Did Napoleon Have a Dog?

Did Napoleon have a dog?  Is this it?

 I have been asking that ever since I read an article on the weekend about a special dog winning all the awards in a National dog show.  The breed is a “BARBET” and the story said Napoleon never went to battle without one. 

I don’t recall ever reading that Napoleon had a dog. 

So the online researching began.  There was a famous “barbet” dog that apparently became a working member of the Grande Armee…but he didn’t belong to Napoleon. 

I know Josephine had little dogs, one of which was famous for biting Napoleon. 

Then I read a Newfoundlander saved Napoleon’s life…..that was news to me.  Is that a myth?  Not sure.

I also found an article saying Napoleon had a special dog on St. Helena.

I found a Napoleon quote about finding a dog while inspecting the aftermath of a battle.  Sad quote indeed. 

Finally, I found a picture of a stuffed dog that was supposedly Napoleon’s and it was posed next to his stuffed horse at the Musee L’Armee in Paris.  I saw the horse…did not see a dog.

Did he have a dog?  I am still unsure.

The Barbet Link

A decade ago there were just 600 or so barbet in the world, a French hunting waterdog so renowned for their calm temperament and undying devotion to their masters, Napoleon Bonaparte had one by his side at all times, even in battle.

Toronto Star Article

The Newfoundlander

Napoleon Bonaparte owed his life to a nameless Newfoundland. As Bonaparte fled the island of Elba in 1815, where he was exiled, choppy seas pitched him overboard. A fisherman's dog jumped in after the drowning despot and kept him afloat. Napoleon lived to experience his own defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.  CNN LIVING

"When Napoleon was on St. Helena he had a black and white dog called 'Sambo' - it had its ears cut off, in the Chinese style, and looked more like a seal. After Napoleon's death in May 1821 the dog was taken back to Europe by Countess Bertrand and her children." Napoleonguide.com

The Very Sad Dog Quote

“This soldier, I realized, must have had friends at home and in his regiment; yet he lay there deserted by all except his dog. I looked on, unmoved, at battles which decided the future of nations. Tearless, I had given orders which brought death to thousands. Yet here I was stirred, profoundly stirred, stirred to tears. And by what? By the grief of one dog.

Napoleon Bonaparte, on finding a dog beside the body of his dead master, licking his face and howling, on a moonlit field after a battle. Napoleon was haunted by this scene until his own death.”
― Napoleon Bonaparte

 
 
 

 

Napoleon and Josephine - Wedding Anniversary

Napoleon and Josephine were married in a civil ceremony on March 9, 1796. 

Josephine was there early, wearing Napoleon's famous gift to her, 

an enameled medallion engraved 

"To Destiny."

I still have no leads on the whereabouts of this piece of jewelry.

I hope someone out there knows where it is!

Napoleonland!

French Theme Park 

‘Napoleonland’ 

in the Works.

If this wasn't on Time's website I would 

have thought this was an April fools joke.

On Behalf of Napoleon - I Object!

 There is a new pirate movie to look forward to next year.

It has a very funny preview in the theater's right now.

On the way out of the theatre I came across their larger than life display and what do I see in the corner?  

Napoleon Blownapart. 

I wonder if this is because there will be a Napoleon character in the movie.

Or is it because even in 2012...

Napoleon's name is larger than life?

Napoleon Quiz Post

 I get a number of emails every month asking me if I know about the history of a piece or where it could be researched.  Sadly, I have no advice to give.  But some of my readers might know!  So here is an item that needs your help.  Do you know anything about it?

From an egg collector!  

With the little stand (it's attached) the entire piece is about 5" 

tall. The egg has a big "N" painted on the side opposite of the portrait 

of Napoleon. The egg inside the egg shaped "cage" appears to be 

made out of wood and does come out of the cage. 

(It has a small hole in it and rests on a small spike.)

It was purchased about 50 years ago from an antiques dealer in NYC. 

If anyone has any information about this I am sure the collector would be thrilled!  Leave a comment if you do!

Happy Coronation Day!

 

"To be a king is to inherit old ideas and genealogy. I don't want to descend from anyone... The title of Emperor is greater..."

 Here is something I just discovered online today about this coronation balloon.


The balloon of the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, 2 December 1804.

An unmanned balloon, ablaze with 3,000 lights forming an Imperial crown was launched from the front of Notre Dame cathedral as part of the coronation celebrations. André-Jaçques Garnerin was paid the sum of 23,500 francs for the construction and launching of the large balloon. The balloon came to earth in Lake Bracciano near Rome 46 hours later. Napoleon considered this another omen of his destiny and suggested that the balloon be put on display in Rome with an account of the "extraordinary event".

A Fundraiser I Can Support!

"France, 1804: Sophie Blanchard, a phobic young woman from the provinces, embarks on her first public balloon ascension with her husband, the pioneer aeronaut Jean-Pierre Blanchard.   When Jean-Pierre takes a fall, Sophie must quickly learn to fend for herself.  After a dramatic emergency landing, she creates a sensation with her desire to become the first professional female pilot. Jean-Pierre trains Sophie in the art of flight, but he suffers a fatal stroke and leaves her in dire straights.  Saved only by her skill and passion, Sophie embarks on a solo career as an aerial performer.  In these early years of flight, she quickly becomes an international celebrity for her daring hydrogen balloon ascensions.  Napoleon Bonaparte names her the Official Aeronaut of the Empire, to the chagrin of her competitors.  Even as the Empire crumbles, she rises to become the Official Aeronaut of the Restoration. After a dazzling career of fifteen years and 67 flights, Sophie will make the greatest sacrifice of all to stay in the air."

This would be a fabulous film to see!  The director is a young woman who is raising the funds needed to finish it!  Just watch the trailer!  I have a link to the site to see it at the end of this post.  I think a donation to this movie would be a great gift to receive (if you were wondering what to get me.) 

Collection Leaves Australia

A Napoleonic era ends as Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger farewells his antique empire

Andrew Hornery

October 4, 2011

Michael Kroger before the auction in France with a portrait of a post-abdication Napoleon Bonaparte from the school of Delaroche. Photo: AFP

IT HAD been his passion since he was a boy, inspired by his mother's love of antiques, but after collecting a vast array of Napoleonic objets d'art and re-creating his very own ''imperial palace'' in South Yarra, Liberal Party powerbroker Michael Kroger is finally over his Napoleon complex.

At an auction in the shadow of the grand Chateau de Fontainebleau outside Paris yesterday, the Michael Kroger Collection, including imperial eagles, towering bronze candelabra, antique clocks, vases, paintings, chairs, sideboards, gilt mirrors and military paraphernalia, went under the hammer, raising more than $500,000 for the businessman.

The auction took place not far from where Napoleon Bonaparte bid a teary farewell to his empire nearly 200 years ago, after his abdication. But Mr Kroger's emotions were considerably less glum, especially with several lots earning well above the reserve and his new girlfriend, conservative commentator and former fellow ABC board member Janet Albrechtsen, offering support.

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A clock in Levanto marble, with rich gilt and bronze decoration inspired by Jean de La Fontaine's fables and featuring animal characters such as the fox, stork and wolf, sold for €21,875 ($A30,265), nearly twice its reserve. A watercolour pennant design for Napoleon's 2nd Artillery sold for €38,750.

Mr Kroger's favourite item in the collection, a painting featuring a dejected-looking Napoleon, which was billed as one of the seven original copies of a post-abdication portrait by the school of Delaroche, made €38,750.

Mr Kroger declined to comment on the auction, but a spokeswoman for French auction house Osenat, which handled the sale, described it as a success and said ''Mr Kroger was very happy''.

She said the items were bought by private French and foreign collectors, and a large audience had been to see the exhibition and sale, its Australian collector considered a curiosity among the French.

In a 2009 interview with the Napoleon Society, conducted before he separated from wife Ann Peacock, whom he described as ''less than enthusiastic'' about the collection, Mr Kroger explained his interest in the historic figure.

''I found it extraordinary he was surrounded by such extraordinary brutality and yet at the same time was a man of such remarkable refinement and taste,'' he said.

''Whether you are a business leader or political leader, you need people around you who are prepared to tell you the truth.

''That's the great lesson for me from Napoleon's life. There were very few around him prepared to do that.''

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/a-napoleonic-era-ends-as-liberal-powerbroker-michael-kroger-farewells-his-antique-empire-20111003-1l5e2.html#ixzz1Zm2HHQtA

Good News For Australia

From napoleon.org

IN THIS WEEK'S LETTER...
... we have some exciting news for our Australian readers. Over the past couple of months, the Fondation Napoléon has been deep in negotiations with the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, and we can now announce that between June and October 2012, a large number of items from the Fondation Napoléon's collection will be figuring as part of the gallery's Winter Masterpiece show, "Napoleon: Revolution to Empire". 

Napoleon Still Selling

This sign was at a Whole Foods grocery store in Richmond Virginia.

Sent via cell phone tonight! Thank you Audrey and Sierra!

I love the sun glasses.

The Stuff Of Nightmares

 I have been having nightmares about the French revolution.

For my summer reading list I decided to find out what happened to Marie Antoinette's children.  

Two children went into the tower with her.  

Only one came out.

This is the child that is haunting me.

Louis XVII.

He was eight years old when he went into custody with his parents.  After both his parents were killed he was literally bricked into a cell.
Alone.
Two years later he was dead.
How he died and at who's hands made me decide to put away my french history books for the rest of the summer.  I can't even write what the autopsy discovered after the child died.  It is horrific.

People always say you have to put history into context.  

That the times were different.  

Beliefs were different.  

Sorry.  I am not buying it.   

There has never been a time in history where the systematic murder of a child would or should be acceptable.  The children or Marie Antoinette and her husband King Louis paid a very high price for the French revolution.  Their daughter survived the ordeal and managed to leave France.  Her life story is very interesting.  She knew all about Napoleon and it was clear he had no intention of allowing her to even visit France again as long as he was in power.

 So I started to wonder.

Where was Napoleon when the children were still in the tower after the death of their parents?

Did he have any power? Did he know what they did to King Louis's child?

This is a portrait of Napoleon with all the children in his family.  It is well documented that he loved children and that they loved him.

I have to hope that had he known he might have sent the army to help rescue the children.

So I am pausing this month 

to remember 

the orphaned child king of France.

One of the books I read this summer is "The Lost King of France."  This book documents the greatest example of DNA mystery solving. 

"A fascinating blend of royalist plots, palace intrigues and modern science, The Lost King of France is a moving and dramatic tale that interweaves a pivotal moment in France's history with a compelling detective story."

Happy Napoleon Day!

What I'll be wearing to celebrate Napoleon's 242 birthday today!

I like to make my own heirlooms.

If you have any pictures of your festivities email them to me or leave a comment with a link!
Vive L'Empereur 
Long live the Emperor

Have a great day!

Napoleon's Birthday Secret Sale!

 Would you love a Napoleon T-Shirt?

I got this message from Roxzann at Headline Shirts in San Francisco. 

"I have been searching through various different blogs in order to find those that relate to our upcoming sale. On August 15th we will be celebrating Napoleon's birthday with a one day sale on our Napoleon Beach Cruiser tee. This sale is super exclusive and can only be accessed with a secret code that we are only giving out to bloggers."

 Here are the details on the sale:

Date- August 15th 

Tee: Napoleon Beach Cruiser

Price: $5 ($15 off "We're guillotine'n' the price")

Sale Code: 242BDAY 

(Napoleon is turning 242, this code must be entered at check out in order to get the deal)

Length: One day- the code will only work on August 15th no sooner or later!

A Post About a Fabulous New book: Napoleon and The Rebel

I have been avoiding writing this blog post.

I find myself in a little bit of a dilemma.  

With a blog appropriately named "My Napoleon Obsession" I imagine most people will assume that I might not be able to enjoy any books that are not "pro the Emperor."  That might be true.  I've been known to shut a manuscript quickly that I believe to be anti Napoleon or historically inaccurate.

Then along comes a book about Lucien Bonaparte.  A fascinating book.  All I can say at this point is "had I read this book first this blog might have been named my Lucien Bonaparte Obsession."

Nooooooo.  I know you can't believe it.  Neither can I!!!

"Of all my siblings, he was the most gifted, the one who hurt me most."
-Napoleon

What Napoleon did to Lucien was very disappointing.  Napoleon hounded his brother for years for marrying a woman he did not select.  He was banned from France and his very life was at stake.  Napoleon never acknowledged that it really was Lucien who made it possible for him to become First Consul.  The details about the threats and the communications between them are carefully revealed in the letters that have been saved by Lucien's family archive.

Sure, a few of Napoleon's siblings may have been incompetent or greedy.  Lucien was not.  Napoleon's treatment of Lucien only reveals the extent to which he could carry a grudge.  It makes Lucien's response to this treatment appear very noble.  

I am continually amazed that Napoleon could make the time for all these family dramas.  Managing world-wide domination should have kept him busy enough.

What made me sink my teeth into this book was the opening preface.

This book started with a painting.  In the summer of 2005, a collector in New York acquired an unusual, erotic portrait of a couple, set in an artificially ancient room.  The painter, a half black Frenchman called Guillaume Guillion Lethiere from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, depicted a sensuous, curvaceous woman languidly lying on a chaise longue, her nakedness barely concealed by thin gauze, her pubic hair visible beneath it--surprising for a neoclassical work such as this.  The man, dark and handsome, chin resting on right hand, is gravely but covetously contemplating this resting beauty; his feet, a satyr's profile looms in the left corner.  The names of the two lovers are inscribed in Greek under the chaise longue:  Alexandra and Lukiano.

It is because of the painting that the authors Marcello Simonetta and Noga Arikha began to investigate the life of Lucien Bonaparte.  I am very glad that they did!  The love story here rivals all the great ones!  Napoleon and Josephine have fallen off the "great love story pedestal."  No doubt they will creep their way back up...but for now and this summer, I'll be thinking about Lucien and Alexandrine.