“I always work – while eating dinner, in the theater; at night I wake up to work” [1] - Napoleon Bonaparte.
A flash appears in my mind, interrupting my sleep. He’s forgotten to include two important points in the education decree. He opens his eyes. It's pitch dark. He looks to the left. The Empress sleeps quietly. They spent the last night together. Sometimes he needs to relax, he has given up hope to have of offspring. Everyone says it's her fault but she has two children from her first marriage. It was bothering him. He has achieved so much. He is the Emperor. He has just trampled over Austria, humiliated Russia. Frightened Prussia sits with the tail between the legs. And this plotting Pitt had gone to hell with that all. He was eager to finance campaigns on the continent against him, hoping to keep him away from England.
“Time will come for you as well. You don't have Nelson anymore. Actually I lost my fleet but now I have gained access to the main ports and shipyards of Europe. The fields near Austerlitz proved who the new master on the old continent is.", he just thought, lying at the side of his beloved woman.
The battle of the Three Emperors, they say. Two great families: the Romanovs and the Habsburgs, and he - a poor Corsican nobleman who disturbed the existing system in Europe. With these two emperors by birth, he is an upstart, one might say. But they will bow down to him and his house will be the most powerful in Europe. He – the Emperor of the French, the King of Italy. His older brother - Joseph is already on his way to Naples to get the crown. Perhaps he would give Louis the throne of the Netherlands and Carolina a German duchy.
“We have to eradicate the old order, kick the Bourbons out from the thrones of Europe. Their time is up. Now comes the time of the Bonaparts”, he thinks, getting out of bed.
She throws a robe of Multan on. He hears a shuffle outside the door. The always alert Rustam is no longer sleeping.
Protecting him, completely devoted, mameluke brought from an expedition to Egypt, has always slept on the threshold of Napoleon’s quarters. Mantling tightly the robe, the Emperor moves on to an office. On the desk lie sorted correspondence and letters that he had dictated the previous day. There is fire in the fireplace. The servants know that the Emperor doesn’t tolerate cold. A glance at a clock ticking on the mantlepiece. Two o’clock in the morning. Napoleon sits at the desk with his back to the fire. He feels a pleasant warmth on his back. At the top of the papers is Talleyrand's note on the progress of the negotiations on the establishment of the Rhine Union. Small German states received an offer they could not refuse. This is a major step towards unifying them under the protectorate of France, not Austria. He realizes that it will take a while for the matter to be finalized .
The main thing is that there is no more Holy Roman Empire. This medieval creation, a relic of the past, ceased to exist. He ended its life. The "Little Corporal" ordered Frederic to take the crown of the Roman Empire off and he meekly did so, only to maintain the dignity of the Austrian Emperor... What was the reaction of Prussia? For the time being the defeat of Austria caused Prussia’s militance disappeared. But knowing Queen Luisa - this scorpion-minded devil, will force her husband, this mediocrity William, to form another coalition against France, against him. Well, he's ready to break down the next representative of the old order.
He takes Talleyrand's note. He outlines a few sentences so that the secretary should have time to communicate his comments to the minister before today's meeting. He closes the drawer in his head called "Germany". Napoleon gets on to the draft of the law about education. He supplements it with points that came to his mind. He looks at a few more writings and notes ideas for decisions and letters to dictate that day. Finally he empties his head from thoughts and clears the mind. He can afford himself a short nap.
* * *
It is not only literary fiction. This was often how Napoleon's day began. Regularly at night he went to his office to work alone. In his opinion, work was a way to relax. He believed in the salutary effects of getting out of bed early. In April 1806, Napoleon wrote to his stepson, Eugene de Beauharnais: “You can do a lot of work in a short time. I live the same lifestyle as you do but I have an old wife who doesn't need me for fun, and I'm also busier than you are. However, I allow myself to spend more time relaxing and entertaining than you… I spent the last two days with marshal Bessieres; we played like children." [2]. This "game" didn’t disturb the Emperor in writing fourteen letters that day, including six to Eugene himself.
When Napoleon wasn’t working at night, he would get up around 4 am. He wasn't in a habit of lazing in bed. He regarded it as a waste of time. Napoleon drank his morning tea, prepared for him by his personal butler, Constant. Emperor gossiped with him a bit, supplementing his knowledge about news from court life. Then he took a bath, during which the secretary – Mr. Maneval read him the morning papers. Then the Emperor was taken over by Constant and Rustam. He was shaved, rubbed with eau de cologne and dressed. Napoleon didn’t cause problems in case of garments. His clothing was standard, modest: white pants, stockings, a vest of the same colour and a uniform jacket. On public holidays, the uniform jacket was more stylish. This is the emperor's general outfit.
portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte
* * *
At 8 am, Napoleon meets his secretary Meneval again. The It work in the so-called "The Inner Office" begins. On the Emperor's desk, there are documents and letters dictated the previous day and ready for his signature. Napoleon reads everything before signing. The morning mail arrived. It's already sorted and ling on a table near a buttie (a small couch). Napoleon sits on it and quickly goes through the correspondence. Manevel is on standby, awaiting orders. The Emperor has a habit of throwing things that are "done" on the floor. On-going cases – needing attention are put on a separate heap. More complicated matters that still require analysis and reflection are placed on a separate pile.
After the review of the morning mail, it's time for rest. To relax, Napoleon reads police reports and newspapers. These reports allow him to find out about the current feelings of the public. When the nation's enthusiasm for his person goes down, he immediately dictates a propaganda article to "Le Moniteur" and gives appropriate dispositions, instructions or orders.
Napoleon moves back to his desk, though his nervous nature won't keep him there for a long time. He often scrambles from his armchair, walks around the room, dictating the content of notes, letters and instructions.
Meneval has already been ready. He prepares pens and paper in advance. Napoleon dictates quickly and never stumbles. He never repeats. Meneval created his own shorthand-typing style. He prepares writings later, now the most important thing is to catch the Emperor's thoughts. Then the secretary has to rewrite everything and take it on the style of his boss. After settling all current affairs, Meneval grabs the sheets of notes. He picks up the "things done" off the floor, takes the folders with signed documents and disappears.
All these activities took the Emperor only an hour. They cannot take longer time because according to court etiquette, the ceremony of "the imperial rising" takes place every day at 9 am. In practice, Napoleon, who is already bathed and dressed, has been on his feet for several hours, regards this obligation only as a requirement of etiquette. So he reduces it to a minimum, which may be as long as 5 minutes. The most important courtiers (the so-called heads of the court services) come to the ceremony of “the imperial rising". Sometimes the Emperor’s ministers appear as well.
* * *
On this day, two ministers arrive for the rising ceremony: Police and Home Affairs – Mr. Fouché and Foreign Affairs – Mr. Talleyrand. The Emperor talks to the chamberlain for a while. He questions the Master of the Horse about the health of his favorite stallion. Finally Napoleon goes up to the ministers. Fouché gets his attention longer, announcing uncover of another royalists’ plot.
"Bourbons - they must be eradicated from Europe, otherwise me and my family will always be at risk", thinks Napoleon but decides to have a more serious conversation on this subject with the Minister of Police in private.
There is not much time left for Talleyrand. The minister presents the main strands on the most important project of the "Union of the Rhine". The Emperor has his ideas. The conversation is interrupted by the arrival of an urgent courier. He provides a letter from the Emperor’s brother Joseph, who is approaching Naples at the head of the army. The conversation with Talleyrand is postponed until after lunch. Napoleon disappears in his office. After a while he orders to send for the secretary. Napoleon dictates quickly the answer to his brother. It contains all the necessary guides for the future king of Naples. Queen Caroline, (Marie Antoinette's sister) who ruled this kingdom so far, together with her husband - another incapable Bourbon, has already gone under his skin too much.
Talleyrand and Fouché – a shot action from the series "Napoleon", year 2002, directed by Yves Simoneau; the ministers played by: John Malkovich and Gerard Depardieu.
2 o'clock - lunch time. The Emperor eats alone. Food - for him, it is only to englutting his hunger, delivering energy. He doesn’t see pleasure in celebration of eating. Napoleon eats simple foods: chicken or other meat, pasta, bread, lentil or beans. He ends after 15 minutes. On his white pants appears a fat stain, which dripped from a chicken leg in his hand. The Emperor washes down his meal with diluted wine. He feels a heartburn attack. Napoleon eats quickly, swallows, doesn’t chew. Stomach aches are commonplace but he doesn’t have head for that.
Now it's time to rest. Today, the Emperor cannot afford to relax longer. The schedule is tight. There are many important things ahead. However, he finds a moment to meet his little nieces and nephews. Napoleon Charles and his younger 2-year-old brother - Napoleon Louis are brough around to their uncle. The Emperor chose the older son of his brother Louis and the Josephine daughter’s Constance - to be his successor, not assuming that in a year he would not be alive. The children of his sister - Caroline and her sparkish husband - Joachim also come. There started an brouhaha. For children, the Emperor is simply an uncle. They say what they think. Once the daughter of his sister Eliza, when questioned by Napoleon about the intimate details of bedwetting, she told her uncle to stop talking nonsense because she would leave a room. Today, the imperial uncle has no time to play. He pauses for a short conversation with each of the children. He pinches them a bit, which they just don't like too much, and that's the end of the family reunion.
Napoleon surrounded by the children of his sisters and brothers.
Unfortunately, today Napoleon will not find time to meet his friends, in the company of whom finds respite. These are artists, among which the leading role have Talma the actor and David the painter. The Emperor appreciates them for their outstanding abilities. He likes to talk to people who are able to interest him in something.
This day Napoleon only calls his friend - the librarian Barbier. The Emperor asks to collect current publications on the political system, geography and military art of Prussia. He senses that he will soon meet William's army on a battlefield.
"Will Francis join him, or has he already learned enough?" Napoleon's thoughts fly away again.
Menevel appears. It's time to go back to work.
“I will dictate a letter to the Austrian Emperor. We will ask him about his well-being. Given the contribution he has to pay me according to the last peace treaty, is probably not in a good mood. However, this letter is only a warning for him not to even think about the rebuilding of the Holy Roman Empire and not to plot against me with his friend – William”, Napoleon says cheerfully, and the secretary is already creating the style of the letter in his head. From the sender, he will only get guidelines for its writing and has to deal with the style and decorative filler words himself.
Menevel puts his writing instruments quickly. He prepares spare blank sheets, so that he does not waste time looking for them. He knows that while dictating a letter to the Austrian Emperor, there may be digressions: comments to the decree on grain prices, plans for new fortifications, a reminder to the parish priest in a small port town, or instructions on the new uniform of the Imperial Guard. His boss likes to jump from one topic to another. Most importantly, it never loses strand. It is just need to quickly orientate and mark in the margins what the Emperor's statement is about, so as not to make a mistake during the documents preparation.
Fortunately, today it is relatively quiet. There are days when messengers come one after another, the Emperor dictates letters and orders at once to two or three secretaries, and sometimes even an adjutant is asked for help in transcribing. Napoleon doesn’t have any problems dictating several letters at once.
It is 5 p.m. It is a time of meetings with ministers - the so-called "Outside office". Today the following ministers are appointed: treasury, foreign affairs, police and home affairs. Napoleon moves from the office to the adjoining drawing room. On the previously prepared tables there are boxes with writing instruments. Napoleon sits down in his armchair. The door opens and the Minister of Finance enters. He goes to his seat and takes the documents out of the briefcase. Standing, the minister begins to report on the topic. Napoleon stands up from his armchair rapidly and begins going around the living room. He only sits down to dictate the instructions. The matter is settled. The Minister of Finance leaves. The Minister of Foreign Affairs enters. The meeting is short. The Emperor has already got the guidelines in his head. Talleyrand notes them only with slight remarks.
Finally, Fouché enters. He calmly presents the actions that led to uncover the plot against Napoleon and his family. The conversation takes a long time.
"Bourbons - the old order", thinks Napoleon. “Why do the French want them back? I gave them power. I gave peace and safety. I upheld the slogans of the revolution: freedom and equality, that in the time of the Bourbons they could not even dream of. They feel better only because they are better born. All the more they are offended by everything I have done".
The names of the conspirators are mentioned. Napoleon makes a decision. Fouché writes it down. The minister leaves satisfied. He received praise for the good work of the intelligence services.
Napoleon is moving to the room where the administrative council has convened. Today it's time for the Ministry of War. The Emperor wants to know what the state of armament is, what heavy losses after the last campaign are, how many people can be recruited from the newly conquered areas. The session stalls until 7 p.m. After an hour with the Emperor, the attending officers and officials of the Ministry of War, feel as if someone dragged them through a stamping press. Napoleon, meanwhile, is fresh and blooming. He runs into the Empress's living room. This lady, adorned, still with a perfect figure, though not of her first youth, brightened up at the sight of the imperial spouse. Her ladies-in-waiting curtsied before his majesty. The Emperor greets them in passing.
Josephine’s salon – the shot action from the 2002 series "Napoleon", directed by Yves Simoneau
It's supper time. Everyone goes to a dining room. The ministers and senior officers participating in today's meeting of the administrative council were also invited to dinner. One of the military attends this event for the first time. He doesn’t sit at the imperial table but the presence in this place ennobled him. He hasn’t eat anything since the morning and hopes to compensate a loss now. The imperial tables are full of food. Our officer watches with delight as the Emperor spikes a fork into a piece of meat. Napoleon wastes no time slicing and bites straight from the fork. He talks to his brother-in-law the marshal Murat, gesturing vigorously with meat spiked on a fork. Our officer finally stops starring. With deliberation he spreads the napkin over his lap. The young officer comes from an aristocratic family. Eating was always a ceremony in his house. To his surprise, he notices that the commensals are finishing their soup and starting the second dish. As he extends to the platter to take some tasty looking spare ribs, suddenly everyone starts to get up.
“What’s that?”, he said in surprise.
“End of dinner. The Emperor has finished his meal”, informed the closest standing infantry general.
In response, he could hear a loud rumble in our officer's stomach.
“For the first time here?”, asked the general. “My dear colleague, for the future, remember that during dinner at the Emperor's, you have to react as quickly as under a hail of Austrian bullets. The Emperor used to eat for more than 20 minutes. Actually, today he cut that time to 15 minutes so I barely bit chicken. You'll be more vigilant next time. We here, with my fellow officers”, he pointed to the companions, “have already developed a whole strategy of what to grab and in what order. It is not worth taking on large pieces of meat. They slow down too much. Only take what you swallow quickly”.
That said, the general fraternally pats the resigned officer - novice in the imperial salons, then follows Napoleon's train to a drawing room. Our officer stands stunned for a moment. When he decides to follow the others, a heavy hand falls on his shoulder. Terrified, jumps up. He almost collapses on seeing the imperial brother-in-law.
“Marshal... “ he begins but is interrupted by a loud sound of his stomach, pitifully demanding food - embarrassed, he colours on his face.
"My dear", Murat says jovially, "I won't let a cavalryman go hungry." The “small one” lives only by work, he doesn’t need food, so we - ORDINARY PEOPLE - have to manage somehow. Come to the table.”. He waved his hand towards the imperial table, where there were several more guests, quickly forced food into pockets of their tailcoats and uniforms, while the servants cleared the lavish dishes almost untouched. It was a shame to look at it. However, the officer honourably tried to fight himself.
"But the Emperor... isn't it lese - majesty not accompanying him to the drawing room?"
“Indeed, he is not lonely. It hangs on him his longing old wife and a band of flatterers headed by German princes. Neither of them misses an opportunity to assure His Imperial Majesty of their allegiance and beg for neighbour’s lands, a royal title, or money. They form such a tight circle around my venerable brother-in-law that it is difficult him to breathe.” Murat laughs. “We were stopped by important military matters. When we join the good company in 15 minutes, no one will even notice it.”
Our officer looked doubtfully at the rose-decorated, jewelled marshal with the silhouette of an athlete. Really he didn’t draw attention. Nevertheless, he was so hungry that accepted the invitation.
portrait of Joachim Murat
After 15 minutes, when he satisfied his hunger in the company of Murat, he joined the social scene caucused in the drawing room. Napoleon was just finishing his round among the guests. Indeed, the Emperor was followed by a small force of German princes, ready to sweep every speck from under the feet of the new protector. There was a filing of tension sensed in the room. The company was subdued. Everyone was careful not to blunder out anything in presence of the Emperor. Suddenly, Napoleon's secretary enters the drawing room, urgent message highly important. The Emperor leaves the company. The atmosphere changes as if by magic. The chatter of conversations and laughter intensify.
The courier arrived with the information that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was chosen Mr. Fox - a fierce opponent of Pitt's foreign policy. This means a change in England's activities on the international stage. Perhaps they will seek peace with France? Napoleon orders a meeting of the Council of Ministers is called immediately. He calls Talleyrand, who was still enjoying his time in the Empress's pay room.
* * *
The schedule of the sessions with the Emperor was as follows:
Monday –Administrative Council meeting devoted to one of the ministerial areas;
Tuesday – Council of State (legislature), which he chaired;
Wednesday – meeting of the Council of Ministers;
Thursday – Administrative Council;
Friday – State Council;
Saturday – Administrative Council.
* * *
Sunday is a special day. The Emperor that day is a ruler, not a head of state. This is the day of etiquette, gala costumes and moods. “The program of the day begins with a sung mass in a chapel, followed by a military inspection and a diplomatic audience. Sometimes the emperor takes his private council to consider applications for mercy. In the evening there is a family dinner in the presence of the Madame Mère, then social gatherings in the great apartments or a performance in the castle hall, because Napoleon loves the theater, especially classical tragedies." [3] . He sometimes takes a nap during performances and concerts. The Emperor does not waste time, then instead of resting, he can work.
Napoleon and Josephine - still from the "Napoleon" series in 2002, directed by Yves Simoneau; in the role of Napoleon - Christian Clavier, in the role of Josephine - Isabella Rossellini.
It's 2 in the morning. Talleyrand struggles with sleep. The Minister of Justice's head lowered.
"Molly" the Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks about his colleague.
Fouché blinks his eyes more and more. He begins to twist in his place so as not to treat in the Minister of Justice footsteps. Others are leaning on their hands or sitting sadly. And He's still speaking.
"Can't be dealt with it in the morning?" You can't come up with anything sensible at this hour”, Talleyrand's thoughts slow down, his eyes narrow. - "Just a minute."
“Gentlemen!”
Talleyrand jumps up. The Minister of Justice raises his head, pretending to be vigilant all the time.
“We are working! What is the French nation paying us for?!” Napoleon slaps his hand on the table, active, as if he did not have many hours of work behind him.
Usually the Emperor goes to bed around 10 p.m. Before going to sleep, he also looks through the documents and correspondence that came in the evening mail.
Indeed, the French nation did not have such a hard-working ruler before or after.
In 1806, Napoleon wrote (dictated) 2,679 letters, of which a record number - 36 was achieved before the campaign against Prussia (in one day - September 20) [4] .
This column is devoted to the schedule of the French Emperor’s day in times of peace (winter period). The described events are a literary fiction based on sources concerning the details of the Napoleon’s life and work. The next column in this series, entitled "Napoleon – Commander” describes the Emperor's work during the war.
You may find more about these extraordinary times and about the Emperor in my novel "Cor igni. A battle of hearts. ”. Waiting for publication.
Sources:
[1] Geofges Bordonove „Napoleon Bonaparte”, (the Polish version „Napoleon Wielki”, translation: P. Jarkiewicz,, p. 221)
[2] Andrew Rogerts „Napoleon Great”, (the Polish version „Napoleon Wielki”, translation: P. Jarkiewicz, p. 423)
[3] Geofges Bordonove „Napoleon Bonaparte”, (the Polish version „Napoleon Wielki”, translation: P. Jarkiewicz,, p. 229)
[4] Andrew Rogerts „Napoleon Great”, (the Polish version „Napoleon Wielki”, translation: P. Jarkiewicz, p. 433)
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