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THE FONDATION NAPOLEON GRANDS PRIX FOR 2002: SCOOP FOR BULLETIN READERS
The Fondation Napoléon Grands Prix for 2002 will be awarded next week on 27 November. The jury's decision will be communicated by special delivery the day before, namely 26 November, to all those signed up for the napoleon.org bulletin.
JEAN TULARD CONFIRMS HIS OPPOSITION TO THE OPENING OF THE TOMB OF NAPOLEON
In the 'wearying' polemic concerning the 'substitution' theory, those who support this old contention of Georges Rétif de La Bretonne have always stated that Professeur Jean Tulard had pronounced in favour of a DNA analysis of the body in the tomb at Les Invalides so as to check whether it was really that of Napoleon. They were however basing themselves on a sarcastic joke made by the professor of Napoleonic studies: he said - and the remark was picked up by the review Historia but printed without context - that all they had to do was that, and then they would finally leave him in peace to allow him to dedicate himself to subjects more serious. But ever since, this remark of Jean Tulard's has been used as a defence by those driven by the idea profanation.
In a recent interview in the magazine Télé Star (11 November, 2002), Jean Tulard answering (once again) the question: "is DNA analysis necessary?" replied, unequivocably: "I am against it! Even if they were given proof that Napoleon was well and truly buried at Les Invalides, those who support the poisoning and substitution theories would obstinately state the opposite. It's a door which is open to every abuse... Tomorrow, will they open General de Gaulle's coffin if someone maintains that he did not die a natural death?". So, one more nail in the coffin (if you'll pardon the pun) in what has to stand for the historical argument of the "substitionist" theory (who have replaced the "poisonists").
THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
The Emperor's table boat or nef, by Henry Auguste
Art at the imperial table was exceedingly sumptuous. For the coronation, the Ville de Paris offered to the new sovereign the Grand Vermeil, a grandiose table setting made by the goldsmith Auguste. The Emperor's table boat was one of the most prestigious pieces in the ensemble.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
1 Frimaire, An XI (22 November, 1802): creation of the title of 'Dame d'honneur' for Josephines ladies in waiting, a fact which added weight to the future Empress's household. Despite the fact that officially there existed neither civil or military households, the Tuileries Court had a budget of its own, of which it received the first payment in 1802.
Demographic results for the twelve arrondissements in Paris were published for An IX and An X: Births: 19,703 for An IX, and 21, 300 for An X; Deaths: 20,255 for An IX and et 19,385 for An X; Marriages: 3,842 for An IX and 2,604 for An X; Divorces: 808 for An IX and 910 for An X.
Le Journal des débats, 2 Frimaire, An XI (23 November, 1802)
5 Frimaire, An XI (26 November, 1802), the four major Parisian theatres, the Odéon, the Théâtre-Français, the Opéra and the Opéra-Comique, were placed under the surveillance of the Préfet of the Palais des Tuileries.
7 Frimaire, An XI (28 November, 1802), the whole of Paris fêted the young actrice Mlle George (1787-1867) for her debut at the Théâtre-Français in 'Iphigénie en Aulide' by Racine. Several months later she was to become Napoleon's mistress - indeed Napoleon was present at her debut performance.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
Press review
- The Fall of the French Monarchy, by Munro Price, reviewed by the Louis XVIII specialist Philip Mansel in The Spectator
Recently published
Soldiers of the Revolution and Empire, by Alan Forrest
Fields of Fire: A life of Sir William Hamilton, by David Constantine
Napoleon: His Wives and Women, by Christopher Hibbert
Web sites
- Florence Nightingale Museum (UK)
Go to the Napoleonic Directory, Web sites, then History
- Mini-biography of Napoleon Bonaparte
Go to the Napoleonic Directory, Web sites, then History
What's on
- Napoleon and Alexander I in Hildesheim (Germany)
- Commemoration: Austerlitz 2002 (full details!)
- 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 Emperor's table boat or nef
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