Articles : 1400
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ArticleThe Mexican campaign: Napoleon III’s letter to General Forey regarding French intervention in Mexico, 1862
Introduction In a letter to General Forey, who would go on to take command of the French expedition in Mexico, Napoleon III outlined his motives in seeking to create an “independent” Mexico. The letter “Fontainebleau, July 5, 1862. My dear General, There will be people to ask you why we waste so many men, and spend […]
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ArticlePlon-Plon’s North American trip: summer 1861
After a dreadful few months, in which scandal followed humiliation with respite, Prince Napoléon left Paris in the company of his wife, Clotilde, on 2 June and headed for the south, visiting the north African coast and Portugal before proceeding to the New World. On 11 June, he arrived in La Goulette, the port serving […]
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ArticleThe death of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Retour des Cendres: French and British perspectives
Introduction “He knew how to make thirty-six million French men obey him without any authority but his genius and because he surpassed all the conquerors that preceded him.”1 As first consul and Emperor, Napoleon’s influence and power extended far beyond that of France, and he caused an unprecedented reaction among his contemporaries and historians alike. […]
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Article1855. France’s first international exhibitionAs far back as the Middle Ages, local fairs were the opportunity for French crafts and tradesmen to sell and exchange their products and wares. During the Directory period, François de Neufchâteau, then Interior Minister, had the idea to hold in September 1798 a gathering…
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ArticleThe Second Empire and Siam: a brief look at Franco-Siamese relations during the 19th century
France, Britain, and the Kingdom of Siam On 27 June, 1861, Napoleon III, Eugenie, and the Prince Imperial received the Siamese embassy, dispatched by King Rama IV, in a grand ceremony in the Sal de Bal at the Château de Fontainebleau, involving a procession of bowing ambassadors, sumptuous costumes, and lavish gifts. The embassy had […]
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ArticleNews from the Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution, FSU, Tallahassee, 2010-2011
Donald D. Horward Graduate Fellowship in Napoleonic Military History On March 4th, at the annual banquet of the Massena Society, a new graduate fellowship in the Institute was announced. Founded in honor of Dr. Donald D. Horward, founder of the Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution, it will provide an annual stipend to graduate […]
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ArticleSummer Selection 2011
The Fondation Napoléon’s Summer Selection 2011 The Fondation Napoléon's Summer Selection 2011 continues the formula from recent years. With summer just around the corner (for the northern hemisphere at least), we have put together a list of the latest reading material and cultural events taking place across the world to keep you occupied over the next few […]
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ArticleNature and Napoleon: the case of the common kestrel
Falco tinnunculus The more Paris grows, the greater the effect it has on the environment. Humanity's presence and continuous activity are gradually taking over the natural spaces around us. In response to this encroachment, we are seeing increasing adaptation, as Nature seizes back the urban spaces from which it has been chased. In particular, the […]
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ArticleThe Celebration of the Baptism of the Roi de Rome
Although initially set for 2 June, 1811 (Whitsunday), the Roi de Rome‘s baptism was pushed back a week, to 9 June (Trinity Sunday), as some complicated religious wrangling took place in the French capital. Since the Pope’s confinement in Savona since 1809, Napoleon’s relations with the Catholic church had worsened considerably. Of particular concern for […]
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ArticleAnother Napoleonic Mystery – Napoleon’s deathIn an article that first appeared in issues 116 and 117 of the magazine First Empire, Peter Friedman here takes a thorough look at Napoleon's medical history, exploring his various ailments and complaints from cradle to grave.