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EDITORIAL
Dear Friends,
On 12 November, 1987, three years after the death of Martial Lapeyre, benefactor to the Napoleonic world, the decree recognising the Fondation Napoléon's status as “d'utilité publique” (registered non-profit) was published in the French Journal Officiel. On Monday our institution will be twenty years old.
Throughout these two decades, the Fondation Napoléon has, I think, not only fulfilled its mission but also exceeded the aims fixed by Monsieur Lapeyre, namely: to develop Napoleonic history and to assist with the preservation of Napoleonic heritage. On this subject, I invite you to consult the documents selected by the authors of the weekly bulletin.
Our aim for the future is clear: to continue in this vein, to support and to produce Napoleonic history for (we hope) an ever-increasing public. This is what Baron Gourgaud wished for, and I have tried to follow in his footsteps.
We will soon be bringing you our programme for 2008, which we hope will bring us both enjoyment and edification.
Enjoy your read, and I look forward to joining you on further “Napoleonic adventures”.
Best wishes,
Victor-André Masséna, Prince d'Essling
President of the Fondation Napoléon
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THIS MONTH'S PAINTING: COSTUME BALL AT THE TUILERIES PALACE, BY JEAN-BAPTISTE CARPEAUX
1867. More than 7 million visitors came to see the Exposition universelle, and for the occasion Paris glittered like a diamond tiara. The sovereigns and elite of the whole world flocked to the festivities organised by the imperial regime. Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, a sculptor close to the imperial family, went to many of the balls and official receptions as an observer of this glitzy demi-monde. And he produced several paintings of the imperial couple at the grand balls at the Tuileries Palace.
© RMN
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200 YEARS AGO
Continental system
In his economic struggle with Britain, Napoleon took the territory around Flushing with its key port of Antwerp from his brother's kingdom of Holland and united it to the Grand Empire, thus ensuring its strict adherence to the Continental System and its embargo on British goods. This state of affairs was enshrined in the Franco-Dutch treaty of 11 November, 1807. In exchange for Flushing, Louis received from Napoleon the Prussian territory of East Friesland, which Prussia had ceded to Napoleon at Tilsit.
Napoleon was to write on the same day: “All British merchandise prohibited in France cannot enter by the Rhine; whether it comes by the left or right bank, we must stop it.” (Correspondence 13,347)
Three Orders in Council were passed by the British government on 11 November, 1807, the second of which famously banned neutrals from trading with France and its allies.
See our dossier on the Continental System
Westphalia
On 15 November, 1807, Napoleon sent his brother Jerome a ready-made constitution for his Kingdom of Westphalia. He wrote to him noting: “This constitution includes the conditions by which I renounce all my rights of conquest and rights acquired over your country. You must follow this constitution faithfully.” (Correspondence 13,361)
The ‘model state' of Westphalie had a constitution which included the abolition of servitude and the introduction of the Code Napoléon. But Jérôme's room for autonomy was limited as the family pact, enshrined in article 7 of the constitution, meant that his ‘contract' as king could be revoked at any moment (art.7). (15 November, 1807, Correspondence 13,362).
Napoleon finished his letter to his brother with an expression of his'liberal' credo.
“What the peoples of Germany desire with impatience is that individuals who are not nobles but who have talent have equal right to your consideration and to jobs; that all types of servitude and intermediary links between sovereign and the lowest class of people should be entirely abolished.
The benefits of the Code Napoléon, the publishing of procedures and the establishment of juries should also be distinctive characteristics of your monarchy.
And if I were to tell you all of what I think about this, I would say that I count more on the effect of these benefits for the strengthening of your monarchy that on the results of the grandest of victories.
Your peoples must enjoy a liberty, equality and well-being unheard of amongst the peoples of Germany, and your liberal government should produce, one way or the other, changes salutary both to the system of the Confederation and to the power of your monarchy. This way of governing will be a much stronger barrier against Prussia than the Elbe, than fortifications and than the protection of France.
What people which had tasted the benefits of an administration so wise and liberal would return to the arbitrary government of the Prussians? The peoples of Germany, France, Italy and Spain desire equality and want liberal ideas.
Be a constitutional king. When the reason and enlightenment of your period will not be sufficient, your good political position will guide you. You will have the force of opinion and a natural advantage over your neighbours who are absolute monarchs.”
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, No 433, 9 - 15 November, 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.
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Got a problem with a link in the Bulletin? Go to the homepage: http://www.napoleon.org
NB
As a result of the public transport strike planned in Paris for Tuesday 13 November, the library will close at 7-45pm instead of 9pm.
THIS WEEK in the MAGAZINE
WHAT'S ON
Conferences
- Monarchy and Exile, London, UK
Cinema
- Centro Romano di Studi Napoleonici: Napoleonic film week, Rome, Italy
Exhibitions
- The Treasures of the Fondation Napoléon, Lorient, France
- Indispensable nécessaires, Reuil-Malmaisons, France
- Désiré's photographs of the Suez canal, Musée de la Marine, Paris, France
- Gustave Courbet's works, Grand Palais, Paris, France
- Empress Josephine's Malmaison Collection, Somerset House, London, UK
- At the court of Louis Napoleon, first King of Holland (1806-1810), Paris, France
- 1807-2007: 200 years of economic life and consular justice, Paris, France
- "The trace of the eagle", the Invalides dome, Paris, France
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