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EDITORIAL
The Bicentenary commemorations are in full swing as we speak, photos and speeches remind us that reconciliation is the primary theme of these memorials. However, the media is making quite a story out of the absences of certain heads of state in particular those of France at the official ceremonies, which were attended by high-ranking personalities of many of the countries involved in the battle, to pay homage to the thousands of men who died or were wounded 200 years ago. However this deadlock is no surprise: it reiterates the same phenomenon as for the Bicentenaries of Austerlitz and more recently of Leipzig. The fact that the press is taking notice - even in France - is noteworthy in itself, perhaps, as Pierre Branda points out (in an article for Le Monde, in French), because France's relationship to Napoleonic history has changed over the last ten years. So let's not worry too much about this absence, after all Germany was also absent from the official ceremony and the Flemish also have an ambivalent relationship to this particular anniversary (external link in French).
In this week's letter you can discover in our interview the creation of a fascinating online “cartography”, including interactive maps charting the actions of troops during the Belgian Campaign of 1815, read some eye-witness accounts of the battle, and if you weren't lucky enough to get tickets for the Waterloo re-enactments you can follow them tonight live here in English or here in French. You can also sign up to our Facebook page for updates.
Have a good week!
Marie de Bruchard
Web Editor for napoleon.org/fr
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED EXCEPTIONALLY ON MONDAY 6 JULY.
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OBJECT OF THE MONTH > BANNER OF LOUIS NAPOLEON, KING OF HOLLAND
As we celebrate 200 years of the creation of the kingdom of the Netherlands, recorded at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, this month's object reminds us of the reign of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte over Holland for the four years between 1806 and 1810.
BOOKS > SUMMER READING LIST
As summer approaches it's the moment to get down to some serious (or not so serious) reading, whether you're travelling, or just find you've got a bit more time on your hands. We made a selection of some recent publications that might whet your appetite!
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INTERVIEW > AN AMBITIOUS DIGITAL PROJECT TO MAP THE BELGIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1815
Seeing a gap in the market, so to speak, two Belgian computer engineers, André Heughebaert and Eric Iven decided to create an online cartography of the Belgian Campaign of 1815, as their personal contribution to the Bicentenary commemorations. A phenomenal achievement, entirely self-funded and the result of extensive research, the new digital maps are available in four languages under Creative Commons Licence. The two enthusiasts explained to napoleon.org how the project came about in this interview.
NAPOLEONIC TOURISM > FRANCE AND BELGIUM
> Route Grouchy in Belgium. There's the well-trodden “Route Napoléon”, now Belgium has established the route that the Marechal Grouchy took during the Belgian Campaign.
> Napoleon's last head-quarters have been restored. The ferme du Gros Caillou (farm) in Vieux-Genappe, where Napoleon lodged from 17 to 18 June 1815, in Brabant-Wallon, has re-opened to the public at the beginning of the month, after months of renovation.
> Route Napoléon. The bicentenary "Route Napoléon" continues from June until August in the Isere, (France). (all external links in French).
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EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNTS OF WATERLOO
Many of the exhibitions currently commemorating the Bicentenary of Waterloo have brought to light letters written by men (and women) who were actually there. There are also many such accounts available to read online in transcripts. In a letter (held at the Dorset History Center) Private John Lewis tells his family about his experiences during the battle and its aftermath (downloadable pdf, external link).
There are also the Reminiscences of Captain Gronow, which include his participation in the battle of Waterloo, (also described in this bbc article). There are also many other eye-witness accounts available on our website as part of our Waterloo Digital Bibliography (in partnership with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France), most of which are in French. This article tells how Ensign Tom Wedgwood survived the 'carnage' at Waterloo, and in this extract from "The Battle of Waterloo" anthology tells the story of the Battle of Waterloo in the words of the men who fought there.
And unlike today, where the media are out in force for the Bicentenary Commemorations, not a single representative of the British press was present on the battlefield 200 years ago. The Guardian this week reveals how the Observer reported the events a few days after the battle.
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WATERLOO BICENTENARY IN THE UK
> FAMILY EVENTS
There will be two more Family Days at Windsor 20 and 27 June, as part of Waterloo at Windsor.
The Waterloo Bridge built in honour of the Waterloo victory is holding a celebratory weekend 20-21 June, with activities for all the family, fireworks and marching bands.
And there will be a Regency-themed weekend on 27 and 28 June at Walmer Castle, another opportunity to visit the new displays which chart Wellington's career, the story of his time spent at Walmer, his death there, and the iconic ‘celebrity' status he attained during and after his life.
> MUSICAL THEATRE.
"An evening with Riotous Assembly” Thursday 25th June at Jaywick Martello Tower, (a Napoleonic Tower) as well as an exhibition called "The Napoleonic Home Front" (24 June - 2 August). See their website for both events.
"The Walking Wounded", a production focussing on the impact of war on survivors, their wives and their girlfriends, at the Rufus Centre, Flitwick, UK (June 18 June 20, 7.30pm)
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200 YEARS AGO > NAPOLEON'S RETURN TO PARIS AND ABDICATION
Napoleon returned to Paris after the defeat at Waterloo on June 21 in Paris early in the morning. The next day he sent his letter of abdication addressed to the French, written at the Elysee Palace: "I offer myself in sacrifice to the hatred of the enemies of France. If they have a grudge to bear may it only be to myself. "This abdication was on one condition: that the King of Rome would take the throne. He would only rule for a few hours...
Napoleon's handwritten abdication letter (pictured above) is currently on show in Paris at the Musée Carnavalet as part of the exhibition Napoleon and Paris, Dreams of a Capital, (the exhibition lasts until 30 August but the letter will be visible only until 6 July!)
Wishing you an excellent Napoleonic week!
Peter Hicks and Rebecca Young
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN No. 764, 19-25 JUNE, 2015
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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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WATERLOO BICENTENARY 1815-2015
What's on this year relating to the Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo: commemorations, books, exhibitions, news ...
WATERLOO > WHAT'S ON (updated 19/6/15)
WATERLOO > SEEN ON THE WEB (updated 19/6/15)
WATERLOO > READING LIST (updated 19/6/15)
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter!
napoleon.org - related content:
JUST PUBLISHED
- LEYS Simon, CLANCY Patricia (translator): The Death of Napoleon, (New York, 2015)
(London, 2015)
- FORREST, Alan: Great Battles: Waterloo (Oxford, 2015)
- FIELD, Andrew: Waterloo: The French Perspective (London, 2012)
- CLAYTON, Tim: Waterloo: Four Days that Changed Europe's Destiny (paperback, London, 2015)
- ROBERTS Andrew: Napoleon the Great, (paperback, London, 2015)
- Waterloo 1815 - a commemorative anthology
PRESS REVIEW
- Review of Bonaparte 1769-1802, by Patrice Gueniffey.
WHAT'S ON (see our website for all events)
Talks
- Several Waterloo talks and events at Waterlooville Library (UK) [9-25/06/2015] (external link)
- Battle of Waterloo Commemorative Walks in London, UK [21/03/2015 - 20/06/2015]
Conferences
- 'Popular Reactions and State Responses to the 100 Days' University of Warwick, UK [07/07/2015]
- Endings and Beginnings: The World in 1815, Brussels, Belgium [06/07/2015 - 10/07/2015]
- 'Die Schlacht von Waterloo 1815 und die deutschen Truppen' Bomann-Museum, Celle, Germany [19/09/2015]
Exhibitions
- 'La beauté de la guerre. Waterloo 1815-2015' Bibliothèque Royale, Brussels, Belgium [17/06/2015 - 15/09/2015]
- 'Waterloo and the March of Science', Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath, UK [18/06/2015 - 13/12/2015]
- 'Unseen Waterloo: The Conflict Revisited', Somerset House London UK [12/06/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- Braine-L'Alleud 1815: au chevet des blessés, Braine-L'Alleud, Belgium [06/06/2015 - 06/09/2015]
- 'Immer wieder Napoleon...!' (Napoleon in film), Bomann-Museum Celle, Germany [07/06/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- '"Victory Sir, Victory!" Henry Percy and the Battle of Waterloo, 1815', Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, UK [18/05/2015 - 30/10/2015]
- Charging against Napoleon - Wellington's campaigns in the Peninsular Wars and at Waterloo University of Nottingham, UK [22/05/2015 - 06/09/2015]
- 'Waterloo 1815: The Art of Battle' Royal Armouries Museum Leeds, UK [22/05/2015 - 23/08/2015]
- 'Napoléon dans les plaines de Fleurus' Château de la Paix, Fleurus, Belgium [22/05/2015 - 02/08/2015]
- '"A damned serious business": Waterloo 1815, the battle and its books' Cambridge University Library, UK, and online [01/05/2015 - 16/09/2015]
- 'Wellington and Waterloo: "the tale is in every Englishman's mouth"' University of Southampton Library, UK [13 April -19 June and 13-24 July 2015]
- 'The Road to Waterloo' and ‘Waterloo Lives' Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland [03/02/2015 - 28/11/2015]
- 'Waterloo' at the Bomann-Museum, Celle, Germany [02/04/2015 - 11/10/2015]
- 'Napoleon und Bayern' Bayerisches Armeemuseum, Ingolstadt, Germany [30/04/2015 - 30/10/2015]
- 'Napoléon Ier ou la légende des Arts, 1800 –1815' Compiègne, France [24/04/2015 - 27/07/2015]
- 'Waterloo 1815 - The Battle for Peace' at Wellington Arch and new display at Apsley House London UK [18/04/2015 - 30/12/2015]
- 'Napoléon et Paris, rêves d'une capitale' Musée Carnavalet, Paris [08/04/2015 - 30/08/2015]
- 'Le congrès de Vienne, l'invention d'une Europe nouvelle' Musée Carnavalet, Paris, France [08/04/2015 - 30/07/2015]
- 'Napoléon-Wellington: Destins Croisés' Wellington Museum, Waterloo, Belgium [21/03/2015 - 31/07/2015]
- Waterloo 1815-2015: Visions of war' Bibliothèque Paul Marmotton, Paris, France [15/04/2015 - 11/07/2015]
- 'Pie VII face à Napoléon: la Tiare dans les serres de l'Aigle' Fontainebleau, France [28/03/2015 - 29/06/2015]
- 'Alexander, Napoleon and Josephine: a story of war, art and friendship' Hermitage, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [28/03/2015 - 08/11/2015]
- 'Modern Heroism: Printmaking and the legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte' Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge UK [03/02/2015 - 28/06/2015]
Commemorations
- Major Percy victory route (recreated by bike): The Ride of the Lions, Waterloo 200 [17/06/2015 - 20/06/2015]
Re-enactments
- 300 Borders horses and riders for Waterloo re-enactment, Penielheugh, Scotland, [28/6/2015] (external link)
WATERLOO > WHAT'S ON (updated 19/6/15)
SEEN ON THE WEB (all external links)
- What did Napoleon say about the Battle of Waterloo?
- Were there Canadians at the Battle of Waterloo?
- Waterloo 200 years on - the view from France
- Battle of Waterloo: Soldier who saved Napoleon's horse
"WATERLOO" > SEEN ON THE WEB (link to our website, updated 19/6/15)
THE BIBLIOTHÈQUE MARTIAL-LAPEYRE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
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Site of digitised Napoleonic archival material:
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International peer-review interdisciplinary e-review on the history of the two Empires, bilingual French-English, 3 issues per year, free access.
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