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THIS MONTH'S OBJECT
The Roi de Rome's cradle
The Aiglon (eaglet) ready soar skywards towards immortal glory: such is the symbolism adorning the Roi de Rome's luxurious cradle offered by the City of Paris in celebration of the birth of imperial heir.
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO
As a new conflict flared up in Switzerland, Bonaparte interposed as Mediator for the Swiss cantons on 30 September, 1802 (8 Vendémiaire, An XI). On 5 October, Rapp arrived in Lausanne in order ensure recognition of this 'mediation'. Then on 17 October, Ney was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary and commander of French troops in Switzerland, with a brief to restore order.
A bill of 8 Vendémiaire, An XI (30 September, 1802), was passed regulating the butcher's trade in Paris: 30 butchers nominated by the Préfet de police were to choose a leader and 6 deputies. They were to give their opinion to the Préfet de police with respect to every new request to join the profession, upon receipt of a caution payment (3 categories); The leader and his deputies were also to present to the Préfet de police two members of the profession who would choose the person to look after the emergency cash box, fed from the monthly caution payments. No butcher was allowed to leave the profession without having previously informed the Préfet de police six months in advance.
Le Moniteur universel, 13 Vendémiaire, An XI
1 October, 1802 (9 Vendémiaire, An XI), the Consuls decided to erect a colossal statue in the Place des Victoires, in homage to General Desaix, who was killed at the Battle of Marengo. "On a pedestal shall be placed bas-reliefs relative to the conquest of Upper Egypt and the Battle of Heliopolis, won by this general. [art. II]. The execution of the statue is to be entrusted to Citizen Dejoux, sculptor. [art. III]
After the removal of the statue of Louis XIV on horseback (by the sculptor Desjardins) on 10 August, 1792, no less than seven monuments were built or planned for the Place des Victoires. In 1810, the nude statue of Desaix caused a scandal, and on his accession Louis XVIII returned to the iconography of the ancien régime by commissioning a new statute of Louis XIV on horseback, this time by the architect Alavoine and the sculptor Bosio (1828): it is this statue of the king in the dress of a Roman emperor set upon a rearing horse which still stands today in the Place.
Wishing you an excellent, Napoleonic, week!
Peter Hicks
Historian and Web editor
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THIS WEEK:
New FUN STUFF: the Chant du départ
Download the music and play the 'National anthem' of the First Empire, which Napoleon preferred to the Marseillaise.
Snippets
Rumours concerning Kubrick's Napoleon
Just published
- Campagna degli Austriaci contro Murat nel 1815 - Constant Villar
What's on
- TV: Napoleone, RAI I (Italy)
- Conference: Napoleonic association, UK
- Exhibition: Nelson & Emma, Personal Pots and Lasting Mementos
- Exhibition: Seat of Empire
- Study day: 6th Annual French Presence symposium, South Africa
The monthly titles
- Book of the Month: Henry Addington, Prime Minister, 1801-1804: Peace, War and Parliamentary politics, by John Fedorak
- This month's picture, The revolt in Cairo, 21 October 1798, by Girodet
- Article of the Month, Waterloo - Bias, Assumptions, and Perspectives, by Douglas Allen
- In the Collectors Corner, the Roi de Rome's cradle
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