETTER...
... features some of Napoleon Bonaparte's lesser-known qualities: camel jockey and budding linguist. Our objet d'art of the month is a statuette of the general atop a dromedary camel, during the Egyptian campaign. Delicately sculpted in gilt bronze, this intriguing object - from the Fondation Napoléon's collection - will be on display from next month as part of the new exhibition taking place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. We also have news of the recent sale at auction of Napoleon's English lessons, which he took whilst in exile on the island of St Helena. Further down, all those intending to apply for a Fondation Napoléon study grant will find details of the application process and - most importantly - the deadline for completed forms. We also bring you information about a couple of upcoming events - a conference on Joachim Murat in Italy, and the Battle of Wavre re-enactment event in Belgium - plus a look at the recent historical developments in the world of iPad apps. We round the letter off with a look at the chronic horse shortage in early 19th century continental Europe (200 years ago), and Napoleon III's visit to Alise-Sainte-Reine, the believed site of the Battle of Alesia (150 years ago).
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OBJET D'ART OF THE MONTH
Bonaparte on a dromedary
On 20 Nivôse Year VII (9 January, 1799), Bonaparte created his dromedary regiment, tasked with leading the fight against the insurgents who had brought their struggle to the very gates of Cairo. The speed, manoeuvrability and docility of the animals, coupled with their ability to withstand the extreme conditions of the desert, made them a precious asset during the Egyptian campaign. The image of Napoleon on a dromedary is striking, and the artists of the time were extremely taken by its air of exoticism, the perfect incarnation of the wave of orientalism that swept the nineteenth century. This anonymously-produced small bronze statue, part of the Fondation Napoléon's collection, is an arresting yet slightly comical representation of this image.
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NEWS FROM THE NAPOLEONIC WORLD
Napoleon's English lessons sold at auction
One of the many fascinating threads of Napoleon's life on the island of St Helena is the story of Napoleon's English lessons. Disgusted at his inability to read English, Napoleon insisted that Las Cases give him a lesson every day with the goal of being able to read without hesitation or difficulty the English newspapers on the island. The scraps of paper used to record his early attempts were recently sold in Paris at an auction organised by the Osenat auction house. The papers, bought by the Paris-based Musée des Lettres et Manuscrits, went for more than 93,000 Euros, far exceeding their estimated value (full story available via Reuters). The museum also paid 53,750€ for memoir manuscripts edited by Napoleon whilst on the island. Further details about Napoleon's English lessons can be found in Peter Hicks' article on the subject, available on napoleon.org.
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FONDATION NAPOLEON NEWS
Study grants 2011: application deadline set for 30 September, 2011
As part of its mission to encourage the study of the two French empires, each year the Fondation Napoléon awards six research grants to French and non-French students in the first year of their PhD (or MPhil intending to go on to PhD) on a First or Second Empire subject. The deadline for applications for the foundation's 2011 grants, which are worth 7,500 Euros each, is 30 September, 2011. With the summer just about upon us, now's the time to begin finalising research project proposals and putting together the application dossier. The full application pack can be found on napoleon.org. And for those looking for inspiration, five theses from former study grant awardees can be accessed and downloaded from the Fondation Napoléon digital library.
NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE
Issue n° 10 out now
Our selection from issue n° 10 of Napoleonica. La Revue is Charles Renucci's "Les dénominations napoléoniennes des rues et places d'Ajaccio 1802-1969".
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WHAT'S ON
"Joachim Murat, the founding of Ateleta and the Napoleonic Road", Ateleta-Pettorano sul Gizio, Italy
On 2 and 3 July, 2011, Ateleta and Pettorano sul Gizio (Italy) will be hosting an historical conference on Joachim Murat. Entitled "Joachim Murat, the founding of Ateleta and the Napoleonic Road", the conference will include papers from Marco Rimanelli (of St Leo University-Tampa, USA), and Aldo Di Biasio (of the Università degli Studi di Napoli - L'Orientale). The Fondation Napoléon will also be in attendance.
Battle of Wavre re-enactment, Wavre, Belgium
On 2 and 3 July, 2011, a re-enactment of the Battle of Wavre, featuring over 250 participants, will be staged in Wavre, Belgium. The event is organised by the Cercle Historique, Archéologique et Généalogique de Wavre, the Syndicat d'Initiative de Wavre, the Maison du Tourisme des Ardennes brabançonnes, the Association "L'Empereur et ses braves", the Compagnons de l'Empire, and the Bataillon Napoléon, and will also include a troop parade, a number of Napoleonic bivouacs and the inauguration of a stele in honour of General Gérard.
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TECHNOLOGY
Interactive history: iPad apps
Last week we brought you our Summer Selection 2011, which included a particular focus on digital reading material. This week we bring you news of a couple of iPad applications available on the market. First up is Quelle Histoire's "Napoléon" app for young historians, featuring twenty animated, interactive tableaux that guide the user through the history of Napoleon Bonaparte and other key characters. The application is available in French and English and can be downloaded for 2.99 €. Full details can be found here (external link). Our second app is History.com's American Civil War app, which includes quotes of the day, battle maps, photo galleries and various quizzes designed to introduce the user to the history of this bloody conflict. Available for $7.99, full details can be found here (external link).
200 YEARS AGO
The importance of horses
On 23 June, 1811, with the Spanish campaign dragging on and preparations for an eventual war with Russia in full swing, Napoleon wrote to Maréchal Davout, who was charged with the organisation of the observation corps on the Elbe, ordering him to look elsewhere for his horses:
"Mon cousin, we have purchased such a large quantity of horses in France, both for Spain and in order to reconstitute the interior corps, that France has run out of [them]. You must in all earnestness set to the acquisition [of horses] in Hanover, Mecklenburg and Holstein. [...] My wish is that every cavalry regiment in Germany have 1,000 horses. [...] Do not count on France for these horses [...] we are experiencing great difficulty in procuring any for the other regiments."
Although France's horse culture - exemplified by the Grande Écurie du Château de Versailles - was highly rated during the reign of Louis XVI, the destructive requisitions by Republican armies during the Revolutionary period led to a near collapse in the nation's stud farms: the subsequent suppression of state administered stud farms in 1790 - deemed too costly by the Directory - exacerbated the disorder, and led to further diminishment in the quality and organisation of France's horse stocks. By 1800, it was widely held that the superior races of horse in France had become if not extinct, then certainly unable to meet the requirements of the Consulate in times of war. France, being a continental power, had a far greater need for cavalry troops than say Britain, an island nation. On 4 July, 1806, Napoleon resurrected State administration of stud farms, under the control of the Interior Ministry. At this time, English thoroughbreds and half-breeds were still considered the best for war purposes: however, the state of war that existed between the two countries meant importing these into France was out of the question. France was thus forced to build its stocks from horses of Egyptian, Turkish and Mecklenburg origins, of decidedly lower quality. Nevertheless, between 1806 and 1812, there was a massive take-up of horses (as can be seen in the letter above), as well as a trade deficit as horses continued to be imported in massive numbers from abroad to meet the army's requirements. The Russian campaign of 1812 placed an almost unbearable strain on numbers, with some sources reporting losses of 175,000 horses over the course of the campaign. By 1813, only 29,000 horses could be raised across the whole of France (including requisitions of privately-owned horses); even then, few were ready for military service.
150 YEARS AGO
A grand day out
As part of his research into his forthcoming two-volume set on the history Julius Caesar (see bulletin n° 558), Napoleon III spent an enlightening day (19 June, 1861) in Alise-Sainte-Reine, the believed site of the Battle of Alesia (52 B.C.). In the following day's edition, the Moniteur Universel reported on the emperor's day at the dig site, spent in the company of Prosper Mérimée, his "research advisor":
"Arriving in Alise-Sainte-Reine at midday, [...] His Majesty proceeded on foot to the trenches already excavated; from there, climbing Mount Auxois, he reached the summit from which entire area can be seen. Here the emperor reread the passage from Caesar's commentaries relating the siege of Alesia. Recognising that the details reported in the text correlated perfectly with the site, he thus succeeded in resolving an issue that has intrigued him and has greatly preoccupied the academic world for many years. The emperor continued his exploration - on foot - of the entire site of the ancient oppidum. After this reconnaissance, which lasted no less than three hours, His Majesty returned to Alise-Sainte-Reine where he visited the hospice, a godly foundation which has existed for more than two centuries. The emperor was particularly interested in the museum of antiquities which is being planned, according to his wishes, in a room attached to the establishment."
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 589, 17 - 23 JUNE, 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
Seen on the web (external links)
- "Mobilizing Russian horsepower in 1812", by Dominic Lieven, in History, vol. 96, issue n° 322 (April 2011)
- Napoléon iPad app
- American Civil War app
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
Conference
- Gioacchino Murat, Ateleta, Italy
[02/07/2011 - 03/07/2011]
Full details
Exhibition
- "Magnificence and Grandeur of the Royal Houses in Europe", Monaco [11/07/2011 - 11/09/2011]
Full details
Re-enactment
- The Battle of Wavre, Wavre, Belgium [02/07/2011 - 03/07/2011]
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
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The library will be closed exceptionally on 23 June, 2011.
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