In addition, he reportedly liked to surround himself with very tall soldiers as a military tactic. At the time of his death, his height might have been recorded in French inches, which were a little longer than English inches.
He was put at five-foot-two, but this was probably more like five 5 and 6. Of course, we also have the term Napoleon complex, or short man syndrome, which is the idea that shorter men become more aggressive in order to compensate for their petite statures.
Though the idea seems perfectly sound, it is not as common in humans as it is in the animal kingdom. A smaller animal might become more aggressive toward bigger animals in order to fight for limited resources like food or sex. The animal may only have a half chance of winning, but it would often rather risk dying than not getting anything at all. These sheets of paper — covered with that compact and deliberate handwriting — entered history.
I die in the Apostolical Roman religion, in the bosom of which I was born more than fifty years since. It is my wish that my ashes may repose on the banks of the Seine, in the midst of the French people, whom I have loved so well. I have always had reason to be pleased with my dearest wife, Maria Louisa. I retain for her, to my last moment, the most tender sentiments—I beseech her to watch, in order to preserve, my son from the snares which yet environ his infancy.
I die prematurely, assassinated by the English oligarchy and its assassin. The English nation will not be slow in avenging me. The two unfortunate results of the invasions of France, when she had still so many resources, are to be attributed to the treason of Marmont, Augereau, Talleyrand, and La Fayette.
I forgive them—May the posterity of France forgive them as I do. I thank my good and most excellent mother, the Cardinal, my brothers, Joseph, Lucien, Jerome, Pauline, Caroline, Julie, Hortense, Catarine, Eugene, for the interest they have continued to feel for me.
I pardon Louis for the libel he published in it is replete with false assertions and falsified documents. Such are not the rules which have guided my life. I bequeath to my son the boxes, orders, and other articles; such as my plate, field-beds, arms, saddles, spurs, chapel-plate, books, linen which I have been accustomed to wear and use, according to the list annexed A. It is my wish that this slight bequest may be dear to him, as coming from a father of whom the whole world will remind him.
I bequeath to Count Montholon, two millions of francs, as a proof of my satisfaction for the filial attentions be has paid me during six years, and as an indemnity for the loses his residence at St. Helena has occasioned him. I bequeath to Count Bertrand, five hundred thousand francs.
I bequeath to Marchand, my first valet-de-chambre; four hundred thousand francs. The services he has rendered me are those of a friend; it is my wish that he should marry the widow, sister, or daughter, of an officer of my old Guard. Idem, to St. Denis, one hundred thousand francs.
Idem, to Novarre Noverraz, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Pierron, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Archambault, fifty thousand francs. Idem, to Coursot, twenty-five thousand francs. Idem, to Chandelier, twenty-five thousand francs. It is my wish that he should build his house near the Ponte Nuovo di Rostino. Idem, to Count Las Cases, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Count Lavalette, one hundred thousand francs.
Idem, to Larrey, surgeon-in-chief, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to General Brayer, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to General Lefebvre-Desnouettes, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to General Drouot, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to General Cambronne, one hundred thousand francs.
Idem, to the children of General Mouton-Duvernet, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to the children of General Girard, killed at Ligny, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to the children of General Chartrand one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to the children of the virtuous General Travot, one hundred thousand francs.
Idem, to General Lallemand the elder, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Costa de Bastelica, in Corsica, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to General Clauzel, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Arnault, the author of Marius, one hundred thousand francs.
Idem, to Colonel Marbot, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Baron Bignon, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to Poggi di Talavo, one hundred thousand francs. Idem, to surgeon Emmery, one hundred thousand francs. These sums will be raised from the six millions which I deposited on leaving Paris in ; and from the interest at the rate of 5 per cent.
The account thereof will be settled with the banker by Counts Montholon and Bertrand, and Marchand. Whatever that deposit may produce beyond the sum of five million six hundred thousand francs, which have been above disposed of, shall be distributed as a gratuity amongst the wounded at the battle of Waterloo, and amongst the officers and soldiers of the battalion of the Isle of Elba, according to a scale to be determined upon by Montholon, Bertrand, Drouot, Cambronne, and the surgeon Larrey.
These legacies, in case of death, shall be paid to the widows and children, and in default of such, shall revert to the bulk of my property. My private domain being my property, of which I am not aware that any French law has deprived me, an account of it will be required from the Baron de la Bouillerie, the treasurer thereof: it ought to amount to more than two hundred millions of francs; namely, 1. The portfolio containing the savings which I made during fourteen years out of my civil list, which savings amounted to more than twelve millions per annum, if my memory be good.
The produce of this portfolio. The furniture of my palaces, such as it was in , including the palaces of Rome, Florence, and Turin. All this furniture was purchased with moneys accruing from the civil list. The proceeds of my houses in the kingdom of Italy, such as money, plate, jewels, furniture, equipages; the accounts of which will be rendered by Prince Eugene and the steward of the Crown, Campagnoni. I appoint Counts Montholon and Bertrand, and Marchand, the executors of my will. None of the articles which have been used by me shall be sold; the residue shall be divided amongst the executors of my will and my brothers.
Marchand shall preserve my hair, and cause a bracelet to be made of it, with a little gold clasp, to be sent to the Empress Maria Louisa, to my mother, and to each of my brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, the Cardinal; and one of larger size for my son. Marchand will send one pair of my gold shoe-buckles to Prince Joseph.
A small pair of gold knee-buckles to Prince Lucien. A gold collar-clasp to Prince Jerome. My alarum-clock: it is the alarum-clock of Frederic II. My two seals one the seal of France, contained in box No. The small gold clock which is now in my bed-chamber.
My wash-hand-stand and its water-jug. My night-tables, those used in France, and my silver-gilt bidet. My two iron bedsteads, my mattresses, and my coverlets, if they can be preserved. My three silver decanters, which held my eau-de-vie. My French telescope. My spurs, two pairs. Three mahogany boxes, Nos. A silver-gilt perfuming pan.
Linen: 6 shirts, six handkerchiefs, 6 cravates, six towels, six pairs of silk stockings, four black collars, six pairs of socks, 2 pairs of batiste sheets, 2 pillow cases, 2 dressing gowns, 2 pairs of night trousers, 1 pair of braces, 4 all-in-one vests in white casimir, 6 madras kerchiefs, 6 flannel waistcoats, 4 pairs of underpants, 6 pairs of gaiters, 1 small box for my tobacco, 1 gold collar-clasp in small box number III , 1 pair of gold knee-buckles idem , 1 pair of gold shoe-buckles idem Dress: 1 chasseurs uniform, 1 ditto grenadiers, 1 ditto Garde nationale, 2 hats, 1 grey and green cape.
I The consecrated vessels which have been in use at my Chapel at Longwood. My arms; that is to say, my sword, that which I wore at Austerlitz, the sabre of Sobiesky, my dagger, my broad sword, my hanger, my two pair of Versailles pistols. From this point of view it is my wish that it may be precious in the eyes of my son.
It has been deposited with Count Bertrand since III Three small mahogany boxes, containing, the first, thirty-three sluff-boxes or comfit-boxes; the second, twelve boxes with the Imperial arms, two small eye-glasses, and four boxes found on the table of Louis XVIII in the Tuileries, on the 20th of March, ; the third, three snuff-boxes ornamented with silver medals habitually used by the Emperor, and sundry articles for the use of the toilet, according to the lists numbered I.
My field-beds, which I used in all my campaigns. My field-telescope. My dressing-case, one of each of my uniforms, a dozen shirts, and a complete set of each of my costume suits, and generally of every thing used in my dressing. My wash-hand stand. A small clock which is in my bed-chamber at Longwood. I entrust the care of these articles to Marchand, my principal valet-de-chambre, and direct him to convey them to my son when he shall attain the age of sixteen years.
IV My cabinet of medals. My plate, and my Sevres china, which I used at St. List B. V My three saddles and bridles, my spurs which I used at St. My fowling-pieces, to the number of five: I charge my chasseur, Noverraz, with the care of these articles, and direct him to convey them to my son when he shall attain the age of sixteen years.
VI Four hundred volumes, selected from those in my library of which I have been accustomed to use the most: I direct St. In front of hundreds of European dignitaries, Napoleon vented his rage at Lord Whitworth, the British ambassador:. He is surrounded by overturned furniture that is as big as he is, with speech bubbles swirling around him filled with manic raging thoughts about Britain. Napoleon is drawn as half the size of his British counterpart, having to stand up to be able to use his carving knife, which is actually a sword.
And it worked. Shortly after these cartoons appeared, Napoleon sent a flurry of diplomatic notes across the English Channel demanding that the British government censor its press. Needless to say, British ministers ignored him. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
0コメント