Fahed Aslan Agha Al Barazi - Napoléon Bonaparte

Table of Contents

Imprint Imprint All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved. © 2021 novum publishing ISBN print edition: 978-3-99064-887-2 ISBN e-book: 978-3-99064-888-9 Editor: Ashleigh Brassfield, DipEdit Cover images: y Jacques-Louis David; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Jacques-Louis_David_017.jpg Cover design, layout & typesetting: novum publishing Images: see captions www.novum-publishing.co.uk

Dedication Dedication This book is dedicated to my Father Aslan Agha Al Barazi, who threatened Jamal Pacha and led the revolution in Syria against the French. ***

Foreword

CHAPTER 26

THE EMPIRE DEMANDS AN HEIR 6

CHAPTER 27

SUCCESS AND FOREBODINGS 13

CHAPTER 28

MOSCOW 32

CHAPTER 29

THE DRUMS OF WAR 37

CHAPTER 30

BORODINO 57

CHAPTER 31

THE BATTLE OF NATIONS – LEIPZIG 91

CHAPTER 32

The Campaign of France 134

CHAPTER 33

ELBA 199

CHAPTER 34

The Last Battle: Waterloo 239

CHAPTER 35

The End of a Great Era – St. Helena 302

CHAPTER 36

THE NAPOLEONIC LEGACY & THE POST ERA 365

BOOKS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

About The Author Of The Book

Imprint

All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved.

© 2021 novum publishing

ISBN print edition: 978-3-99064-887-2

ISBN e-book: 978-3-99064-888-9

Editor: Ashleigh Brassfield, DipEdit

Cover images: y Jacques-Louis David; https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Jacques-Louis_David_017.jpg

Cover design, layout & typesetting: novum publishing

Images: see captions

www.novum-publishing.co.uk

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Father Aslan Agha Al Barazi, who threatened Jamal Pacha and led the revolution in Syria against the French.

***

Foreword

The book on Napoleon written by my late Father Fahed Aslan Agha Al Barazi, took over 12 years to write. Taking his time in writing the book, he would choose only moments when he felt inspired and at ease in doing so, going into much scholarship and details to produce a unique and invigorating book on the life of Napoleon which would be ranked as one of the best books written on the subject. During the early writing of the book he once remarked to me that he wanted to show Napoleon from a personal level, from Napoleon’s inner mind and psychology. From the way the great man thought and acted during battle, when he was with his Marshals, to his personal life. And I think he succeeded well at that. What amazed me most about the book in its entirety is how it brings words to life, and one feels as though they are living the battle field events, compassionate to all that is going on around them as the events unfold. Honor was always the means and ends in Napoleon’s actions and quests, as my Father used to say. Loyalty and courage were the primary virtues that Napoleon would seek in his Grand Armee, not titles of Nobility in order to rise up in rank, and most of his army were loyal to him till the end, displaying exemplary courage during battle against all odds, inspired by their Emperor’s heroic actions, who had his horse shot underneath him no less than 6 times during different battles. Napoleon though had to also deal with betrayal, ingratitude, jealousy, and disloyalty from some in his inner circle including a few of his most entrusted army generals, ministers or even from his own close family members. The book does not shy away either in describing Napoleon’s errors and misjudgements whether strategic or during battle, which cost him his Empire that he built at the end. This is to take nothing from the great battles that Napoleon fought which are well documented in the two volumes of this book.

Naploeon’s genius was a combination of many factors, from his abnormal levels of energy, his refined and highly efficient art of strategic and tactical warfare which were new at the time, his cognizant memory and capability to understand what was ongoing in the battle field in its finest of details, to his momentous ability to inspire others against all odds in war. He may well be termed as one of the greatest of conquerors and military minds in history, and though most would label him as a dictator, many of his characteristics where unlike any dictator before or after him, being instead noble in character and just towards his people and others, where France during his rule was an enlightened and progressive nation. From his love of his family to his country, his love and pursuit of knowledge to his quest for the betterment of his Nation through reforms on several fronts, his quest for glory to France towards the goal of unity of Europe, are some of the virtues that made Napoleon highly popular amongst his own people to other Allied Nations, and even admired and respected amongst his foes.

I hope this book brings to readers the same passion and enrichment that it bought to me in this two volume comprehensive book on the whole life of Napoleon.

Aslan Fahed Aslan Agha Al Barazi

CHAPTER 26

THE EMPIRE DEMANDS AN HEIR

Josephine had all along been aware of Napoléon’s plans to divorce her. He needed an heir, an heir that carried his own blood.

“With all hope of an heir from the empress gone, I have no choice but to divorce her,” declared Napoléon.

After scenes of swooning by Josephine that were all feigned, Napoléon, although emotional, was undeterred to break the news to her himself; this was shortly after his return from Austria. During a private family meeting precisely for this purpose, the divorce memorandum was signed with Napoléon’s full name, followed by his initial, N, then Josephine and Madame Mere.

Then Napoléon makes a statement: “I have decided that she shall preserve the rank of empress and remain my life-long friend.” Then he decrees, “Malmaison, that she so much loved, is hers with three million Francs per annum.” Thus a chapter in Napoléon’s life is closed and the search for his future bride begins.

The first consideration was for Tzar Alexander’s sister, but this venture proved fruitless. Although during his sojourn in Erfur, the Tzar had raised no objection to the proposal, it was however passed on to his mother the Tzarina, who abhorred Napoléon; besides, the young princess was only 15 years of age and was not mature enough for marriage. So that prospect was written off for now.

In his memoirs, Metternich writes, “The Emperor Franz Joseph was disgusted that he had been dragged into war by Nationalists and empty promises from England and Prussia while Russia remained an on-looker. The purpose of the ‘Peace Treaty’ of Schonbrunn was not only to eradicate the disastrous results of Wagram, but to replace Russia as Napoléon’s ally.”

A Senatus Consultum of December 16 announces the official divorce as well as the annulment of the marriage of 1804 by the Archbishop of Paris. In a privy council, Napoléon deliberates with his intimate entourage; Cambacérès, Murat, Eugene and Caulincourt; they all are for an Austrian marriage. And when he learns that the Austrian Empress, the mother of his bride to be, had given birth to thirteen children, that another ancestress had seventeen and yet another one twenty-six, the emperor exclaims: “That’s what I need!” He is confident about the Hapsburg’s reply to his proposal. The emperor Franz Joseph would approve it, and the eighteen-year-old princess would consent. He dictates to his secretary Meneval an adulatory letter to Emperor Franz Joseph, asking for his daughter’s hand, and ends it “May we look forward to the happiness of winning your wholehearted blessings.”