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THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
Revolutionary period skeleton clock
In commemoration of the passing of the Republican calendar on 31 December, 1806, 200 years ago, we bring you a clock designed to measure Republican time.
Many skeleton clocks were made during the final years of the 18th century. That here, with enamel decoration by Joseph Coteau (1740-1801), is notable for its two dials indicating the time, day, month, moon phase for the new chronometry imposed by the Republican calendar. The main dial shows the hours, minutes and seconds in the duodecimal system used today, but the days of the week are Republican.
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NAPOLEONIC PAGES
Though it was reserved for men, skating was a very popular sport during the First Empire. The author of the short book published in 1813, entitled Le vrai patineur (The true skater), and illustrated with "action shots", hoped that the art of skating would become less frivolous and take its inspiration from the world of dance. For this reason he included in his work a large number of potential "steps"...
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200 YEARS AGO
On 12 January, 1806, Napoleon officially adopted his step-son, Eugène de Beauharnais. Then in Munich, he sent a message to the Sénat: «We have decided to adopt Prince Eugène, Archichancelier d'Etat of our Empire and Viceroy of our kingdom of Italy, as our son.[…] In our dignity, we feel it right that Prince Eugène should enjoy the benefit of all the honours attached to our adoption, although it will only give him rights to the crown of Italy».
On 13 January, 1806, Prince Eugène de Beauharnais married Augusta de Bavière, daughter of the new King of Bavaria.
Correspondence, n° 9663
On 19 January, 1806, Napoleon I offered to his elder brother, Joseph, the kingdom of Naples: «It is my intention that in the first days of February you should enter the Kingdom of Naples and that I should be notified by the middle of February that the flags on my eagle standards should be flying over this capital. […] I desire that a prince of my House should sit upon this throne, namely, you yourself, should you think it fit. […] ».
Correspondence, n° 9685
After the brilliant French victory at Austerlitz on 2 December, 1805, over the Third Coalition (to which the Neapolitan Bourbons had signed up) Napoleon decreed the end of that dynasty's reign in Naples and gave the kingdom to his elder brother, Joseph, who at that moment was leading an army of occupation.
On 19 January, 1806, all the standards taken from the enemy during the campaigns of 1805 were deposited by officials (prefects and mayors) at Notre-Dame cathedral. The Gazette de France of 20 January, 1806, described the moment: «Paris, 19 January: Today, Sunday, the standards won from the Russians and Austrians at the battle of Austerlitz were borne in solemn procession from the Hôtel de Ville to the Cathédrale de Paris. It was a noble and touching spectacle to see the trophies of that victory hung by pious victors in the vaults of the temple in which all the powers of the world go on bended knee.»
And also:
13 January, 1806, birth in Limoges of Michel Chevalier, politician and tireless researcher of the Second Empire.
16 January, 1806, suicide of the scientist Nicolas Leblanc, inventor of the chemical process of creating soda from sea salt.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, No 355, 13 - 19 January, 2006
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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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THIS WEEK
SNIPPETS
- Biological research shows disease finished off the Grande Armée in Vilnius
WEBSITES
- British Library Images Online
64 images of Napoleon online. Type Napoleon in the search box and enjoy!
Go to the Napoleonic directory and select 'databases' in the website scroll bar.
- New Napoleonic war website
Napoleonic Wars Homepage
Go to the Napoleonic directory and select 'militaria' in the website scroll bar.
WHAT'S ON
- Study Days: The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in Contemporary Perception, German Historical Institute, London, UK, part 1, part 2
- Fair: The 13th International Napoleonic Fair, St Albans, UK
- Fair: National Living History Fayre, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Royal Leamington Spa, UK
- Auction: sale of a portrait of Madame Mère, Sotheby's, New York, USA
- Exhibition: "Battle in a sittingroom." The Austerlitz wallpaper, Rome, Italy
- Exhibition: In the Service of Napoleon. The Dutch in time of War 1792-1815, Delft, Netherlands
- Exhibition: Napoleon on Campaign, the emperor's bivouac, at the Arc de triomphe de l'Etoile, Paris, France
- Exhibition: Napoleon: An intimate portrait, Washington, USA
- Exhibition: Napoleone e il Piemonte. Capolavori ritrovati, Alba, Italy
Got a problem with the letter? Try the home page: http://www.napoleon.org
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