Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Volume 04
by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne (1769–1834)
- Free to read
- 2 hours to read
- 9 chapters
- Reading level: 8th & 9th grade
"Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Volume 04" by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne is a historical account composed in the late 19th century. Drawing from his experiences as Napoleon’s private secretary, the author presents a detailed narrative of significant events and the intricate dynamics surrounding Napoleon's rise to power in post-revolutionary France. This volume specifically delves into Napoleon's efforts at consolidating his rule, managing foreign relations, and the concurrent political challenges he faced. At the start of this volume, the narrative focuses on the turbulent political climate following the French Revolution, particularly around 1799-1800. It details Bonaparte’s initial desire for peace following his rise as First Consul, his strategies for diplomatic negotiations with England and Austria, and the failings of these attempts. The opening also provides insights into Bonaparte's character through anecdotes about his personal habits and relationships, reflecting on his military ambitions, social interactions, and governance style. Bourrienne's insider perspective offers a unique glimpse into the complexities of leadership during a transformative period in European history, setting the stage for further developments in Napoleon's empire.
- Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
- Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 · Contemporaries
- Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 · Relations with private secretaries
- Bourrienne, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de, 1769-1834
- Private secretaries · France · Biography
Read the opening
Chapter XXVII: 1799-1800
Difficulties of a new Government—State of Europe—Bonaparte's wish
for peace—M. de Talleyrand Minister for Foreign Affairs—
Negotiations with England and Austria—Their failure—Bonaparte's
views on the East—His sacrifices to policy—General Bonaparte
denounced to the First Consul—Kleber's letter to the Directory—
Accounts of the Egyptian expedition published in the Moniteur—
Proclamation to the army of the East—Favour and disgrace of certain
individuals accounted for.
When a new Government rises on the ruins of one that has been overthrown, its best chance of conciliating the favour of the nation, if that nation be at war, is to hold out the prospect of peace; for peace is always dear to a people. Bonaparte was well aware of this; and if in his heart he wished otherwise, he knew how important it was to seem to desire peace. Accordingly, immediately after his installation at the Luxembourg he notified to all the foreign powers his accession to the Consulate, and, for the same purpose, addressed letters to all the diplomatic agents of the French Government abroad.
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About this edition
This free edition of Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte — Volume 04 by Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #3554, released 2002-12-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, History - European, History - Modern (1750+), History - Warfare.
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