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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
The First Italian Campaign: Act Two, by Jacques Jourquin
Jacques Jourquin brings us 'episode two' of the epoch-changing 'lightening war' in Northern Italy, which pitched the youthful Bonaparte against the ageing Würmser and Alvinczy.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Paris, the morning of 24 Brumaire, An XI (15 November, 1802), the drawing of lots for the conscripts of An IX began smoothly at the Mairie of the VIIth arrondissement, despite the absence of a number of conscripts which caused a certain agitation amongst the young people present.The drawing of lots continued in the various Mairies until 7 Frimaire (28 November).
During the drawing of lots at the Mairie of the IIIrd arrondissement, a rumour began to spread that those chosen were to be sent to Saint-Domingue, which caused great agitation in the families concerned.
It was also reported that a baker from the XIth arrondissement, the father of three children, fainted on drawing a black ticket. The agitation at the Mairie of the VIth arrondissement led to the postponement of the drawing of lots until 9 Frimaire (30 November).
London, 25 Brumaire, An XI (16 November, 1802), Colonel Despard's conspiracy was stopped. The conspirators were to seize the Tower of London, take ammunition, rob the Bank of England and kill king George III, all on 23 November, the day of the state opening of Parliament.
Paris, 28 Brumaire, An XI (19 November, 1802), Vivant Denon was promoted to head of the totally new Direction générale de musée central des Arts (General Director of the Central Museum of Arts). As the agent for official government commissions, he was placed under the (in the end, particularly feeble) responsibility of the Interior Ministry.
For a biography of Vivant Denon, visit our Biography section
Paris, 29 Brumaire, An XI (20 November, 1802), the Journal des bâtiments civils (Journal of Civil Engineering) announced this initiative on the part of the Mairie of the Xth arrondissement:
"Several manufacturers and factory managers have complained of a lack of workers. Some workers are complaining of lack of work. This double evil results from the fact that there is no common central point where both can respond to the needs of either. In future, the Mairie will be this central point for the citizens in this arrondissement. Two registers shall be drawn up. In one shall be written the names, addresses and professions of all the manufacturers who have expressed a desire for more workers. In the second shall be recorded the names, addresses and professions of all those looking for work. The Marie shall not intervene in the discussions; these should proceed on the usual case by case basis."
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
Snippets
- Call for papers 'London Politics, 1789-1914
Period glossary
- The British Tommy
What's on
- Conference: The creation of the Lycée high schools and Napoleon's education policy
- Napoleon and Alexander I in Hildesheim (Germany)
- Commemoration: Austerlitz 2002
- Exhibition: The first Italian Republic, 1802-1805
- Exhibition: Seat of Empire
The monthly titles
- Book of the Month: The Peninsular War, by Charles Esdaile
- This month's picture, The Comtesse Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély, by Gérard
- Article of the Month, The First Italian Campaign: Act Two, by Jacques Jourquin
- In the Collectors Corner, The Traveller, by Meissonier
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