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THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE
The music at the coronation of Napoleon and Josephine, by H. K. Peters
Performed for the first time on Advent Sunday, 2 December, 1804, the grandiose music for the consecration and coronation of Napoleon and Josephine composed for two choirs and two orchestras was to lead a chequered career. Read all about it.
BIBLIOTHEQUE M.LAPEYRE CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The library will close at 3pm on Thursday 23 December, to re-open again on Monday, 3 January, 2005. The library is open to all four days a week, Monday, 1-6pm, Tuesday, 4-9pm, Wednesday 1-6pm and Thursday 10am-3pm, at 148 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris
BOOKS FOR CHRISTMAS
We here at napoleon.org have selected for you some Napoleonic books for Christmas. Enjoy!
150 YEARS AGO
Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the immaculate conception, 8 December, 1854. This proclamation marked the end of several centuries of theological debate and dispute. The dogma proclaims that Mary, "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."
Sir Robert Peel (1822 - 1895), (eldest son of the better-known Prime Minister of the same name), made a speech to the House of Commons on 12 December, 1854, denouncing the activities of French exiles in Britain, and in particular Victor Hugo's vitriolic attacks on Napoleon III: "this person has a sort of personal quarrel with the distinguished personage whom the French people has chosen as their sovereign, and he says to the people of Jersey that our alliance with the Emperor of the French is morally degrading for England. What has Mr Hugo to do with all this? If such wretched nonsense is to be spouted to the English people by foreigners who have found asylum in this country, I think that it is my duty to ask the Home Office secretary to see whether there is not a way of putting an end to their stay."
22 December, Victor Hugo made his reply, in the form of an address to Louis Bonaparte: "I simply warn Monsieur Bonaparte that he will no more get the better of me - I who am a mere atom - than he will of truth and justice, which are the essence of God himself. I declare to the "Second of December incarnate" that expiation will come, from France, Belgium, England, and America, from his very tomb - if souls live, as I believe and affirm that they do - and I shall hasten the day. Monsieur Bonaparte is correct. There is a 'personal diagreement' between him and me, the old struggle between the judge on his throne and the accused on his bench."
V. Hugo, Oeuvres complètes, Edition chronologique publiée par J. Massin, tome 9.
16 December, 1854, Colonel Faideherbe (Lille 1818 - Paris 1889) was appointed governor of Senegal, region given to France as part of the Treaty of Paris of 30 May, 1814. Faidherbe refurbished the capital Saint-Louis and set about conquering the northern bank of the Senegal river fighting against the Toucouleurs and the Moors, annexing the territory known as Wolof (Treaty of May 1858). Revealing great organisational and administrative abilities, Faidherbe brought about the economic success of the colony, becoming fascinated also by the local dialects and customs. When he left Senegal in 1865, he was made commander of the Arméé du Nord (45,000 men). He was elected Député for the Nord region, and subsequently Sénateur in 1879. In 1880 he became Grand Chancelier of the Légion d'Honneur.
200 YEARS AGO
14 Frimaire, An XIII (5 December, 1804), a day of freezing rain, was the third day in the celebration of the coronation. It was given over to "arms, valour and fidelity" with the award of the Aigles (or Eagles) to deputations from the army and national guard. At the sound of trumpet fanfares, the soldiers stood to order on the Champ de Mars, soaked to the skin and shaking with cold. Napoleon I rose and addressed the representatives of the various corps of his army: «Soldiers, here are your standards! These eagles will serve as a rallying point; they will be deplyoyed wherever your emperor thinks their presence fit for the defence of his throne and his people. Do you swear to sacrifice your lives to defend them and to maintain them steadfastly, through your courage, on the road to victory. Is this your oath?» All the officers and soldiers cried out with a single voice that they did, and then marched past the throne.
After this ceremony in homage to the army, there began a period of popular festivities, receptions and official banquets. On 16 Frimaire (7 December), the presidents of the Conseils Généraux of the Départements, the Sub-Prefects, the Députés of the colonies, the mayors of the thirty-six principal towns, the presidents of the cantons (mockingly baptised by Parisians the "chinese" because of the inelegant nature of their clothes), and the Vice-Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, were received at the Tuileries, in the Galerie de Diane. The presidents of the consistories (both Jewish and Protestant) were also invited. It was the first time that Protestant representatives had been received at an official ceremony.
20 Frimaire (11 December), from 10am, civil servants queued to sign the official report of the ceremony of the consecration and coronation. Each one received a commemorative medal. Later, on 26 (17), the Presidents of the Conseils Généraux of all the Départements of the Empire met for a banquet.
22 Frimaire (13 December), the Sénat gave a free "fête populaire" (public party) to the people of Paris in the Luxembourg gardens. Two days later the mayors of Paris received those of the principal towns of the Empire. On 25 Frimaire (16 December) it fell to Paris to organise a fête in honour of the Emperor and Empress.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK
Press Reviews
- The Nelson Dispatch, vol. 8, part 7, July 2004
- History Today, December 2004
- RNR, Miscellany, 9/2004
Just Published
- Napoleon's Imperial Headquarters (2): On campaign, by Ronald Pawly
- Napoleon against Russia, by Digby Smith
What's on
- Exhibition: James Gillray, New York Public Library, US
- Exhibition: Decoration in the Age of Napoleon: Empire Elegance Versus Regency Refinement, New York Public Library, US
Exhibition: The Treasures of the Fondation Napoléon, Paris, France
- Study Day: Napoleon and Rome, Rome, Italy
- Exhibition: Images of the coronation of the Emperor Napoleon
The monthly titles
- This month's book: Wellington's Navy: Sea Power and the Pensinsular War 1807-1814, by C. D. Hall
- This month's painting: Fair by a river, by Jean-Louis Demarne
- This month's article: The music at the coronation of Napoleon and Josephine, by H. K. Peters
- In the Collectors Corner, Revolutionary period skeleton clock
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