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THIS WEEK'S LETTER...
...sees our article of the month take a look at the life of Emmanuel Augustin Dieudonné, otherwise known as the Count de Las Cases, who shared in Napoleon's exile on the Island of St Helena. Further down, you will find information on a couple of recently published photo albums, one on Directory, Consulate and Empire fashions, and the other detailing some of the most famous military uniforms of the Napoleonic period. We also remind you of a couple of exhibitions that are coming to end this weekend, as well as a day of festivities, which marks the bicentenary of the completion of the Canal de Saint-Quentin, coming up in a week's time. Lastly, with news that the Arc de Triomphe is to receive a face-lift, we proceed into our 200 and 150 years ago sections, with the creation of the Armée de Portugal and the Savoyard referendum respectively.
We should also like to remind you that registration for the Fondation Napoléon/Souvenir Napoléonien "1810" conference is now open: the registration form can be accessed right here on napoleon.org.
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ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
"Emmanuel Augustin Dieudonné: the real victor of St. Helena" by Peter Friedman
Emmanuel Augustin Dieudonné, better known as Count de Las Cases, has to be considered the only person to actually profit personally from exile with Napoleon on St. Helena. Las Cases was the very first to publish an account of Napoleon's treatment on St. Helena. No one has had more attention paid to them in the last two hundred years, except for Napoleon himself. The harsh treatment he suffered upon his return to Europe, especially from agents of the British government, could not remain unnoticed.
And on the French side is Pierre Bianco's article on Alessandro Volta and the development of the electric cell.
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JUST PUBLISHED
First Empire fashion and costumes
Nathalie Harran's work, La Femme du Directoire au Ier Empire, dives head first into the world of female fashion in France during the Directory, Consulate and Empire period, and comes complete with many photos of period-costume.
In a similar vein, Empire by the French photographer, Charles Fréger, is a photo album of re-enactors dressed in authentic, highly accurate uniforms from some of the most prestigious regiments in European history.
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Finishing soon: "First Shots: Early War Photography 1848–60" (London) and "Charlotte Bonaparte, Dama di molto spirito: the romantic life of a princess artist" (Rome)
This weekend is the your last opportunity to visit two exhibitions taking place in London and Rome: "First Shots: Early War Photography 1848-60" covers the work of four war photography pioneers, John McCosh, Roger Fenton, James Robertson and Felice Beato, whilst "Charlotte Bonaparte, Dama di molto spirito: the romantic life of a princess artist" takes a look at the life and travels of Charlotte Bonaparte, the daughter of Joseph Bonaparte. This latter exhibition will open at Compiègne (France) later in the year.
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NAPOLEONIC NEWS
The Arc de Triomphe receives a face-lift
A grand clean-up project for the four pillars of the Arc de Triomphe has begun. Four teams are working around the clock to clean and restore the four sculpture groups that feature on the famous arch: "Le Départ des volontaires de 1792" (known as La Marseillaise and the most famous of the monument's reliefs), by François Rude; "Le Triomphe de Napoléon de 1810", by Jean-Pierre Cortot; and "La République ou la Résistance de 1814" and "La Paix de 1815", by Antoine Etex. The project should be completed in time for the commemorative events marking the anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's "appeal of June 18".
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Bicentenary of the Canal de Saint Quentin
Begun in 1775 and renewed in 1802, construction work on the Canal de Saint Quentin, which would connect the Somme, Escaut and Oise rivers, was completed at the end of April, 1810. Napoleon, then Premier Consul, made the journey out to Saint Quentin (in the Aisne département) on 9 February, 1801, to personally lay the route of the canal. He returned just over nine years later, this time as emperor, to see the work completed and the canal open to boats. To celebrate the canal's bicentenary, the town of Saint-Quentin and the Picardy delegation of the Souvenir Napoléonien are organising a day of festivities for 24 April, 2010.
200 YEARS AGO
The Armée de Portugal is created
A decree issued by Napoleon I and dated 17 April, 1810, resulted in the creation of the Armée de Portugal.
This army was to include its own chief of staff, quartermaster general, cavalry commander, artillery commander and engineering commander. It was also set down that the Armée de Portugal's finances would be separate from the Armée d'Espagne. Maréchal André Massén, Prince d'Essling, whose strategic abilities had previously been recognised by Napoleon, was appointed at the head of the army. His mission was clear: invade Portugal, recapture Lisbon and drive the British out. Masséna arrived in Valladolid on 10 May to assume his duties. During the course of 1810 and 1811, the 2nd (commanded by Reynier), 6th (commanded by Ney) and the 8th (commanded by Junot) corps of the army would all be heavily involved in the war of independence raging in Spain.
150 YEARS AGO
After Nice, came Savoy
As per the Treaty of Turin, signed on 24 March, 1860 (see Bulletin n° 534), a referendum regarding Savoy's annexation to France was held on 22 and 23 April, 1860. Whilst the general population considered its options, the days leading up to the vote were filled with profusions of loyalty and devotion to the French Empire issued by the Savoyard elites. The 18 April edition of the Moniteur Universel contained the following report:
"The whole of Savoy is impatiently awaiting the day when they will be able to demonstrate their sympathies for France and for the Emperor. What strikes the visitor immediately upon arrival [in Savoy] is the strength of French feeling. Savoy wants to be part of this great nation. It is a firm, unyielding desire that has long existed [...]."
Later editions also featured further reports of Savoyard French feeling and love for the Emperor, which left little doubt as to the results of the forthcoming referendum:
"Since the morning of 22 April, the entire town [Chambéry] is filled with French flags; the inhabitants are convening in their districts and corporations are forming in preparation to go and vote at the Grenette, which has been magnificently decorated. [...] This enthusiasm is shared by all." [Moniteur Universel, 23 April, 1860]
The result was unanimous: 99.82% of the population was in favour of Savoy becoming part of the French Empire, a mere 235 'no' votes out of 130,533 'yes' votes, with just 3.4% abstaining.
Wishing you an excellent "Napoleonic" week,
Peter Hicks & Hamish Davey Wright
Historians and web-editors
THE NAPOLEON.ORG BULLETIN, N° 538, 16 - 22 April, 2010
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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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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 Canal de Saint Quentin, inaugurated by Napoleon I in April 1810, measures 50,991 metres in length.
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
MAGAZINE
Just published
- La Femme du Directoire au Ier Empire, by Nathalie Harran
- Empire, by Charles Fréger
Press review
- Book review: "Russia Against Napoleon: the True Story of the Campaigns of 'War and Peace'"
- BBC: search engine for digital source material
- The St. Petersburg Times: Russian government plans to raze Borodino battlefield
- Book review: "Open the Door to Liberty: A Biography of Toussaint L' Ouverture"
EVENTS
On now and coming up
A selection of events taking place now or in the coming weeks, taken from our What's on listings.
Dinner and cruise
- Souvenir Napoléonien gala dinner and cruise, Paris, France [05/05/2010]
Full details
Commemorative celebrations
- The Canal de Saint-Quentin commemorative day, Saint-Quentin, France [24/04/2010]
Full details
Exhibitions
- "The imperial honeymoon: Paris 1810", Fontainebleau, France [02/04/2010 - 02/07/2010]
Full details
- "First Shots: Early War Photography 1848–60", London, UK [02/09/2009 - 18/04/2010]
Full details
- "Napoléon III et les Alpes-Maritimes", Nice, France [30/11/2009 - 30/06/2010]
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
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