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'Napoleon has returned'...
was the title of one of the pièces de circonstance that Peter Hicks, his orchestra and choirs performed in 2010 as part of the memorable concerts at les Invalides marking the bicentenary of the marriage of Napoleon and Marie-Louise. For those who remember it, it may well be the tune they'll find themselves humming when they visit the exhibition ‘Napoleon et l'Europe', which has just opened at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris.
Apart from the exhibition Trésors de la Fondation Napoléon at Jacquemart-André (2004), there hasn't been a Napoleonic exhibition this big in Paris since 1969. The Fondation Napoléon has been part of the project from the beginning is happy to have been able to help with this undertaking, because the bet (if there was one) has really paid off: 250 objects and works, loaned from 50 different institutions, incredibly successful scenography, clear pedagogical aims, exhibits for children, videos, maps and a sumptuous catalogue... there's little left to say other than run, walk, fly: but go!
And if there we were allowed to remember just one thing from the visit, we would have to choose the part where the respective uniforms Franz of Austria, Alexander I of Russia and the Emperor Napoleon all face each other, and where, just behind them, the uniform that Lord Admiral Nelson wore at trafalgar completes the magnificent scene.
The rest, of which there is a lot, is for you to discover.
As we've said, this is an event not to be missed under any pretext!
Thierry Lentz, Director of the Fondation Napoléon
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Napoleon and Europe
This spring sees a flourishing of Napoleonic events all over Europe: this week, the exhibition Napoleon et l'Europe opened at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, and you can see a short video of it. If you missed it, we have an interview with the director of the exhibition, Emilie Robbe, and as our object and painting of the month, two works which visitors can see at the exhibition.
Another exhibition, Bonaparte at the Scheldt, also opened in Antwerp on March 23. It explores Napoleon's relationship with the port, and his plans for regeneration there. The Fondation Napoléon has loaned items from its own collection.
On 6-20 April, the town of Forte Marghera in Italy will host a large cycle of talks entitled ‘Aquile sotto Assedio' (Eagles under Siege), concentrating on the role of Napoleon and his forces in Northern Italy.
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What's On:
Heritage Fair at Spencerville Mill, Ontario, Canada
From 21-23 June, re-enactors and 19th century enthusiasts will meet at Spencerville Mill for the heritage fair, which will feature workshops on everything from fashion to duelling, a napoleonic re-enactment and much more. Booking is essential.
Britain's Greatest Battle, London, UK
In January, we asked you to vote for what you considered Britain's Greatest Battle, as part of the National Army Museum's (London) initiative. The results are in, and historians will gather at the National Army Museum to ‘battle it out' to choose Britain's most defining military victory.
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Napoleon I in the News
This week Napoleon I has featured in the world press, primarily thanks to the historic sale of the engagement ring he gave to the Empress Josephine, which fetched a staggering €730, 000 at auction last week.
Also in the news was the story of the creation of a reproduction of the mechanical chess-playing Turk which toured the courts of Europe in the early 19th century. legend has it that Napoleon even played against the machine. Whilst this remains contentious, we have an article on the site (in French) about Napoleon the chess player of this particular board game.
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200 Years Ago
On 30 March, 1813, letters patent were signed making Marie-Louise regent in Napoleon's absence. Later that day, she took an oath at the Elysée Palace in a public ceremony. During his time with her in Paris, Napoleon had started to give her basic training in matters of State, though it appeared that she had little aptitude for them. Essentially, the measures put Marie-Therese at the head of government in name only - she was supervised in all aspects by a cabinet led by Cambacérès, and mainly had to content herself with fixing the daily agenda. In a letter to his father-in-law, Napoleon played up the importance of the event, telling him that “today, the Empress is also my prime minister”, though in reality it wasn't envisaged that Marie-Antoinette's niece should wield anything but symbolic power. All official documents that the Empress had to sign bore the words “On behalf of the Emperor and by virtue of the powers he has conferred on us” and were overseen by the archchancellor, and were countersigned by the duke de Cadore as minister of state. Letters from the archchancellor and the minister of Police were dispatched to the Emperor daily, keeping him abreast of events.
150 Years Ago
On 29 March, 1863, as part of Napoleon III's ongoing attempts to install a pro-French regime in Mexico (see mini dossier), General Bazaine led an attack on the fort at San-Xavier. This assault was in fact part of the second siege of Puebla de Los Angeles which had begun two weeks earlier (16 March). This attack had been made possible by the arrival of 26,000 reinforcements sent by Napoleon III to subdue the town and continue the Mexican expedition's objectives “of pacification”. Though the city was taken on the same day, the defeated Mexican soldiers were subsequently freed, allowing them to join the guerilla war against the French-led regime change, intent on establishing an Imperial monarchy.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Andrew Miles
Historians and web editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N0 661, 29 MARCH - 04 APRIL, 2013
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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 the prolongation of its 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
You can still donate online to the project via the Friends of the Fondation de France in the US here
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'NAPOLEON ET L'EUROPE' AT THE MUSEE DE L'ARMEE
- The exhibition is now open! Buy your tickets online.
MAGAZINE
Just Published
- Great Lakes Warships 1812-1815, by Mark Lardas and Paul Wright
- Being American in Europe 1750-1860, Daniel Kilbride
Seen on the web (external links)
- The Duel fought between the Duke of Wellington and the Earl of Winchilsea
Press Review
- History Today: Murder of Tsar Paul I
- The Lever of Growth: French Economic Warfare and the British Response at Sea (1770-1815), by Katerina Galani
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.
Exhibition
- Bonaparte at the Scheldt [Antwerp, Belgium 23/03/2013 - 28/06/2013]
Talks and Conferences
- Britain's Greatest Battle [London, UK 20/04/2013 - 20/04/2013]
- 1809-1813 'Aquile sotto assedio' (Eagles under Siege) [Mostra, Italy 06/04/2013 - 14/04/2013]
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
Napoleonica Archives is now online!
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
The new library opening hours are:
Monday and Tuesday 1pm – 6pm and
Thursday to Friday 10am – 3pm.
Closed Wednesday.
Online catalogue
Digital Library
Contact
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