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500 not out...
Thank you, thank you and thank you (five hundred times thank you...)!
This is the 500th Napoleon.org Bulletin that we've had the pleasure of sending to you since 1999. It has already been ten years since Baron Gourgaud and my predecessor, Béatrice de Durfort, launched this originally bi-monthly communication (weekly since 2002) with the readers of our website, napoleon.org. It has also been ten years since Irène Delage (section head) and Peter Hicks (English-language version) took up the reins. Ten years of information, book recommendations and announcements (both big and small) that make up the fascinating and ever-turning Napoleonic news-cycle.
It is you, our 8,200 readers spread across five continents, who are the driving force behind the letter: it is to you that we offer our thanks today.
If, as we hope, this letter is for you one of Friday's little joys, it is for us both the highlight of the week and an honour that we gladly accept.
And if bad news always comes in threes, then good news doesn't come unaccompanied either: part two of our extra special letter this week is the announcement of volume six of the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte which will be available to buy in bookshops and online by the end of May.
So, (virtual) champagne all round, and as Madame Mère once said: "Long may it last."
The very best week to you all,
Thierry Lentz
Fondation Napoléon Director
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VOLUME SIX OF THE GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
"Vers le Grand Empire 1806"
"The sixth volume of the General Correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte covers the entirety of 1806, bringing together some 2,679 letters (the Second Empire publication contained just 1,896), commentaries from period specialist historians, and a preface from Jean-Claude Casanova.
1806 is a particularly rich year in terms of events. The Confederation of the Rhine was created, whilst, on the other hand, the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist. Francis II became Francis I, nothing more than Austrian Emperor and bringing to an end a Reich that had lasted nearly a thousand years. The end of the year was marked by a new military campaign, which saw French troops enter Berlin on 27 October. With the Russians lending the Prussians their assistance, hostilities were resumed on Polish soil, and Napoleon entered Warsaw on 19 December. 1806 was also the year of the Continental Blockade decrees, the end of the Republican calendar, the establishment of the St. Napoleon (15 August), the beginning of the building of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the birth of Napoleon's first son, Charles Léon, product of his liaison with Eléonore de la Plaigne..."
Introduction by Michel Kerautret
"1806 was probably one of the greatest years in Napoleon's career, perhaps even his apogee. As far as we are concerned, it can be noted that he wrote far more than he did in 1805: 1806 sees an increase of fifty percent on the previous year, one that was itself rather busy to begin with. We could thus conclude quite easily that Napoleon has doubled his workload. This observation is both obvious and a little misleading.
1806 was characterised by three quarters of peace and the construction of a new Europe, whilst the fourth quarter was once again concerned with war, with the outbreak of the conflict with Prussia..."
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Letter and commentary by Michel Kerautret
"Napoleon's correspondence is still the principal and best source for studying the history of the period, and the succession of volumes of the complete correspondence of Napoleon Bonaparte cannot but have convinced any remaining doubters of this fact. In these letters, the hero is not posing for posterity but rather devotes himself to his work, for his life has not yet become legend. The nuances are less observed, the light is clear and untainted. We, the readers, are often dazzled, moved to admiration. But just occasionally, we feel compelled to turn away: history, taken raw as it is here, is not always edifying. One of the Correspondence project's merits is that it gives us Napoleon in many different guises: a gifted strategist, a fastidious administrator, an attentive stepfather, but also a man who is just a little bit too human sometimes, impulsive and brutal in his occasionally excessive and unjust decisions..."
Project update by François Houdecek
"It has only been a few months since volume five came out, in November 2008, but already we have volume six ready to hit the shops.
Everyone involved in the project is working as hard as ever. Whilst new additions have been harder to come by this year, especially compared to the wonderful discoveries of 2008, we have nevertheless continued to slave away, digging out every possible letter signed by Napoleon that we can find. We are in constant contact with archive centres in France and abroad that are likely or potential recipients of letters from Napoleon..."
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ELSEWHERE IN THE NAPOLEONIC WORLD
Bicentenary of the Illyrian Provinces: "Napoleon says: Illyria arise!"
Dedicated to the period between 1809 and 1813, the time of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Illyrian Provinces, the exhibition "Napoleon says: Illyria arise!" brings together various objects and documents illustrating the political and historical events of the time.
After Napoleon's victorious Battle of Wagram in 1809 and the signing of the Treaty of Schönbrunn, the Austrian emperor was forced to give up a large part of Slovenian inhabited lands, which Napoleon united into the Illyrian Provinces along with part of Carinthia, the Tyrol, Gorizia, Istria and Dalmatia. Flirting with ancient history, for the Provinces' name Napoleon looked to the proud history of Illyrian tribes, which were settled on the Balkan Peninsula in antiquity. In terms of geopolitics, Ljubljana suited the plans of the French Empire and was thus named the capital of the newly established state.
Other events
As well as the new exhibition taking place at the City Museum of Ljubljana, the bicentenary of the creation of the Illyrian Provinces also sees a number of events taking place across the Slovenian capital this summer. The Fondation Napoléon has carefully sifted through the events information and selected a few diverting excursions that appear of particular interest.
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EXHIBITION
Napoleon III and Paris
The heart of this dossier exhibition, which takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (USA) between 9 June and 7 September, 2009, will focus on the changing shape of Paris during the Second Empire, when the city's narrow streets and medieval buildings gave way to the broad boulevards and grand public works that still define the urban landscape of the capital. An introductory section will focus on Napoleon III and his family, and a final section will depict the ruins of Paris in the aftermath of the Commune. Drawn entirely from the Metropolitan's collection, the exhibition will feature portraits of the Imperial family by Gustave Le Gray and Benjamin Delessert; views of old Paris by Charles Marville; photographs of the New Louvre by Edouard Baldus and of the Opera by Delmaet and Durandelle; and scenes of the destruction of Paris and Saint-Cloud during the Commune by Alphonse Liebert and Pierre-Ambrose Richebourg.
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COMMEMORATION
The death of the Prince Imperial
The 1 June, 2009 will be the 130th anniversary of the death of the Prince Imperial, who, enrolled in the British army, was killed during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The Prince was initially buried in Chislehurst, before being transferred to St Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, where he lies to this day, next to his father, Napoleon III.
The day will begin with a laying of wreaths at Sandhurst, at 11.15am, at the foot of the statue in park of the Royal Military Academy. This will be followed by further wreath-laying, at 2.30pm, at his tomb in the crypt of St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, after which a mass will be celebrated (3.30pm).
Prince Imperial Requiem mass
As part of the French presence in KwaZulu-Natal celebrations, a requiem mass in commemoration of the Prince Imperial, Louis Napoleon, will be held on 6 June, 2009, at 9.30am, in St. Mary's Chapel, Pietermaritzburg. The mass will be said in liaison with the requiem mass in the Imperial Chapel, Biarritz, France and will include a performance by the University Madrigal Singers.
200 YEARS AGO
The death of Haydn
In the Moniteur of 21 June, 1809, we find a brief obituary of Josef Haydn, the great Austrian composer, following his death on 31 May, 1809:
"A friend of the celebrated Haydn whom the art world lost on 31 May has just submitted to our public papers a short notice on this rare genius: he was born in 1730 [in fact 1732, ed.], in the village of Rohrau, on the border between Austria and Hungary. His father was a poor wheelwright, who sent his son away to became a choirboy in St. Stephen's metropolitan Cathedral in Vienna. He left the choir school at the age of sixteen, and began writing pieces in a style which was as skilful as it was original, in a career in which he produced many masterpieces. Impervious to envy, he gave more credit to his rivals than artists of the lower order were often wont to do. He was once asked, at a much-frequented salon, where Mozart's burgeoning talent was yet to be fully appreciated, who was the century's greatest composer: "What a question!" he replied with energy, "it is Mozart." "And what about you?" they asked, "or Gluck?" "Gluck and I," he answered, "are the two best placed to appreciate Mozart."
Haydn, most recently, expressed his deep regret for not having visited France, and especially for not having heard his symphonies performed at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he knew them to be played and felt with more intelligence and spirit than anywhere else."
The military-band clarinettist and bassoonist, Philippe René Girault recounted his 1809 visit to Haydn who had only two more weeks to live. The French musician was well received by the Austrian composer who "said that he had always taken great pleasure in the conversation of musicians, but that he feared that he would not have that pleasure much longer in that he felt very weak." [Though it was in fact true that the composer was old and weak he had been so since 1804 and had printed a card to be given his admirers on which stood the following words "Hin ist alle meine Kraft; Alt und swach bin ich" (Gone forever is my strength; old and weak am I).] "And he was correct," went on Girault, "for he died the same year. It is quite credible that the presence of the French armies in Vienna shortened his life, for the inhabitants of Vienna suffered many hardships." [Philippe René Girault, Les campagnes d'un musicien d'Etat-major pendant la République et l'Empire, 1791-1810, pp. 222-223]
Napoleon is said to have requested that an honour guard be set over the composer's coffin at the funeral service and the Mozart Requiem was performed at a memorial service for Haydn held in the Vienna Schottenkirche two week's after his death. Haydn died aged 77.
150 YEARS AGO
The Battle of Magenta, 4 June, 1859
After Montebello on 25 May, Napoleon III finally enacted his initial plan, namely that of enveloping the Austrian troops ranged in the plain before Milan by coming at them from the north and so attacking their flank. The Austrians were slow to react, still believing that the French would come at them via Piacenza, from the south. The French emperor however moved his troops quickly north by train through Vercelli (the French victory nearby at Palestro [30-31 May] finally revealed to the Austrians what was happening), gathering the French army around Novara on 1 June. After a brief (and accidental) combat at Turbigo on 3 June, the French emperor envisaged that the following day would be one of manoeuvring in view of a decisive encounter the day after (having heard that the Austrians were retreating). He was however mistaken since the Austrians had not moved. On the battle day itself (4 June), MacMahon advanced south carefully down the left bank of the Ticino river towards Magenta meeting fierce resistance. Subsequently the Guard advanced from the West down the Milan road towards Magenta and down the railways line and was involved in an heroic defence of the canal before Magenta. The Austrians attacked the right flank of the French army, causing both armies to engage their reserves. Later on in the day MacMahon returned to the fight, taking Magenta and driving the Austrians into retreat. The road to Milan was opened up. On 7 June, a delegation from Milan presented the keys to the city to the victorious Emperor and the French army made a triumphal entry into the Lombard capital.
"Big Ben" comes to life
On the completion of the great clock tower soaring above the Houses of Parliament in London (UK), the clock, these days called Big Ben (though this was initially only the name of the Great Bell) was set in motion for the first time on 31 May, 1859. The famous chimes were not however to be heard from the London tower until nearly six weeks later, on 11 July, 1859. The melody, 'Westminster Chimes', was written at the end of the 18th century for the church of Great Saint Mary's in Cambridge, possibly by the composers Dr W. Crotch (1775-1847), and it was made famous by its inclusion in the tower above the Houses of Parliament.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks and Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
SPECIAL LETTER: 500TH ISSUE OF THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN
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THE GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 1: "Les apprentissages, 1784-1797"
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 2: "La campagne d'Égypte et l'avènement, 1798-1799"
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 3: "Pacifications, 1800-1802"
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 4: "Ruptures et fondation, 1803-1804"
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 5: "Boulogne, Trafalgar, Austerlitz 1805"
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 6: "Vers le Grand Empire"
Click here for more information on the project and on the volumes to come.
FONDATION NAPOLEON
THE BIBLIOTHEQUE FONDATION NAPOLEON LIBRARY
Spring opening times:
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 1pm-6pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
(Closed Friday)
THE MAGAZINE
Book of the month
- La Correspondance générale de Napoléon Bonaparte, Volume 6: "Vers le Grand Empire"
Seen on the web (external links)
- 150 years of Big Ben 1859-2009
Fondation Napoléon History Prizes 2008
- Francis and Madeleine Ambrière, Talma, ou l'histoire du théâtre
- Alain Decaux, Coup d'état à l'Elysée
- Edgardo Donati, La Toscana nell'impero napoleonico
Fondation Napoléon news
- Fondation Napoléon Research Grants 2008
WHAT'S ON
Guided tours
- "Discover Malmaison" in English, Malmaison (France), 3 June and 1 July, 2009
- "Discover Malmaison" in Italian, Malmaison (France), 1 July, 2009
Conferences
- "Seventh International Napoleonic Congress: Napoleon, Europe and the World", and call for papers, Montreal (Canada), 8-12 June, 2009
- "Civilians and War in Europe, c. 1640-1815", Liverpool (UK), 18-20 June, 2009
- Australian Napoleonic Congress, Goulburn (Australia), 31 October - 1 November, 2009
Commemorations
- Royal British Legion remembrance ceremony for those fallen at Waterloo
- Bicentenary of the Illyrian Provinces
- Haydn 2009
- Bicentennial commemoration of the death of Maréchal Lannes
- French presence in South Africa
Re-enactments
- "11th weekend of bivouacs and battles at Waterloo", Waterloo (Belgium), 18 - 21 June, 2009
- Znaim 1809 bicentenary re-enactment, Znojmo and Dobšice (Czech Republic), 11-12 July, 2009
- Bivouac and the Battle of Oostmalle, Oostmalle (Belgium), 5-6 September, 2009
Festivals
- Napoleon Festival 2009, Sarzana (Italy), 24-27 September, 2009
Exhibitions
- "Napoleon says: Illyria arise!", Ljubljana, Slovenia [12/05/2009 - 31/10/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon III and Paris", New York, USA [09/06/2009 - 07/09/2009]
Full details
- "Napoléon", Philadelphia, USA [29/05/2009 - 07/09/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon Bonaparte and Egypt: fire and light", Arras, France [16/05/2008 - 19/10/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon. His opponents, his admirers, and the sacrifice", Marchegg, Austria [04/04/2009 - 18/10/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon in Traiskirchen", Möllersdorf, Austria [04/03/2009 - 24/12/2009]
Full details
- "The Satirical Eye: comedy and critique from Hogarth to Daumier", Melbourne, Australia [27/02/2009 - 26/07/2009]
Full details
- "Second Empire Paris: History and Modernity", Williamstown, USA [25/04/2009 - 21/06/2009]
Full details
- "Juliette Récamier: muse and patron of the arts", Lyon, France [27/03/2009 - 29/06/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon and Corsica", Corte, France [20/06/2009 - 30/12/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon and Eugenie", Roslyn Harbor, USA [07/06/2009 - 07/09/2009]
Full details
- "Imperial Splendour", Manderen, France [15/03/2009 - 31/08/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon, Commander, Emperor and Genius", Schallaburg, Germany [16/05/2009 - 01/11/2009]
Full details
- "William Blake (1757-1827): the visionary genius of English Romanticism", Paris, France [02/04/2009 - 28/06/2009]
Full details
- "Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828)", Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [29/04/2009 - 05/07/2009]
Full details
- "Ingres and the Moderns", Quebec City, Canada [05/02/2009 - 31/05/2009]
Full details
- "Nicolas-Toussaint Charlet and the origins of the Napoleonic legend", Boulogne-Billancourt, France [05/03/2009 - 27/06/2009]
Full details
- Imperial painter: Pietro Benvenuti at the court of Napoleon and the Lorenas, Florence, Italy [10/03/2009 - 21/06/2009]
Full details
- "Napoleon III and the Romanian principalities", Compiègne, France [21/03/2009 - 29/06/2009]
Full details
- "Ben Weider Collection at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts", Montreal, Canada [Permanent]
Full details
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