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THIS WEEK'S LETTER...
We at the Fondation are always striving to be at the cutting edge of fashion, and so it is that this week we open our wardrobes and dig out what those in the know were wearing during the First and Second Empires. Not only do we have our latest website close-up dedicated to our Fashion section, but we also have a website link in our Magazine section (on the right-hand side) if you fancy replicating some of the more stylish members of First Empire society, and a reminder of our article of the month, on the dressmaker Charles Worth. Charles also pops up again in our 150 years ago section. Besides that, we have our new book of the month, which is the Fondation's very own General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte, volume 5, plus some information on a rather interesting new publication by Annie Jourdan on the French, American and Batavian revolutions. Carrying on the theme of Napoleon's writings, we also have some details of a new exhibition of Napoleonic documents which opens next week at the Musée de l'Armée, in partnership with the Fondation. Finally, along with a reminder of a lesser-known aspect of Napoleonica. La Revue, we also have an extended 200 years ago on the famous Polish charge at Somosierra.
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BOOK OF THE MONTH
La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte: volume 5
Book of the month this time around is the Fondation Napoléon's very own publication: Napoleon Bonaparte's collected correspondance for 1805. Covering some rather important events (the camps at Boulogne, Trafalgar and Austerlitz) and complemented by six studies, conversion tables, maps, a timeline and three indexes, this collection is an essential work in any Napoleonic enthusiast's library.
Click here for more information.
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JUST PUBLISHED
La Révolution batave entre la France et l'Amérique (1795-1806) by Annie Jourdan
This thoroughly researched study explains and relates the little-known events that form part of the revolutionary history of the 18th century, a large part of which has been overshadowed by the French Revolution. The work takes a trans-national approach and investigates closely the exchanges that took place between the three countries that were in the throes of their various revolutions.
Click here for more information.
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NAPOLEONICA. LA REVUE
As well as articles and essays, Napoleonica. La Revue also includes a number of book reviews. Issue n° 2 has reviews of Patrice Gueniffey's Le Dix-huit Brumaire. L'épilogue de la Révolution française, Natalie Petiteau's Les Français et l'Empire (1799-1815), Francisco Luis Diaz Torrejon's Guerrilla, contraguerrilla y delincuencia en la Andalucía napoleónica (1810-1812), Pierre Branda's Le prix de la gloire. Napoléon et l'argent and Ina Ulrike Paul's Württemberg 1797-1816/19. Quellen und Studien zur Entstehung des modernen württembergischen Staates (Quellen zu den Reformen in den Rheinbundstaaten 7). They are all available in the same way as the other articles in Napoleonica. La Revue: 60 € for an annual subscription or 7 € per article.
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NAPOLEON.ORG III
A Napoleonic catwalk
Paris is one of the fashion centres of the world. It would seem appropriate, therefore, that we introduce you to our section on First and Second Empire fashion. Ever wondered what the appropriate dress for your holiday villa in the country is? Or the importance of the role played by England in the development of First Empire male fashion? Well, wonder no more, for just a few clicks away is all the introduction you need to become the best-dressed citizen in Napoleonic France, whatever the occasion. And if our female readers want to add a bit of First Empire style to their collection, then they should have a look in our Magazine section of the bulletin, on the right-hand side of this very page, and click on the link to Swan Ways! Finally, our article of the month this time around is Olivier Courteaux's text on Charles Worth, the rather famous dressmaker.
Click here to open the wardrobe.
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WHAT'S ON
L'Aigle et la plume: Le retour des manuscrits
An exhibition of Napoleonic documents goes on display on Wednesday 3 December at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, in partnership with the Fondation Napoléon. This exhibition is based on a unique collection of period documents that has been brought back to France through the work of the Société Aristophil, and is an excellent opportunity to learn about the life and thoughts of Napoleon I through his correspondence and written word.
200 YEARS AGO
The Polish Light Horse at Somosierra: France's (and Poland's) own "charge of the light brigade"
After the defeat of Spanish troops at Espinosa (10 November, 1808), Napoleon pressed on from Burgos to retake the Spanish capital for his brother Joseph, leaving behind troops to deal with the weak Spanish regiments under Blake, Belvedere, Castaños and Palafox threatening his flank. On 30 November, 1808, he reached the Somosierra pass, on the southern edge of the rocky highlands called the Sierra de Guadarrama, just north of Madrid. Spanish troops commanded by General Benito San-Juan had been stationed in the pass with artillery so as to prevent the emperor's passage. After initially sending three regiments (the 96e de ligne, the 9e léger and the 24e de ligne) under Marshal Victor through the morning mist to take the defile, Napoleon found his men pinned down by the Spanish gunners. Though heavily outnumbered, the Spanish had in fact set up a complicated series of cannon emplacements and established riflemen on all sides of the defile and entrance to the pass. Impatient with the delay, Napoleon decided to send in his personal cavalry escort of the day, the 3rd squadron of the Polish Light horse, to force their way through. Legend has it (recorded by Philippe-Paul de Ségur) that Napoleon brushed aside remonstrations that the mission was suicide with the words “Nothing is impossible for my Polish men”. André Niegolewksi, lieutenant in the 3rd squadron of the Polish Light Horse, gave the following account of this famous French charge of the light brigade, the Polish Light Horse at Somosierra: "There are four u-bend turns in the narrow pass [of Somosierra]. At each turn were stationed four Spanish guns. Furthermore the road was covered by fire not only by the Spanish infantry on the flanks and summits but also a further sixteen cannon mounted at four levels. [After the taking of the first battery at some expense] the squadron continued its charge four in line but in no battle order, to cries of ‘Onwards, Vive l'Empereur' regardless of the hail of shot pouring from the front and the sides. […] Even though I came into the attack down the line, I was soon at its head. Those who fell were replaced by those who followed, and when these were taken down, others took their place, taking no account of their fallen comrades, and they reached the top, taking all four batteries, sabring the gunners before they could reload. Of all the officers who took part in the charge, I was the only one to reach the fourth battery unharmed, although my horse was wounded and my uniform, knapsack and shako were all riddled with bullets and my sabre was broken by shot." The squadron leader, Kozietulski, escaped unhurt (though bruised and his uniform shot through) because, despite the fact that he had led the charge, his horse was shot from under him right at the onset. The charge itself took place over a distance of about 2.5 kilometres and probably lasted about seven minutes. Of the 150 who took part in the charge, 57 were killed. The result was however spectacular. On seeing that their batteries had been taken (and in fact outnumbered five to one), the Spanish troops dissolved into the maquis, leaving the road open for the Spanish capital and the re-conquest of Spain.
Sources:
Jacques Garnier, "Somosierra: sur la route de Madrid 30 novembre 1808" in Napoléon Ier, Magazine du Consulat et de l'Empire, no. 13 (mars/avril 2002), p. 46-51
André Niegolewski, Les Polonais à Somosierra en Espagne en 1808, Paris: Martinet, 1854.
150 YEARS AG0
Fashion: the dressmaker Charles Worth moves into 7 rue de la Paix in Paris
The young English dressmaker Charles Worth arrived in Paris in 1845 and took a job in Gagelin and Opigez, a shop that specialised in fabrics and supplies for ladies' dresses and accessories. In 1858, and growing in reputation, Worth moved to 7 rue de la Paix and opened his own dress-shop in partnership with Otto Bobergh. The patronage of Princess Pauline de Metternich led to Worth becoming the official dressmaker to the Empress Eugénie in 1864.
Click here for the full story.
Wishing you the very best "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 476, 28 November - 4 December, 2008
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 FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
Autumn and winter opening times:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 1pm-6pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
(Closed Friday)
THE MAGAZINE
Book of the month
- Michel Kerautret and Gabriel Madec (eds.), La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte: Volume 5, Boulogne, Trafalgar, Austerlitz 1805
Just published
- Annie Jourdan, La Révolution batave entre la France et l'Amérique (1795-1806)
News
Fondation Napoléon History Prizes and Research Grants 2008 announced
As seen on the web
Swan Ways (external link)
WHAT'S ON
Conferences
- French intervention in Mexico: the cultural and scientific impact on the two countries, Paris (France), from 27 to 28 November 2008
- Portugal, Brazil and Napoleonic Europe, Lisbon (Portugal) from 4 to 6 December, 2008
Exhibitions
- "The Eagle and the quill: the 'retour des manuscrits'", Paris, France [03/12/2008 - 01/03/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon III and the Romanian principalities", Bucharest, Romania [23/10/2008 - 01/02/2009]
Full details
- "Ben Weider Collection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts", Montreal, Canada [Permanent]
Full details
- "Bonaparte and Egypt", Paris, France [14/10/2008 - 29/03/2009]
Full details
- "Between the dagger and the cross", Paris, France [21/10/2008 - 11/01/2009]
Full details
- "From Pompei to Malmaison", Rueil-Malmaison, France [22/10/2008 - 26/01/2009]
Full details
- "Jerome Napoleon, king of Westphalia", Fontainebleau, France [10/10/2008 - 08/01/2009]
Full details
- "Paper Landscapes, a celebration of Napoleonic cartography", La Spezia, Italy [04/10/2008 - 11/01/2009]
Full details
- "Fine people. Luxury and Fashion at the Time of the Empire", Erfurt, Germany [14/09/2008 - 11/01/2009]
Full details
- "Spectacle of Power. Rituals in Old Europe 800-1800", Magdeburg, Germany [23/09/2008 - 04/01/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleonic side-arms of the Rocca d'Acquaviva", Acquaviva Picena, Italy [04/10/2008 - 31/12/2008]
Full details
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