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THIS WEEK IN THE BULLETIN
This week we bring you a fascinating, in-depth essay on Second Empire finance by Jacaques Wolff. Then, there's news of Napoleon III bicentennial events in Plombières. After that, read about commemorations taking place in the Marches in Italy regarding the French presence there two hundred years ago. Finally, in '200 years ago', we see Napoleon recreating the fleet of the Grand Empire and the small street built and named after the emperor. In '150 years ago', there's the sale of the actress Rachel's possessions post mortem. And don't forget the Magazine, with its usual selection of events.
Enjoy.
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THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE
Napoleon III confronted with the Economic crisis of 1857-1858
By Jacques Wolff
1857 was an important year for the Second Empire. It was the year of the first slump. Napoleon III did not remain inactive, however. By reviewing his projects in the light of the obstacles to those projects, he firstly came to the conclusion that an economic slowdown was likely. But he also came up with some ideas for overcoming it more or less completely. Read on…
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PLOMBIERES-Les-BAINS COMMEMORATES THE BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF NAPOLEON III
The spa town of Plombières-les-Bains (Vosges), much frequented by the Empress Josephine, Queen Hortense and then Napoleon III, is commemorating the birth of the Emperor Napoleon III on 19 and 20 April, 2008. Events include an exhibition, talks, a concert and the official inauguration of the Rue Camillo Benso di Cavour and the Place Napoléon III.
© Ville de Plombières
For further details (in French) click here.
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BICENTENARY OF THE CREATION OF THE NAPOLEONIC ITALIAN MARCHES
An Italian non-profit organisation called Comitato Marche Napoleoniche (Committee for the Napoleonic Marches) is organising a series of events to mark the 200th anniversary of the Napoleonic annexation of the Papal States or Marches into the Kingdom of Italy or Regno Italico as it is known in Italy.
This brief period as part of the Grande Empire greatly changed the region, both economically and socially, not least because many locals were conscripted to fight in the Grande Armée, not only in Spain but also in Russia. Event planned include conferences, talks, exhitbitions and other events. Full details can be found on the web site (in Italian) http://www.marche18082008.it/
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200 YEARS AGO
Foreign affairs
In mid-April 1808, Napoleon turned his attention to the French fleet, sending many orders to Vice-Admiral Decrès, Navy Minister. "The emperor of Russia has put all his squadrons at my disposal. As a consequence, you must send an order to the maritime prefect of Toulon that the two Russian vessels which are currently at Elba should to go to Toulon" (Correspondence n° 13736). "I have ten vessels at Toulon. I repeat to you that you must take all the necessary measures such that the ship at Genoa is launched as soon as possible; the same for the two at Toulon. This will bring the total of my vessels in that port to 13, which, with the two Russian ships from Elba and the 6 Spanish ships from Mahon, will make a squadron of 21 ships of the line…" (Correspondence n° 13737).
Paris
«The Rue Napoléon, which runs from the Place Vendôme to the boulevard through the garden of the Capucines, is currently being paved.» (Gazette de France, 13 April, 1808)
The decision to build a road on the site of the Capuchin convent was taken in 1806 (decree of 19 February). A ministerial decision dated 30 June, 1806, signed by Champagny, fixed its width at 22.40 m and its name as Rue Napoléon. Construction work began in 1807. Its name was to be changed during the First Restoration in 1814 to its present day name, Rue de la Paix.
150 YEARS AGO
Sale
On 13 April, 1858, the sumptuous furniture and furnishings belonging to the great tragedienne, Rachel (who had died on 3 January, 1858), were put up for sale at n°9 Place Royale, Paris.
«The furnishings, including many objets d'art, have been on public view for several days now. […] Amongst the very valuable bronzes and objets d'art there are four Etruscan vases which Mademoiselle Rachel had bought in Italy. […] However, the most valuable part of the collection, without doubt, is the collection of all the costumes which the actress wore at the theatre in the many roles she played» (Moniteur Universel, 13 April, 1858).
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week.
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, No 453, 11 - 17 April, 2008
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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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REMINDER
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During the French school holidays the library openings times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 1-30 to 6pm.
THIS WEEK in the MAGAZINE
What's on
Conferences
- War, Empire and Slavery c. 1790-1820, York, UK
- Napoleon III, man and politician, Paris, France
Exhibitions
- Treasures of Napoleon, New Orleans, USA
- Napoleon III, der Kaiser vom Bodensee (The Emperor from Lake Constance), Arenenberg, Switzerland
- Napoleon – genius and tyrant, Namur, Belgium
- Royal weddings 1840-1947: from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II, Windsor, England
- Napoléon. Symboles des pouvoirs sous l'Empire (Symbols of Power: Napoleon and the Art of the Empire Style, 1800–1815), Paris, France
- Napoleone Fasto imperiale. I Tesori della Fondation Napoléon, Rome, Italy
- A passion for Parma violets: Napoleon and Marie Louise, Parma, Italy
- Gustave Courbet, Metropolitan Museum, New York, USA
- König Lustik!? Jérôme Bonaparte and the Model State: the Kingdom of Westphalia, Kassel, Germany
- The Eye of Josephine, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Goya: the Disasters of War, Berkley Art Museum, University of California, USA
- La Rose Impériale: The Development of Modern Roses, Boone Gallery, The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA, USA
- "The trace of the eagle", the Invalides dome, Paris, France<<
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