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FRANCOIS MARIE-JOSEPH CROUZET, 1922-2010
In Napoleonic history and in history in general from now on, we will talk about a 'before' and an 'after' François Crouzet. An astonishing assertion, you might think. But not for all those who have read his work.
In his first magnum opus, L'économie britannique et le blocus continental 1806-1813, he delved into British archives to explain brilliantly how Britain managed to survive the continental system. In his very first book he had solved one of the key problems of Napoleonic history.
In Grande inflation, he gave a fascinating explanation of the bankruptcy caused by the Revolution, highlighting how French contemporaries could not but hold their leaders responsible for the financial meltdown. The disaster was unavoidable and a solution had to be found. 18 Brumaire was a logical result of the debacle.
But Crouzet's scientific analysis went beyond mere economics. His teaching and his methods influenced both French and English-language universities worldwide. Few historians can boast such a wide audience.
We have lost a major historian.
We should return to his works and emulate his intelligence and rigour.
That would be the highest honour the "post-Crouzet" world could pay him.
Pierre Branda, author of Le prix de la gloire : Napoléon et l'argent
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NAPOLEON.ORG
Close-up on: the marriage of Napoleon I and Marie-Louise of Austria
To mark the bicentenary of the marriage of Napoleon I and Marie-Louise of Austria, we here at napoleon.org have put together a new close-up on, detailing the events leading up to the two ceremonies. The close-up features a detailed timeline, new biographies (of Metternich and Marie-Louise), an article by Llewellyn D. Cook, Jr., entitled "Austrian Diplomacy: The Marriage of Marie Louise to Napoleon" and an in-depth bibliography, as well as information on bicentenary events taking place this year and contemporary accounts of the civil ceremony.
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OBJET D'ART OF THE MONTH
Napoleon's petty Court cloak or "undress" cloak worn for his marriage to Marie-Louise
For the ceremony of his marriage to Marie-Louise, Napoleon's robes comprised a suit and a short cloak made of embroidered purple velvet, very similar to the "undress" robes which the emperor wore for the consecration and coronation ceremony of 1804. The costume also included a black velvet bonnet decorated with diamonds – one of which was the famous Regent – and white ostrich feathers. For the coronation, it was Jean-Baptiste Isabey who provided the designs for the robes, including that for the "undress" cloak executed by the tailor Chevallier and the embroiderer Picot.
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NAPOLEON.ORG
Fashion: Marie-Louise's wedding outfit
As part of our special edition letter on the marriage of Marie-Louise and Napoleon I, we have added a new fashion file which details the bridal outfit worn by Marie-Louise for the religious marriage ceremony. You'll also find more information about the trousseau that came as part of the wedding gift from Napoleon, which, amongst other things, contained hunting outfits, overcoats, fine linen, gold-leaf fans and seventy-one sets of jewels.
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WHAT'S ON
"1810: la politique de l'amour. Napoléon Ier & Marie-Louise à Compiègne"
The exhibition (which runs from 28 March - 19 July, 2010) begins with the new empress' arrival in Compiègne, from the farewells on the Austrian border to the first dinner served in her apartments. The pomp and grandeur of the religious and civil marriage ceremonies of 1 and 2 April, 1810, receive careful attention, as do the implications of the union on the political front. In addition to being an alliance to satisfy Napoleon's dynastic desires, this marriage into the oldest reigning imperial family in Europe was also seen as an attempt to reconcile the two empires, for so long at each other's throat. And this marriage was in fact the precursor of a short period of peace, a propitious context for many artistic commissions, some of which are on display in the exhibition.
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200 YEARS AGO
The civil and religious marriage ceremonies
Marie-Louise and Napoleon arrived in Compiègne on 27 March, 1810. After a few days rest, the civil marriage ceremony took place on 1 April, to be quickly followed by the religious marriage ceremony on 2 April.
Take a look at our new close-up on: the marriage of Napoleon I and Marie-Louise of Austria for all the details.
150 YEARS AGO
The return of The Sphinx
With the treaty ceding Savoy and Nice to France published in the Moniteur Universel on 30 March, 1860, and amid criticism in the British press regarding Napoleon III's behaviour towards the two territories and his lack of consultation with the other major European powers, Horace de Viel Castel mused on the possibility that the French Emperor had finally got one over on Britain.
"The more I observe and the more I think about it, the more I am led to the conclusion that the Emperor has fulfilled a secret goal that he has kept buried deep within the imperial conscience, until today.
Successor to Napoleon I, his alliance with England can have been nothing more than a union of necessity, and of circumstance. However great his magnanimity, even the abnegation of his personal feelings, it is impossible that he could have forgotten the misfortunes suffered by his family and by France, caused by Great Britain's persistent enmity.
It is impossible that he could not have taken note of this enduring enmity that, having placed England at the head of every coalition against France [during times of war], has also placed her once again as the jealous antagonist to all French interest during a time of peace. England wants to be France's ally, but only if France's development is stifled. I am convinced that Napoleon III likes England no more than Napoleon I did; he knows that she is and always will be opposed to anything that may restore to France the important role that she has played before and that she must continue to play in Europe. But he has learned from experience: he understands that there cannot be another hollow threat like the Boulogne camp.
[...]
He has quietly followed England; he has isolated her in this famous entente cordiale, to which he was criticised for sacrificing too much. He has borne with great stoicism everything that English arrogance and impudence has inflicted upon him in ten years. He has taken simple, measured steps towards achieving his oeuvre; he has followed calmly its progress and finally he can say today: "c'est bien !" [Mémoires du comte Horace de Viel Castel sur le règne de Napoléon III : 1851-1864, Friday 30 March, 1860, pp. 899-900]
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 535, 26 March - 1 April, 2010
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
Easter opening times
Between Monday 19 April and Thursday 29 April, the library will be open:
Tuesday, Wednesday: 1.30pm-6pm
Thursday: 10am-3pm
(Closed Monday and Friday)
FONDATION NAPOLEON ON THE WEB
Each week we offer you a "mystery" link to somewhere on napoleon.org. Click on the link to discover a part of the website you might not have visited before...
Statistic of the week:
The total value of Marie-Louise's extraordinarily sumptuous wedding gifts came to 1,575,000 francs, of which: 175,000 francs for a locket containing a portrait of the Emperor, 950,000 francs for the diamonds and jewels, 150,000 francs for the commemorative medals struck to mark the occasion, 120,000 francs for the trousseau, 100,000 francs for the basket, and 80,000 francs for the shawls and lace items.
Taken from "Les cadeaux de mariage de Marie-Louise", in Napoléon Ier : le magazine du Consulat et de l'Empire, n° 7, Mars/Avril 2001.
The Fondation Napoléon's triumvirate of Napoleonic websites:
- Napoleon.org
- Napoleonica. La Revue
- Napoleonica. Archives Online
The best of the month:
- Book of the month
- Painting of the month
- Objet d'Art of the month
- Article of the month
EVENTS
On now
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
Auction
- "The Empire at Fontainebleau", Fontainebleau (France), 26 - 28 March, 2010
Full details
Exhibitions
- "First Shots: Early War Photography 1848–60", London, UK [02/09/2009 - 18/04/2010]
Full details
- "Turner and the masters", Paris, France [24/02/2010 - 24/05/2010]
Full details
- "Ravage, Empires et mieux !" Two artists and Napoleon, Boulogne-Billancourt, France [12/02/2010 - 29/05/2010]
Full details
- "Charlotte Bonaparte, Dama di molto spirito: the romantic life of a princess artist", Rome, Italy [05/02/2010 - 18/04/2010]
Full details
- "L'Impossible Photographie, prisons parisiennes (1851-2010)", Paris, France [10/02/2010 - 04/07/2010]
Full details
- "Mathilde Bonaparte: a princess on the shores of Lac d'Enghien", Enghien-les-Bains, France [15/01/2010 - 15/04/2010]
Full details
- "Napoléon III et les Alpes-Maritimes", Nice, France [30/11/2009 - 30/06/2010]
Full details
- "Coup de crayon à l'Empire", Waterloo, Belgium [23/09/2009 - 17/05/2010]
Full details <<
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