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THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN n° 710, 18-24 APRIL, 2014
EDITORIAL
Living History
This weekend two hundred years ago, Napoleon physically left his place at the head of the French state and willingly set out into exile off the coast of Italy. As he himself pointed out in his famous speech made standing on or near the steps at the palace in Fontainebleau (a building drenched in the history of the French monarchy, whether François I or Louis XV), he could have fought on. He could have incited a civil war until the winner was the last man standing. Instead, he resigned, putting the good of France above personal ambition. And it had been the state bodies created by Napoleon, notably the Senate, that had instigated, overseen and managed this regime change. The fallen emperor spoke of peaceful retirement and time to write the history of his enthralling career. From hindsight, we know that there wasn't going to be much retirement or literary activity. But we'll be remembering that Elban story as this bicentenary year moves on. Today is a moment to enjoy the pleasures of living history today. At Fontainebleau, tomorrow and the day after, people will be learning about, and enjoying, the past – there are talks, book fairs and many other activities and events. And perhaps they'll experience a frisson (or get goose pimples) as a figure in a bicorn hat and early-19th-century clothes descends the stairs to address a group of what looks like Napoleonic French imperial grenadiers. If you half-close your eyes, it'll be almost like you were there at the time!
Vive l'histoire napoléonienne!
Peter Hicks, International Affairs Manager
NAPOLEON.ORG QUESTIONNAIRE
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NAPOLEONIC ARTEFACTS STOLEN
Last week, ten Napoleonic objects were stolen from The Briars historic homestead on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula (Australia). Amongst the items taken were miniature portraits of Napoleon and Josephine, locks of Napoleon's hair, and a silver inkwell set with three gold coins said to have been in the Emperor's pocket when he died. You can see an illustrated list of all the stolen objects here. Spread the word! Who knows, they may turn up at auction…
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BICENTENARY OF THE ADIEUX DE FONTAINEBLEAU
This weekend marks the final part of the bicentenary commemorations at Fontainebleau. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the City and the Château of Fontainebleau will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's Farewell with an action-packed agenda of activities, events, exhibitions and re-enactments. And if you can't make it to Fontainebleau, you can read our translations of Napoleon's final words to his Old Guard here...
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LA NUIT AUX INVALIDES, FROM 24 APRIL
From the 24th April, the Cour d'Honneur at the Hôtel des Invalides will be transformed into the stage for a spectacular sound and light show honouring the history of this magnificent building. The great commanders Louis XIV, Napoleon and General de Gaulle will be centrestage, and this year's spectacle especially commemorates the centenary of the start of the First World War.
20 APRIL: BIRTH OF NAPOLEON III
To mark Napoleon III's 206th birthday, why not take a minute to explore our timeline of his life and reign, or discover the Second Empire through its most important paintings? 25 to 27 April, 2014, marks the town of Vichy's seventh annual celebration in honour of Napoleon III. The Office de tourisme has organised a weekend of celebrations, with everything from balls and dinner dances to parades and historical re-enactments. Have a look at the programme here!
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THE ELBA BICENTENARY COMING UP
Now's the time to visit Elba! Discover the island of Napoleon's exile through a host of special events commemorating the bicentenary of his time there, including a re-enactment of his arrival in Portoferraio harbour on 4 May and a regatta on 13 and 14 June. Throughout the year, the Tuscany Walking Festival leads a number of Napoleon-themed walks around the island, so if you're in Elba for the bicentenary weekend, why not try Herbal Trekking with Napoleon (1 May), or explore The Chestnut Tree Forest and Napoleon's Spring (2 May)?
200 YEARS AGO > THE ADIEUX DE FONTAINEBLEAU
In the days after the formal abdication on 11 April, Napoleon lived on in the palace at as private individual Fontainebleau, making preparations for his departure. He realised that he would be leaving without his wife and son; Austrian machinations had rendered his separation from them almost definitive. In preparation for his reign on Elba, he arranged his finances and ordered furniture, furnishings and books to be loaded onto carriages. Letters were written (some releasing servants from their oaths to him allowing the former to rally to the new regime). On 20 April, 1814, the day of departure, Napoleon rose early. He had conversations with trusted colleagues such as Maret. He wrote some final letters (to Caulaincourt and Marie-Louise). He received the foreign commissioners. And then at 11h30, the fallen emperor walked from his office to descend the great horse-shoe flight of steps fronting the palace. After pronouncing the famous speech (which exists in several versions), he climbed into a closed carriage (a dormeuse) and headed for the south coast of France. It was finished…
150 YEARS AGO > MILITARY CONVENTION AND SETLLEMENT BETWEEN FRANCE AND MEXICO
On 17 April, 1864, Le Moniteur (French official newspaper) noted that an accord had been reached between the Emperor of France and Maximilian I, the new Emperor of Mexico (see Bulletin 708), before the latter set sail for his new lands. The first point of this agreement concerned the withdrawal of 25,000 ordinary French troops from Mexico. 8,000 soldiers from the Foreign Legion, however, would be allowed to remain. General command of the troops during this gradual retreat remained with French commissioned officers. A second, longer section of this accord estimated this cost of this French “participation” during Maximilian's establishment on the Mexican throne. Mexico's debt to France was fixed at 270 million francs, to be repaid until 1 July, 1864 at an annual rate of 3% interest. After July 1864, Mexico's remaining debts would be counted at 1,000 francs per year for each French soldier remaining on Mexican soil. The cost of transportation between France and Vera Cruz would also be met by Mexico, up to a level of 400,000 francs every two months for each return crossing. The most immediate consequence of this financial arrangement was in the issuing of a subscription of 66 million francs' worth of share certificates in France's favour. On 18 April, 1864, Le Moniteur made official a letter from Napoleon III to his Finance Minister, in which he ordered the suppression of the second tax tithe on property tax registrations. This action was a direct consequence of the accord passed in agreement with Maximilian of Habsburg, in light of the gains made by France during the expedition which had allowed him to assume the Mexican throne…
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Francesca Whitlum-Cooper
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 710, 18-24 APRIL, 2014
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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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JUST PUBLISHED
- CUCCIA, Phillip R., Napoleon in Italy: The Sieges of Mantua, 1796–1799, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2014
- KUIPERS, Pier, Let's Trail Napoleon's Hundred Days, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014
EVENTS
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings:
- Niagara 1812 Legacy Council announces programme of summer events and commemorations
SEEN ON THE WEB
- New War of 1812 Bike Trail opened in Plattsburgh, New York
- Geologists examine historic War of 1812 earthern forts
- Professor Michael Broers, author of multiple works on Napoleon and his empire, talks to BBC History Extra about the Emperor's formative years
- War of 1812 monument triggers 'round-the-clock work schedule
- Essex, Massachusetts marked its part in the War of 1812 with naval-themed activities
- War of 1812 marker dedicated in Mississippi on Wednesday 16 April
- Commemorations of the Peninsular War in Bayonne, 11-14 April
- Historian John W. Percy to present War of 1812 program at North Tonawanda History Museum [Saturday April 26]
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