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THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE
Erfurt 1808. The Emperor honours German literature, by Gérard Gengembre
On 14 October, 1808, German authors, Goethe and Wieland (whom Napoleon described as «Germany's Voltaire») recived the the Légion d'honneur from the emperor. This decoration of German literature formed part of a policy of rallying of German intellectuals and was to leave a deep impression of the two authors.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) © napoleon.org
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THE TREASURES OF THE EMPERI MUSEUM
The publishers of the magazine Revue Napoléon have brought an exceedingly detailed, highly colour illustrated and bi-lingual book on the military collection at the Empéri museum, entitled, the “Treasures at Empéri, Napoleon's army and the Raoul and Jean Brunon Collection, by Vincent Bourgeot. Raoul and Jean Brunon were the greatest uniformological experts of their time and the book presents in minute details some of the finest pieces in their collection.
© éd. de la Revue Napoléon
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MULTI-MEDIA PRESENTATION OF DAVID'S PAINTING OF NAPOLEON'S CORONATION
A closer look at the Consecration of Napoleon
The full title of this enormous painting is "The Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine on December 2, 1804". On display in the Louvre's red galleries, it depicts a turning point in the history of France. Learn more about it in this multimedia exhibit.
© Musée du Louvre
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THE BARD FORTRESS (ITALY) BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE
The fort is perhaps best known for having put up a fierce resistance to the Napoleon during the Second Italian Campaignin 1800. It is situated at the entrance to the Aosta valley, and now after twelve years restoration work it is the subject of a museological project. When ready, it will house a historical, environmental and cultural complex in which the Napoleonic episode will take pride of place.
The Bard Fortress © Alessandro Zambianchi
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CHRISTMAS SELECTION
Running out of time, don't know what to buy for the ‘Napoleon' in you midst (or you are the Napoleon in your midst and want to ‘annex' something for yourself ), just scan our Christmas selection and see what takes your fancy…
© napoleon.org
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200 YEARS AGO
Continuation of the Polish Campaign 1806
On 18 December, 1806, Marshal Davout took a small island at the mouth of the Wika. (44th Bulletin de la Grande Armée, Warsaw, 21 December, 1806).
On 19 December, 1806 , Napoleon entered Warsaw between 1 and 4am, preceded by Davout. The emperor had left Posen on 16 December after having received a letter the night before from Murat informing him of the presence of significant Russian forces north of the river Narew.
On 21 December, 1806, Napoleon was convinced that he was close to a great battle and so had Berthier write to Daru (Intendant general of the Grande Armée since October 1806) to take the necessary measure to ensure the correct medical services on the battlefield: «It is very important to make sure that all the matters relating to ‘ambulances' have been seen to […] One important matter which is never adequately provided for in our battles, is the fact that we should make sure that, in addition to the ‘ambulances', there are some brigades of carts, including their hay, which should be handed over to certain agents so that immediately after the action they can go onto the battlefield to pick up the wounded.» (Correspondence n° 11507)
Paris:
On 17 December, 1806, Cardinal Fesch and Madame Mère, as protectress of the church, were present at the ceremony of benediction for the opening of the church of the Dames du Refuge, known as Saint-Michel, in the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, in between Rue de Port Royal and the Rue des Capucins. Since this road was on the pilgrimage route to Compostella, many religious congregations established premises there during the 18th and 19th centuries.
150 YEARS AGO
Charity:
December 1856: «Baron James de Rothschild [1792-1868] has just palced at the disposal of the Administration générale de l'assistance publique (social security administration) 30,000 kg of bread of the best quality, to be handed outu at all the bakers in Paris. 30,000 bread coupons were immediately delivered to all the charity bureaux so that they in turn could distribute them to the poor.»
(Moniteur Universel, 20 December, 1856)
Aeronautics:
In December 1856, one of the first ever manned glider flight attempts took place, fifty years before the Wright brothers took to the air. The attempt was made by Jean-Marie Le Bris, today almost forgotten, near to the village of Trefeuntec, in Britanny not far from Douarnenez.
His flying machine was a sort of winged boat and it was christened «Albatros» since it resembled a sea bird. The aircraft was placed on a horse-drawn cart which was then pulled at a gallop into the wind. The glider rose 50 metres and ‘flew' about 200 metres.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, No 395, 15-21 December, 2006
Interested in the work of the Fondation Napoléon? Why not participate, either generally or in a specific project, by making a donation.
© 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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The BIBLIOTHEQUE MARTIAL LAPEYRE-FONDATION NAPOLEON will be closed between Christmas and New Year.
THIS WEEK in the MAGAZINE
JUST PUBLISHED
- JENKS Timothy, Naval Engagements: Patriotism, Cultural Politics, and the Royal Navy 1793-1815
- BLANNING T.C.W., SCHULZE Hagen, (eds) Unity and Diversity in European Culture c.1800
WHAT'S ON
Exhibitions:
- Manet and the Execution of Maximilian, MoMA, New York, USA
- Champignon Bonaparte - illustrations by Gilles Bachelet
- Dagoty in Paris - the Empress Josephine's porcelain manufactory, Reuil-Malmaison, France
- Napoleon III and Europe - 1856, Paris, France
- Napoleon, an intimate portrait, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- Public Portraits, Private Portraits 1770-1830, Grand Palais, Paris, France
- Louis Napoleon: at the court of the first King of Holland, 1806-1810, Apeldoorn, Netherlands
Got a problem with the letter? Try the home page: http://www.napoleon.org
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