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The Web turns 20!
In April 1993, CERN (The European Council for Nuclear Research) created the first ever public website, opening the way for “highways of information”. Many were curious about the interest garnered by this new technology, signified by 'www', some rejected it straightaway, others adopted it with great enthusiasm and visionary imagination. This was the case with the then president of the Fondation Napoléon, Baron Gourgaud, who encourgaed the project of a Napoleonic website, envisaged in 1995 by the then director, Beatrice de Durfort, and the company Babeb@Stal: conceived as a centre of documentation online, entirely bilingual, napoleon.org was to totally change the habits of the public who were passionate about the two Empires: it was even one of the sites of week featured by Yahoo.com in 1996! In 2001, the site had 1,3 million visitors, and three versions later, we now count over 3 million visits. Napoleonica les archives completed the documentary side of the site in 2002, followed by Napoleonica la Revue in 2008, aimed at encouraging historical research.
This success is, of course, yours too - our loyal readers who have been following us for a number of years: happy birthday to you all!
Irène Delage, Head of Documentation and Public Relations
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Book of the Month
Correspondance Générale de Napoléon Bonaparte. Tome 9: Wagram. Février 1809-Février 1810
We are delighted to announce the publication of the 9th volume of the Correspondance Générale de Napoléon I, the Fondation Napoléon's ongoing project to publish the Emperor's letters in their entirety. In total, 3,265 letters feature in this volume of the Correspondance de Napoléon, among them are letters sent to the minister of War, Clarke, which have never been seen before.
This new volume reveals a portrait of the Emperor, whose energy, authority, attention to detail and also whose sentiments regarding his entourage appears directly through his letters.
Read the introduction by Patrice Gueniffey, director of this volume.
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A Tribute to Napoleon
To commemorate the anniversary of Napoleon's death on 5 May, we bring you the poem Il Cinque Maggio, by Alessandro Manzoni (external link). It was a poem Goethe considered one of the best written about Napoleon, and translated it into German himself.
Don't forget that there is the mass commemorating Napoleon's death on 5 May at Les Invalides in Paris, should you happen to be in the French capital. The ceremony starts at 6pm with the laying of a wreath on the Emperor's grave.
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Just Published
As well as our book of the month, we're highlighting two other recent publications this week. The first is Lieutenant Woodberry, Journal de Guerre 1813-1815, translated into French and edited by the Fondation's very own Peter Hicks. The young lieutenant Woodberry fought for three years against the French army, from the battle of Vitoria to the battle of Waterloo.
The second is Au Galop! Horses and Riders of Napoleon's Army, by Paul L. Dawson. This is a new study of the way in which napoleon obtained horses for his army, the way they were fed, and crucially how the men and horses were trained. We recommend both!
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Whats On
Bloody Fields of Waterloo by Mr Mick Crumplin FRCS, London, UK
Last week we featured the book 'Bloody Fields of Waterloo' by Mick Crumplin in our ‘Just Published' section, and for those interested, he will be holding a talk about the medical provisions at Waterloo in June. It will aim to give an overview of the Battle of Waterloo and the medical problems encountered and provide information of the Army Medical Department and its preparation and management of medical problems encountered in the Battle.
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200 Years Ago
Napoleon and his army had been marching towards Leipzig and the allies had hoped to engage him in a surprise attack in Saxony, at the town of Lutzen, on 1 May, 1813. The initial target was Ney's corps. The fixed stone buildings on the Saxon battlefield afforded Ney's men protection and they turned them to their advantage. Ney and Marmont held the battle long enough for Napoleon and his troops to arrive - once this superior number of troops were engaged, victory for the French was certain. There were, however, more french casualties than allied and the latter's retreat had been wrought mainly by the superior force commanded by Napoleon.
150 Years Ago
In Mexico, the siege of Puebla by French troops carried on until the beginning of May. The battle of Camerone had seen the death of forty legionnaires of the Second Empire a few days before, but the guerilla fighters had not managed to push back the troops surrounding the town: they were defeated twice in their attempts to, once on 5 May, 1863 at San Pablo del Monte and secondly at San Lorenzo on 8 May.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Andrew Miles
Historians and web editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N0. 668, 26 APRIL - 2 MAY, 2013
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
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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
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter !
'NAPOLEON ET L'EUROPE' AT THE MUSEE DE L'ARMEE
- Visiting the exhibition? Buy your tickets online.
napoleon.org-related content:
- Painting of the Month, from the exhibition: Napoleon's Consecration or Coronation
- Interview with E. Robbe, Director of the Exhibition
- Object of the Month, from the exhibtion: Model of the column of the Grande Armée
- Publications from the exhibition: Napoléon et l'Europe Exhibition Catalogue
MAGAZINE
Just Published
- Lietenant Woodberry: Journal de Guerre, 1813-1815, edited by Peter Hicks
- Au Galop! Horses and Riders of Napoleon's Army, by Paul L. Dawson
Seen on the web (external links)
- Radio 4 programme about Napoleon and Europe
- UK Parliament's website about the Duke of Wellington's tenure as Prime Minister
Press Review
- Un bonaparte en el trono de las Españas y de las Indias. Iconografía de José Napoleón I, by Victor Minguez Cornelles
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.
Talks
- Bloody Fields of Waterloo by Mr Mick Crumplin FRCS [27/06/2013, London UK]
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
ACCOUNT DETAILS
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