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THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
Napoleon's travel nécessaire, by Biennais
Smaller than the 'large nécessaires' in vermeil or silver, the travel nécessaires or 'nécessaires de portemanteau' were easier to transport and provided everything needed for personal hygiene and writing. Napoleon had several, and he was frequently replacing them, particularly after the significant losses in Russia. He bought more than twelve, each one costing 400 francs, most of which were rather plain. The one here was taken to Saint Helena and offered to Las Cases in October 1815.
PERIOD GLOSSARY
"The English are a nation of shopkeepers" is perhaps one of Napoleon's most famous remarks in the English-speaking world. It is however little-known in French and does not appear in French compilations of quotations. Does any one know of its first appearance in the English language?
The Period Glossary is a page listing different words and phrases which date from the two empires. If you have any favourites, please let us know.
200 YEARS AGO
On 10 Pluviôse, An XIII (30 January, 1805), a religious ceremony took place in the Grande Synagogue (now demolished) in rue Sainte-Avoye, in Paris, to mark the occasion of Napoleon's coronation. Several members of the Sénat, the Conseil d'Etat, the Corps diplomatique, some generals and other public officials were present. An orchestra and choir executed the Vivat in aeternum by Abbé Roze (amongst other pieces), a work performed at the ceremony in Notre-Dame.
On 12 Pluviôse, An XIII (1 February, 1805), Napoleon appointed his brother-in-law, Joachim Murat, as Grand Amiral de France (Grand Admiral of France). Created in 1270 by Saint-Louis, and then abolished during the Revolution, this title brought with it not only a pension of 333,000 francs, but also the following powers: presidency of the Court Martial, the role of receiving the oaths of the members of the Conseil des prises (council regulating the distribution of booty) and Frigate captains, and surveillance of the accounts of the Caisse des invalides (invalid fund).
Auguste Blanqui, French socialist politician known as l'enfermé or 'the jailbird', was born in Puget-Théniers on 12 Pluviôse, An XIII (1 February, 1805), son of a Girondin of the Convention who was imprisoned during the Terreur and who later became Sub Prefect during the First Empire.
In the 1820s, Auguste became a law student, but he gradually began to frequent subversives and members of the Charbonnerie, a secret society whose aim was the overthrow of the Bourbons. His participation in the insurrection of 12 May, 1839, in Paris, led to his being condemned to death in January 1840. This sentence was however initially commuted to life imprisonment, and later transformed into a pardon in 1844. 1848 saw his failed attempt to seize power, for which he received a ten-year prison sentence. On emerging from prison he excited opposition to Napoleon III amongst workers and students. He was as a result once against sent to prison, whence he escaped to Belgium in 1865.
In 1870 (on the fall of the Second Empire), he supported Gambetta and took part in the riots against the emergency government of 31 October, during which he made an attempt to seize the Hôtel de Ville (the mayoral office in Paris). Sentenced to deportation, he was interned in Clairvaux (Luxembourg) because of his age. Although elected in Bordeaux in April 1879, his candidature was however invalidated. Nevertheless, he received another pardon and was freed in June. In 1880, he launched a newspaper entitled Ni Dieu ni maître (Neither God nor master), which he edited until his death the following year.
150 YEARS AGO
On 3 February, 1855, Napoleon III appointed Eugène Rouher as minister for agriculture, commerce and public works. For eight years Rouher was to be in charge of the French economy, alongside the Finance Ministry.
After beginning his career as a lawyer, Eugène Rouher (1814-1884) turned to politics. In 1848 he was elected to the Constituante and then was appointed Justice Minister by the President of the Republic, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte. His illustrious career was distinguished by periods of high office, namely, not only minister but also Président du Conseil and later Président du Sénat impérial. He supported Napoleon III in his economic policies and played an important role in the negotiations for the Franco-British free-trade treaty of 1860. However, with the rise of opposition liberals he was forced to leave the ministry in 1869.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK
Snippets
Duke of Wellington to unveil prisoner-of-war monument at Norman Cross, Peterborough, UK
Just published
Mary Seacole, by Jane Robinson
What's on
- Celebration: A festival of light and magic: Elisa Bonaparte, her palace, her fêtes, Lucca, Italy
- Fair: The International Napoleonic Fair, St Albans, UK
- 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
The monthly titles
- This month's book: The Legend of Napoleon, by Sudhir Hazareesingh
- This month's painting: The arrival of Marie-Louise in Compiègne, by J.B. Isabey
- This month's article: Avoiding a Napoleonic Ulcer: Bridging the Gap of Cultural Intelligence (Or, Have We Focused on the Wrong Transformation?), Lieutenant-Colonel G. W. Smith jr
- In the Collectors Corner, Napoleon's travel nécessaire, by Biennais
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