Description:

Bonaparte Napoleon



Rare Order Written in Napoleon's Hand Just Weeks after Catastrophic Invasion of Russia

 

1p AM written in French in Napoleon's hand, comprised of a 3-line directive concerning financial matters, just weeks after his disastrous invasion of Russia. The soldier-emperor impulsively dashed off the 30+ word command in messy script at top. Since Napoleon typically communicated by signing letters penned by clerks or private secretaries, this personally written command is very unusual. Similar ites sold in the 1980's for around $10,000 and they are all but non-existant now.

 

The cream paper watermarked "Vander Ley" at center is dated January 3, 1813 at upper left. Docketed "No. 442" in a clerical hand at lower right and verso, and pencil-inscribed "Lettre de S.M. [trans: Letter from His Majesty]" near bottom. Expected light paper folds, else near fine. 7.875" x 12.375". From the Marc-Arthur Kohn sale, "The Empire in Paris," December 2, 2013 (Paris, France), Lot 137.

 

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) addressed this letter to a Treasury official, possibly Nicolas Francois, Count Mollien (1758-1850), his Minister of Public Treasury. It dates from the War of the 6th Coalition (1812-1814), and was written less than a month after Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.

 

The text can be found in the original French below, followed by a translation. If the place name following the word "merchants" could be read, it would probably reveal Napoleon's field location.

 

"Le M. du Trésor verra M. de la Bouillere qui lui remettra le compte de ce qui m'est dû par les négociants de [illegible], afin qu'il opère le remboursement des lettres de change."

 

Translation:

 

"The Monsieur of the Treasury will see Monsieur de la Bouillere, who will give him an account of what is due to me by the merchants of [illegible], so that he can undertake the reimbursement of the promissory notes."

 

Napoleon's letter shows considerable sangfroid and aplomb, considering that it was written in the immediate aftermath of the humiliating retreat from Moscow. Napoleon's Grande Armée had marched into Russia in June 1812 with 685,000 men. Napoleon had reached Moscow in September 1812, but it proved a Pyrrhic victory as the capital was already abandoned and Tsar Alexander I refused to negotiate a surrender. Napoleon eventually retreated through Western Russia with what was left of his armies. Costly battles, sickness, starvation, and the extreme cold had reduced his principal fighting force to 45% of its original number.

 

The letter demonstrates Napoleon's resiliency in the face of defeat, and also anticipates his last military resurgence. Undeterred by the failed Russian invasion, Napoleon was already starting to rebuild his armies. Just a week after writing this note, on January 11, 1813, the French Senate had approved the mobilization of 350,000 troops that would be assigned to Napoleon's forces.

 

Napoleon had also returned to pressing business at hand; in this case, debts that needed to be collected.

 

"M. de la Bouillerie" referred to Francois Marie Pierre Roullet de la Bouillerie (1764-1833), who served as an officer of Napoleon's personal household and the quartermaster of the Domaine Extraordinaire between 1808-1814. The Domaine Extraordinaire was a treasury implemented around 1805 that enabled Napoleon to collect funds from newly acquired territories in the French Empire. De la Bouillerie was appointed a baron by letters patent in July 1810.

 


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