Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. I

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

22345

Title

Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and Reign of Napoleon in 1815, Vol. I

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Former Emperor Napoleon's ex-secretary, Baron Pierre Alexandre Édouard Fleury de Chaboulon, presents his definitive account of the Hundred Days. This memoir challenges prevailing historical narratives regarding Napoleon's abdication, the March 20th revolution, and the Duke of Enghien's execution, offering a detailed defense of the Emperor's intentions and character against royalist and partisan accusations.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Memoirs of the Private Life, Return, and Reign of Napoleon in 1815*, Baron Pierre Alexandre Édouard Fleury de Chaboulon, a former secretary to the Emperor, presents a definitive account of the Hundred Days. His primary objective is to correct the 'erroneous assertions' of partisan historians who depicted Napoleon's abdication as a result of weakness or conspiracy. Chaboulon argues that the revolution of March 20th was not a coup by factious individuals but a grand national act forced upon France by the faults of royalist ministers and ultras. He asserts that Napoleon returned not out of ambition, but out of a profound love for his country and a desire to restore liberty and happiness. Upon his arrival, Napoleon promised an inviolable constitution and immediately issued decrees at Lyons that dissolved the Chambers, abolished feudal titles, and restored revolutionary magistrates, signaling a transformation from a man of boundless ambition to a statesman seeking peace. A significant portion of the memoir addresses the arrest and execution of the Duke of Enghien. Chaboulon meticulously reconstructs the events, asserting that the Duke was mistakenly identified with General Thumery due to a similarity in names and rank. He defends Marshal Caulincourt and General Ord against accusations of direct involvement, clarifying that the execution was a desperate, albeit tragic, measure intended to stop royalist conspiracies supported by foreign powers. Furthermore, the text elucidates the causes of Napoleon's separation from his army at Laon and corrects misconceptions regarding the conduct of Marshal Ney and the battle of Ligny. Chaboulon also critiques the economic policies of the Bourbon restoration, noting how the new court's attempt at simplicity paralyzed industry, whereas the war had previously stimulated French manufacturing. Throughout the work, the author maintains a tone of patriotic defense, seeking to restore the honor of the French nation and the reputation of those who supported Napoleon against the insults of timeserving writers.

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Categories

• Biography
• History
• Politics