| |
| |
EDITORIAL
This week we bring you Eugénie's sumptuous crown made with stones from the French royal jewel collection, the continuation of our "mastodontic" bibliography of works related to Napoleon on St Helena (there's an extraordinary wealth of material!). Then there are usual columns of First and Second Empire history, including a biography of the 'throne and altar'. Finally there's a new book about Talleyrand, the 14th International Napoleonic fair and a conference on the subject occupying Anglophone in Napoleonic studies currently, a definition of the empire, colonisation or integration.
Enjoy!
Peter Hicks
|
|
|
| |
OBITUARY
On 16 March, the French writer and historian Georges Bordonove passed away at the age of 86. Born on 25 May, 1920, north of Paris in Enghien, Georges Bordonove was a successful author with some 80 titles to his name - novels, essays - for the most part historical, including notably his great series "Les rois qui ont fait la France". After a degree in literature and law he began his career at the Archives de France. In 1952, his first book, La caste, won the Prix du Renouveau français. His passion for history led him to write novels and biographies for more than fifty years. Napoleon fans will remember his Napoléon, his Napoléon III, his Talleyrand and his Napoléon en route vers Sainte-Hélène.
(Source: AFP)
|
|
|
| |
THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
The Empress Eugénie's crown
The 'Diamonds of the Crown of France', an inalienable treasure embodying the power of the monarchy, survived throughout French history from the creation of the institution in 1530 by François I up to the Second Empire. Following the tradition of French monarchs, Napoleon III was also to make his own use of this fabulous treasure, commissioning jeweller Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier (c.1818-1884) to make a crown for the Empress, showcased here, using some of these French crown jewels. With its 1,354 brilliant cut diamonds and 56 emeralds, it was a crown which the Exposition universelle described as «simple and tasteful, excellent in design, and expertly made».
© RMN
|
|
|
| |
A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WORKS RELATED TO NAPOLEON ON ST HELENA - PART 2
Discover the next part of our great bibliography dedicated to Napoleon's exile on St Helena. There are contemporary documents, accounts by both French and British, not to mention the poems, odes and pamphlets, and also reactions to the report of Napoleon's death.
© Fayard
Click here for the first part of this bibliography
|
|
|
| |
200 YEARS AGO
Israelite General Assembly of France
On 25 March, 1807, the Israelite General Assembly of France met near the Hôtel de Ville. This general assembly composed of députés differed from the Great Sanhedrin in that it pronounced not on religious matters but on secular affairs. The aim of the assembly was (amongst other issues) to hear a report concerning the operations of the Great Sanhedrin and "to give thanks to the immortal man who, spreading his benefits on all citizens, regardless of their religious persuasion, stretched out a protective hand to the Israelites, who for too long had been poorly known and despised, bringing to them the rights and duties of all the members of the great family..."
(Courrier de France, 27 March, 1807)
See our mini dossier on the Great Sanhedrin and the Jews in in France during the First Empire
End March 1807, in a general article regarding events on campaign after the Eylau, the Journal de l'Empire (3 April) reported that the human costs of the Battle of Eylau was "5000 men, killed, wounded or who can no longer serve. Napoleon has given the order to call up 5,000 conscripts from the number for 1807 so as to make up the loss".
150 YEARS AGO
On 25 March, 1857, the son of General Fleury, 1st écuyer and ADC to Napoleon III, was baptised in the Tuileries chapel. The Emperor and Empress were godfather and mother, but since they could not be present they were represented by His Exc. the Duc de Bassano, Grand Chambellan, and by the Comtesse de Montebello, Lady in Waiting.
On 26 March, 1857, the politician Frédéric-Alfred de Falloux (1811-1886) was received into the Académie française, taking up the chair of the Comte Molé who had died in 1855. In competition with Émile Augier for the place, Falloux was elected on 10 April, 1856, after three rounds of voting, by 19 votes to 15.
(Moniteur Universel, 27 March, 1857)
Falloux's name is still known today in France because the education law he had passed during his mandate as Minister of Education and Religion during the Second Republic.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, No 408, 23 - 29 March, 2007
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIS WEEK in the MAGAZINE
JUST PUBLISHED
- Talleyrand: Betrayer and Saviour of France, by Robin Harris
WHAT'S ON
Fairs:
- The 14th International Napoleonic Fair, Cressing Temple, UK
Conferences:
- Napoleon's policy of expansion: occupation or integration?, Rome, Italy
- Napoleon at the Zenith: a bi-centennial seminar, Liverpool, UK
Exhibitions:
- Napoleon, Trikolore und Kaiseradler über Rhein und Weser, Wesel and Minden, Germany
- NAPOLÉON An Intimate Portrait, Oklahoma, USA
- Das Königreich Württemberg 1806–1918. Monarchie und Moderne (The kingdom of Württemberg 1806–1918. Monarchy and modernity), Stuttgart, Germany
- "The trace of the eagle", the Invalides dome, Paris, France
Got a problem with the letter? Try the home page: http://www.napoleon.org
<<
|
|
