Napoleon

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john sefton
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Napoleon

Post by john sefton » Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:09 pm

On 21st June 1815 Napoleon returned to Paris from Waterloo, defeated and without an army, but still calling himself Emperor of the French and with every intention of carrying on national resistance. Yet, within a few weeks, he had signed his abdication, knowing that he must start a new life elsewhere.
On the 29th, hours ahead of Blucher's Prussian cavalry, he left Paris arriving at the Isle d'Aix in the mouth of the Gironde on the 3rd July. There, and later on the frigate Saale, he waited in vain for his safe conduct .
Barred from the mainland, he communicated with Captain Maitland on the blockading Bellerphon which, with the Cyrus & Daphne guarded the three routes thro' the islands.
In mid July, Napoleon, with his entourage of over 30, put himself under the protection of British law. Bellerophon carried them to an anchorage in Torbay, where they became a public spectacle for anyone who could hire a boat.
Finally the whole party was transferred to the Northumberland and, after an uneventful nine week voyage, to the semi-tropical island of Saint Helena.
The island is much the same size and shape as Jersey with a verdant central peak of 2500 ft. surrounded by barren rocky cliffs. The only easy access is to Jamestown.
Ascension, the the nearest island, is 600 miles away and the surrounding seas were patrolled by frigates. Probably the world's safest natural prison.
For 3 months Napoleon lived at 'The Briars', a pavilion 3 miles out of town before moving to Logwood, the Governor's country seat duly enlarged for Napoleon's use. Here he still played the part of the Emperor in full uniform insisting on the correct etiquette of the court.

But over the years he became tired, bored and ill, although he was not an old man. There was nothing to look forward to and a return to France was politically impossible. His death was due to nothing more sinister than incompetence. His longterm and neglected stomach ulcer caused the cancer that killed him. He died on the 5th May 1891 and was buried in the valley.
25 years later, friends exhumed the body and carried it back to France in the frigate Belle Poule. In Paris, with great ceremony, the body was reinterred at St Jeromes Chapel. 20 years later Napoleon III placed it where it now lies under the dome of Louis XIV.
150th Anniversary of the removal of Napoleon's body from St Helena to Paris by Phil Hanley, Log Book July 1997.
St Helena SG582-5
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FrenchShips
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:31 pm

Re: Napoleon

Post by FrenchShips » Fri Jan 13, 2012 6:04 pm

Napoléon died 5 May 1821 (not 1891 !)
About Belle Poule:
Frigate Dim 54 m x 14.10 m
draught: 3.8 m
Tonnage 2500 t
Crew 450 to 500
Armament 60 (54*XXX + 6*VIII)

For more about the return of Napoleon body:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retour_des_cendres

Jean-Louis
http://www.philateliemarine.fr/

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