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In this week's letter...
we've a whole host of things to keep you entertained. First up is a our brand new article of the month, a biographical sketch of General "Charles" Lallemand. Summer is of course upon us in the northern hemisphere (despite the rain here in Paris), and in preparation for the holidays, we've put together our Summer Selection - a list of books, articles and multimedia for you to get stuck into whilst enjoying the sunshine. Next up, there's a fascinating article and video from the BBC about the Chappe telegraph system which was used in Napoleonic France and which revolutionised telecommunications. After that, we have details of several Napoleonic objects that have been in the news this week. This week also sees the commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo, and we bring you a selection of news and events that marked the occasion. And, as usual, you'll find other interesting snippets from the web on the right-hand side, as well as an article about St Helena and another about artists' projects based on the Battle of Leipzig as part of the commemoration this year. Enjoy!
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Article of the Month
"Un Vrai Chevalier Errant": A Biographical Sketch of General "Charles" Lallemand, by Jonathan Abel
"In 1823, a crew of French soldiers, adventurers, and misfits landed in Lisbon. They aspired to overthrow the Spanish monarchy, ally with France, and conquer Europe to recreate the Napoleonic Empire. Leading the expedition was General “Charles” Lallemand, exiled from Restoration France on pain of death. Despite his exhortations for the French to “emancipate France from the yoke of the strangers who domineer over her,” the expedition failed, and Lallemand returned to the United States." Read the full story of this Napoleonic 'bucaneer'...
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Fondation Napoléon Summer Selection
Summer holidays are fast upon us, bringing longer days and above all time to catch up on all those books you've wanted to read but didn't have time for. But which ones should you purchase? Which ones should you be reading? Well, look no further, for we here at the Fondation Napoléon have put together our 2013 Summer Selection, which not only includes some of the latest literature on Napoleonic history, but also digital resources and content, exhibition recommendations and history-themed walks and tours, enough to last you through the next few months of whatever you have planned.
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Napoleonic Objects of Interest
This week in the news, several Napoleonic artifacts have come to light, starting with a lock of the Emperor's hair that was found at the back of a desk drawer! You may remember from our previous letters that furniture from St Helena has arrived in France for restoration (photos here), and there's an occasional table that belonged to Napoleon which is being auctioned. There was also an article in The Spectator this week about travelling to St Helena and seeing Longwood house.
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Events in Belgium
Wellington Returns to Waterloo
On 23 June, as part of the sixteenth 'Napoleonic bivouacs', visitors can take part in the return of the Duke of Wellington to his Waterloo HQ.
At Wavre on 6 and 7 July, there is re-enactement of the last battle that Napoleon won on Belgian soil.
The Chappe System
This week, the BBC featured a fascinating article about the Napoleonic Chappe system of telegraphs which was the Empire's "nerve system" during Napoleon's reign. An enthusiast in south-eastern France has recreated one of the machines used for transmitting messages, and there is video footage of it in action. A fascinating piece of re-created history.
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150 Years Ago
On 2 June 1863, Napoleon III organised a cabinet reshuffle. Victor Duruy thus entered government as Minister of Public Instruction. This high school teacher of history and geography had caught the Emperor's attention the preceding year thanks to his work on the figure of Julius Caesar (Napoleon III was writing on the heros of antiquity during this period). Duruy's thesis, which lauded the abolition of the Republic by the Roman consul, could not but please the Emperor; it propelled Duruy to the head of the ministry of public instruction. The years of liberalisation of the regime and the minister's own personality considerably influenced teaching in France: the adjustment of the Falloux law, the development of primary education, in particular for girls, the creation of the polytechnic schools, just as much as the milestones reached after the reign of Napoleon III.
200 Years Ago
After the victory at Vitoria, British troops marched eastwards to Pamplona, where a French force were still garrisoned. Lieutenant George Woodberry of the 18th Hussars was amongst them, and gave the follow account in his diary:
"Aizuain, Friday 25th June 1813
Orders came for marching this morning at 6am. On our way we passed through two villages, La Crenza and Ivurzon, burnt down by the enemy on their retreat. The fires were not out. We crossed the river Huarte twice, the road was wretched bad for the first 8 miles, after which we came on the regular paved road to Pamplona. The finest road and straightest I think I ever saw? On our way we met captain Freemantle of the Guards who had the dispatches relative to the glorious victory, on his way to England. About a mile before we got there, Pamplona was seen. It stands in the middle of a delightful picturesque valley, it is about 3 miles from us: the enemy are in it. Tomorrow morning it will be stormed, so is the report. It is likewise rumoured that Joseph and a greater part of the army are retired into France, which is only four leagues distant. Poor Joseph, it is said, looks very sorrowful and bemoans losing his baggages: some of our officers got a deal of plunder. Burck, near two thousand pounds, Dolbel as much. The miseries of war I truly felt yesterday. I never knew the want of victuals till then - we are all nearly starved. The enemy must have been worse off from the number of dead men on the road who appear to have died through famine or fatigue. The road will not be passable in a few days. Several of the bodies lying in the road was (sic) tread to a mummy: I think I saw at least two hundred dead horses likewise, horrible objects; the country people having skinned most of them, they are left for the vultures and wolves to devour...."
(National Army Museum, ms 6807-267, fol. 135.)
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Andrew Miles
Historians and web editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N0. 676, 21-27 JUNE 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
- 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: Painted Target depicting the Preliminaries of the Peace Negotiations concluded at Leoben in Styria, 1797
- Publications from the exhibition: Napoléon et l'Europe Exhibition Catalogue
MAGAZINE
Seen on the web (external links)
- Registers of the Sandhurst Collection
- The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery Today
Press Review
- An article from Deutsche Welle about artists' projects based on the Battle of Leipzig.
- The Spectator: My last chance to follow in Napoleon's footsteps.
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.
Re-enactments
- The Duke of Wellington's Return to his HQ [Waterloo, Belgium 21/06/2013]
- Wavre Bivouac [Wavre, Belgium 05/07/2013 - 07/07/2013]
NAPOLEONICA.LA REVUE
Available free on Cairn.info
NAPOLEONICA ARCHIVES ONLINE
Napoleonica Archives is now online!
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDA T ION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
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Thursday to Friday 10am – 3pm.
Closed Wednesday.
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