In the Words of Napoleon

The Emperor Day by Day

R.M. Johnston

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781473882775
• eBook ISBN:
  9781473882799
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

An "engrossing compilation" of the legendary leader's own words that sheds light on history—and on his genius, arrogance, insecurities, and frustrations (Julian Stockwin, author of the Kydd series).
A powerful portrait of a complex individual, this book resembles a journal, with Napoleon's words—derived from his extensive correspondence and other records throughout his life—appearing as dated entries, reflecting his amazing attention to detail as well as his thoughts on war, politics, and the people he interacted with. He addresses matters both worldly import and personal concern, and the unique format allows us to experience events of the period as they happened—and to witness the emperor's response to the rise and fall of his fortunes.
In addition, scholar Philip Haythornthwaite provides a fascinating introduction that analyzes Napoleon's words, and includes biographical sketches of the key personalities of the era.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

The following brief biographical notes concern some of the individuals mentioned in the main text.

Abbatucci, General Jacques-Pierre (1723–1813). This elderly Corsican general served under Napoleon in Italy, but as suggested by the latter’s remarks (entry for 14 August 1796), he was retired later that year.

Abdallah-Aga. The Ottoman commander of Jaffa survived the massacre of the garrison after it surrendered to the French by pleading for mercy, but Napoleon had him beheaded in July 1799.

Abou-Bekr (ad 573–634). Napoleon’s reference (entry for 15 June 1799) concerns the important place held in the Islamic world by the descendants of Abou-Bekr (father-in-law and companion of Mohammed, and the first of the Muslim Caliphs), and of Fatima, Mohammed’s daughter.

Abrantes, Duke of: see Junot.

Albitte, one of the representatives ‘en mission’ with the French Army, who ordered Napoleon’s brief arrest after the coup of Thermidor. Later he was implicated in the disturbances of 1st Prairial (20 May) 1795, but escaped the fate of most of the other Jacobin leaders, who were capitally convicted.

Alexander I, Tsar of Russia (1777–1825); successor to the throne of Russia in March 1801, following the murder of his father, Paul I, in which some suspected he was implicated. Alexander’s youthful idealism and admiration for Napoleon faded, and Russia opposed the French until forced to accede to the Treaty of Tilsit. The subsequent breakdown in Franco-Russian relations culminated with Napoleon’s invasion of 1812, after which Russia played a major role in the war against France. Despite his initial liberal inclinations, Alexander remained an absolute monarch.

Alexander, King of Macedón, known as ‘the Great’ (356–323 bc); mentioned by Napoleon (entry for 14 March 1814) in reference to the cutting of Gordian knots. This relates to a story concerning the city of Gordium, where there was a wagon or chariot said to have belonged to its founder, King Gordius, on which the yoke and pole were bound by a huge and complicated knot. It was said that whoever untied the knot would become the ruler of Asia, but Alexander simply cut it with his sword instead of attempting to unravel it.

Alquier, French diplomat, ambassador to the Pope in 1806 and subsequently to Sweden.

Alvintzy, Baron Josef (1735–1810). An experienced Transylvanian general of the Austrian Army, Alvintzy served in Italy against Napoleon, being defeated at Areola and Rivoli. Subsequently, he attained the rank of Feldmarschall and served as governor of Hungary.

Amherst, William Pitt, 1st Earl (1773–1857). Sent on an abortive British mission to China, Amherst was shipwrecked and on his return journey to England he called at St Helena, where he met Napoleon. He is best-known for his service as governor-general of India (1823–8).

Andréossy, General Antoine-François (1761–1828). This French artillery general served with Napoleon in Italy and Egypt, and subsequently held a number of important diplomatic positions, including ambassador to Britain (1803), to Austria (1806–9) and to Turkey (1812–13).

Andromaque. Napoleon’s references in the entries for 8 February and 16 March 1814, and 14 October 1818, concern the mythological Greek character Andromache, wife of Hector, and her son Astyanax, whose family were all slain by Achilles. In Homer’s version she demonstrates noble resignation toward the tragedies that befall her family, but the story was also recounted by Euripides and Racine, and it must be to the latter’s version that Napoleon refers. Evidently he was comparing the situation of Andromache, Hector and Astyanax to Marie-Louise, himself and his son.

Antommarchi, Francesco (1789–1838). A Corsican who had studied medicine at Pisa and Florence, Antommarchi was chosen by Cardinal Fesch to serve as Napoleon’s physician at St Helena from September 1819. He performed the post-mortem and subsequently published an account of Napoleon’s final years.

Antonio, Don (‘the Infant’). The somewhat simple brother of King Charles IV of Spain, Antonio was briefly head of the Spanish Junta of Regency; he shared the virtual imprisonment of Charles IV and Ferdinand VII at Valengay, where he spent much of his time in the library, mutilating books by removing anything he considered immoral or irreligious.

Archimedes (287–212 bc). Napoleon refers to the great Greek mathematician and inventor in the entry for 4 August 1816 in relation to Archimedes’ famous remark, ‘Give me a firm spot on which to stand, and I will move the earth’ (on the attributes of the lever), which Napoleon compared to his own ability to achieve what he had determined upon.

Arnott, Dr Archibald (1771–1855). Surgeon of the British 20th Foot, Amott was the senior medical officer at St Helena and was consulted by Antommarchi on the subject of Napoleon’s health. He first met the ex-emperor on 1 April 1821 and became so friendly with him that Napoleon gave him a gold snuffbox, on which he had scratched his initial, and left him £600. Amott attended him to the end and was present at the post-mortem.

Artois, Charles-Philippe, comte d’ (1757–1836). Son of Louis XVI and younger brother of Louis XVIII, Artois was one of the most ardent of the French Royalist leaders and lived in exile in Britain, hence Napoleon’s remarks in the entry for 28 December 1802. After his brother’s restoration, Artois led the ultra-Royalist faction and succeeded to the throne as Charles X, but he was deposed in 1830 and again found refuge in Britain.

Asturias, Prince of the: see Ferdinand VII.

Astyanax: see Andromaque.

Auerstädt, Duke of: see Davout.

Augereau, Marshal Pierre-François-Charles (1757–1816). One of Napoleon’s oldest and most valued subordinates, Augereau served from the Italian campaign through to 1814. He was appointed a marshal in 1804, and in 1808 was ennobled as Duke of Castiglione, a title taken from the battle of that name, where he performed one of his greatest services (5 August 1796).

Augusta, Princess (Augusta-Amelia of Bavaria, 1788–1851). Despite being arranged by Napoleon, the marriage of this Bavarian princess to Eugène de Beauhamais was a genuine love match, and they were extremely happy. Napoleon’s reference in the entry for 29 August 1806 concerns Augusta’s pregnancy with Eugène’s first child, although his recipe to ensure the birth of a son was unsuccessful: on 14 March 1807, she gave birth to a daughter, Josephine (1807–76) who, in 1823, married Bemadotte’s son, later King Oscar I of Sweden.

Augustus, Emperor (63 BC-AD 14). Napoleon’s reference in the entry for 3 October 1809 concerns the first Roman emperor, Gaius Octavius, known as Augustus.

Augustus, Prince of Prussia. In the 1806 campaign, Augustus commanded Hohenlohe’s rearguard and was captured at the surrender at Prenzlau. The entry for 6 December 1807 describes him as among those captivated by Madame de Staël.

Austria, Emperor of: see Francis II.

Austria, Empress of. When mentioned by Napoleon (entry for 21 May 1812), the Empress of Austria was Francis I’s third wife, Maria Ludovica Beatrix of Este, whom he had married in 1808. After her death, he married for a fourth time, to Carolina Augusta of Bavaria (1816).

Azara, Don José Nicholas de (1731–1804). Noted both as a diplomat and an antiquary, Azara was the long-serving Spanish ambassador to Rome, who had been instrumental in securing the election of Pope Pius VI. In 1796, he acted on behalf of the Pope, and on 24 June arrived in Bologna to confer with Napoleon, as noted in the entry for 26 June. Subsequently, he served as Spanish ambassador to Paris. Napoleon liked him and found him easy to influence, but although originally friendly toward France, Azara became somewhat disillusioned.

Bagration, General Peter (1765–1812). A fierce and indomitable Russian commander, Bagration was a very experienced general who led the Second West Army in the resistance to Napoleon’s invasion of Russia in 1812. Mortally wounded at Borodino, he was a great loss to the Russian Army.

Baraguay d’Hilliers, General Louis (1764—1813). This French general occupied Venice in 1797 and subsequently served quite widely, including in the Peninsula and Russian campaigns. His conduct in command of a division in the latter led to his dismissal (9 November 1812); he died before an enquiry could be held.

Barbé-Marbois, Francis, marquis de (1745–1837). A diplomat of the Ancien Régime, Barbé-Marbois was employed by Napoleon as a councillor of state and as minister of finance (1802–5), hence Napoleon’s instruction to him to ‘reassure the financiers’ (entry for 9 August 1805). Caulaincourt recorded how Napoleon regarded him as unprincipled and untalented, and so transferred him to head the court of accounts where he could do no damage!

Barbier, M., Napoleon’s librarian. Rather more than half of the thousand books Napoleon requested (entry for 17 July 1808) concerned history, and he even specified the format: without margins to economise on space, and with loose backs so that they would open flat.

Barclay de Tolly, General Mikhail Andreas (1761–1818). One of the leading Russian commanders of the period, bom in Livonia of Scots ancestry, Barclay de Tolly served as war minister (1810–13), led the First West Army in 1812 and after Bautzen was appointed as Russian commander-in-chief. Although rather cautious, he was not a bad field commander, while his administrative reforms were very significant.

Barras, Paul-François-Jean-Nicolas (1755–1829). One of the most important political figures of the later Revolutionary period, Barras became friendly toward Napoleon, whom he encountered at Toulon. As a director, his notorious immorality and avarice did much to undermine the reputation of that body, thus facilitating the coup of Brumaire, which brought Napoleon to power. His political career ended with the fall of the Directory, whereupon he retired to enjoy his dubiously-accumulated wealth. Josephine was one of his mistresses prior to her marriage to Napoleon.

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Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• PREFACE
• A DIARY OF NAPOLEON’S LIFE
• 1769–95
• 1796
• 1797
• 1798
• 1799
• 1800
• 1801
• 1802
• 1803
• 1804
• 1805
• 1806
• 1807
• 1808
• 1809
• 1810
• 1811
• 1812
• 1813
• 1814
• 1815
• ST HELENA
• BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
• BIBLIOGRAPHY