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THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN n° 715, 23-29 MAY, 2014
In the beginning was the Revolution...
The entire contents of both French and English language bulletins this week have the problematic of the Revolution as their watermarks. The French book of the month this week is a sustained reflection on the complicated position that France occupies within the European land mass. Her relations, internal and external, were just so many flashpoints – particularly in a period when geo-political clout was combined with revolutionary fervour and military expertise. With her structured power alongside structural weakness, France almost could not help herself bullying her neighbours into the modern world – though this was no real change from the preceding century, where grandeur took the place of political proselytising. In ‘200 years ago', we look at the geopolitical issues surrounding French and Piedmontese relations in the microcosm of Savoy. Our partnership with the French National library turns this week to prisoners of war throughout the continent. And overseas, there is Britain resisting the French imperial behemoth (this month's English-language book), a conflict which would turn worldwide in the war of 1812, commemorations of which beginning in Chesapeake bay next month. There's also a Napoleon conference on the politically charged island of Cuba. Here at the Fondation two days ago, historian Alex Mikaberidze spoke of the global reach of the Napoleonic wars. Revolution and Conservatism, Empire and self-determination, Old Worlds and New Worlds. Such is the vast canvas upon which the two Napoleons left their indelible mark.
Peter Hicks
Historian and International Relations Manager at the Fondation Napoléon
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BOOK OF THE MONTH > RESISTING NAPOLEON: THE BRITISH RESPONSE TO THE THREAT OF INVASION, 1797–1815, edited by Mark Philp
The long war with Revolutionary France had a fundamental impact on British political culture. British preparations for the threatened invasion included military and naval mobilization, the development of defences and fortifications, the incitement of loyalist sentiment through caricature, newspapers, tracts, and songs, and the construction of Napoleon as the prime enemy of British interests. This book measures both the war's impact on Britain and France's domestic political cultures, and its effect on their perceptions of each other...
> Our French book of the month is Napoléon et 40 millions de sujets. La centralisation et le premier empire by Jean Tulard and Marie-José Tulard.
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BICENTENARY> A MEMORIAL MASS FOR JOSEPHINE
As part of the programme of commemorative events around the bicentenary of Empress Josephine's death, the Société des Amis de Malmaison has organised a mass in her honour. The mass will take place at 7pm on Monday 2nd June at the Église Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul de Rueil-Malmaison, in the presence of the Princess Napoléon and representatives of the Tascher de La Pagerie family. More information (in French) is available here (external link).
THE INTERNATIONAL NAPOLEONIC SOCIETY'S 12TH CONFERENCE IN HAVANA, CUBA
Between 7 and 11 July, the International Napoleonic Society will hold its twelfth congress in Havana, Cuba. The theme for this year's congress is "Napoleon and Revolutions around the World", and it promises to be a truly international event, with expert speakers from around the world, a reception in the French ambassador's residence, and a gala at the Museo Napoleonico.
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SUMMER SERIES > NAPOLEONIC SITES
Although it's pretty grey in Paris this week, we're kicking off our summer content! Each week this summer we'll be highlighting a major Napoleonic site, with information about its history and its summer programme. This week it's the Napoleonmuseum in Arenenberg, Switzerland, a beautiful Imperial castle on the shores of Lake Constance…
CHESAPEAKE CAMPAIGN WAR OF 1812 COMMEMORATIONS START ON 6 JUNE
Throughout summer 2014, Maryland's Chesapeake Campaign will commemorate the events of 1814 with a travelling festival that features re-enactors, hands-on educational activities, performance, food, drink and interactive fun along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.
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HUNGRY FOR HISTORY > NAPOLEON FOR KIDS
Hungry for History (external link) is a collaborative venture for schools across Britain, whose aim is to instil a love of history in children of all ages. The campaign wants to bring history to life – and the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo is one of its central focuses. You can find out more about the project here, and don't forget the Fondation Napoléon's own Kids Corner. From factfiles to colouring in, animated timelines to quizzes, we've got something for everyone – children and adults alike!
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DIGITAL LIBRARY > PRISONERS OF WAR, 1800-1815
The partnership between the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF) and the Fondation Napoléon aims to produce thematic bibliographies of online digitised books via the web site Gallica – bringing together the digitising power of the French national library with the Napoleonic bibliographical expertise of the Fondation Napoléon. Our third thematic bibliography looks at Prisoners of War, 1800-1815.
IT HAPPENED ON A 1ST OF JUNE…
On 1 June 1879, the Prince Imperial, Louis-Napoléon died in Zululand, South Africa, as a result of wounds sustained during combat during the Anglo-Zulu War (exiled in Britain since 1870, he had been fighting under the British flag). To mark this anniversary, we've put together a special dossier on the Prince Imperial, bringing together numerous images of the Prince as well as a contemporary narration of the events leading up to and following his death.
200 YEARS AGO > THE TREATY OF PARIS
Having negotiated for the exiled king since 23 April 1814 with regards to the signing of the armistice, Talleyrand also added his signature to the bottom of the Treaty of Paris on 30 May 1814. France returned almost exactly to its 1792 borders, although it was allowed to retain Avignon, the Comtat Venaissin, Montbéliard, Mulhouse, a part of Savoy, two areas of Belgium (Philippeville and Marienbourg), and two regions in Germany (Sarrelouis and Landau). War damages were cancelled, with the exception of a 25 million Franc reparation to pay for the evacuation of French territory by Allied troops. Although some of the Allies viewed it differently – with Prussia at one time demanding 170 million in damages! – this leniency bore witness to the almost universal desire not to damage a new Bourbon regime. Finally, the Treaty of Paris set out in its 32nd article that a congress should be held, in Vienna, to reorganise the territories that the fallen Empire had left behind. France was not supposed to play an active part in these negotiations… but 1815 would tell a different story.
150 YEARS AGO > MOROCCO OPENS ITS TRADE TO EUROPE
By a dahir (decree) of 4 June 1864, the Sultan of Morocco opened up trade within the Sharifian Empire. In doing so, he duly acknowledged and enlarged the many bilateral agreements that Morocco had had in place with Britain, Spain and France between 1855 and 1863. This decree was a major step, not only in the easing of economic restrictions on Morocco, but also towards the increase of commercial and military pressure on the country by the European nations. Conversely in the cultural world, it seems these exchanges could not but recall Montesquieu's Lettres Persanes: the testimony of the Moroccan ambassador at the court of Napoleon III (external link, in French) proves it.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Francesca Whitlum-Cooper
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 716, 30 MAY-5 JUNE, 2014
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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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EVENTS
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
WHAT'S ON
- François Gérard (1770-1837), Portraitist, at the château de Fontainebleau [29/03/2014 - 30/06/2014]
- The Northern Italy delegation of the Souvenir Napoléon's May-June programme [18/05/2014 - 21/06/2014]
- "1814, la C(h)ampagne de Napoléon" - Exhibition in Troyes [16/05/2014 - 02/11/2014]
- Niagara 1812 Legacy Council Programme of Commemorative Events [14/04/2014 - 19/10/2014]
JUST PUBLISHED
- "Why Napoleon's Still a Problem in France"
JUST PUBLISHED
- CLAUDI, Alvaro, A tavola con l'imperatore. 77 ricette napoleoniche da provare e gustare (Turin: Miraggi Edizioni, 2014)
SEEN ON THE WEB
- Field Marshal Lord Raglan's Crimean War memorabilia goes to auction
- Top ten facts about Josephine
- Napoleon III in the wine cellar…
- Bright yellow 19th-century post-chaise to mark 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo in Canterbury
- Martello Towers make inviting – if quirky – seaside homes
For more on Martello Towers, take a look at Peter Hicks's article on British defensive works!
- Brisbane's Napoleonic artefacts 'in need of new home'
- Gerald Depardieu to play Napoleon at Szeged Open-Air Festival in Hungary
WAR OF 1812
- Star Spangled Nation' on display at Connecticut River Museum
- Preserving history unearthed in Patterson Park dig
- Somerset County's War of 1812 veterans get overdue honour
- 1812 warship replica “The Lynx” docks in West Palm Beach waters
- Replica 19th-century clipper celebrates bicentenary of the War of 1812
- 28 May – War of 1812 presentation at the Olean Public Library, New York
- 28 May - Fort Ontario curator presents program of 1812 period music and commentary at Fort Ontario
- Calvert County, Maryland, observes War of 1812 Bicentennial with Star-Spangled Celebration
- Memorial in Halifax for American military prisoners of the War of 1812
- Grave markers to be dedicated for War of 1812 patriots, Tennessee
- Author talks of Connecticut's battle against British blockade
- Louisiana State Museum and a coat from the War of 1812
- Re-enactment will mark bicentennial of 1814 cable carry, Sackets Harbor, New York
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
The library is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1pm to 6pm and on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 3pm. The library is closed on Wednesdays.
Online database catalogue
Digital Library
Contact
NAPOLEONICA LES ARCHIVES
Site of digitised Napoleonic archival material:
The working papers or 'imprimés' of the Napoleonic Conseil d'Etat, the correspondence of Vivant Denon, etc.
http://www.napoleonica.org
Contact: napoleonica@napoleon.org
NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE
International peer-review interdisciplinary e-review on the history of the two Empires, bilingual French-English, 3 issues per year, free access.
Read the review on Cairn.info
Contact: napoleonicalarevue@napoleon.org
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