Upon auction in Fontainebleau, a missive penned by Napoleon concerning the detainment of Pope Pius VII fetched 26,360 euros.
A Vintage Napoleon Letter Pulls Back the Curtain on History
A letter penned by Napoleon on July 23, 1809, purportedly expressing disapproval of Pope Pius VII's arrest, went under the hammer for a whopping 26,360 euros at an auction in Fontainebleau on April 27, according to Osenat auction house.
This political artifact, complete with crossed-out signatures and the possible nickname "Napole," was estimated between 12,000 and 15,000 euros by the same auction house, Jean-Christophe Chataignier, the associate and director of the Empire department at Osenat, told AFP.
The arrest of Pope Pius VII was a historic event in Napoleon's reign, marking a key moment in his political and religious journey. Napoleon, aware of the letter's wide dissemination, wrote it with a strategic intention, explains Chataignier. The letter was addressed to Arch-Chancellor Jean-Jacques-Regis de Cambacérès and dropped a major hint: "It is without my orders and against my will that the Pope was taken out of Rome; it is still without my orders and against my will that he is being brought into France. But I am only informed of this ten or twelve days after it has been executed."
Napoleon's letter was nothing more than a calculated maneuver to show his authority while distancing himself from the actual arrest. Chataignier adds, "He didn't want to appear as the one who had the Pope arrested; it's historical and hyperstrategic."
The Struggle Between Napoleon and the Church
Facing the Pope's refusal to comply with the continental blockade policy, Napoleon carried out several "coups de force" to exert control over the Catholic Church. In 1808, he took charge of the Pope's territories, sent his troops into Rome, and expelled foreign cardinals.
After repeated refusals, Pope Pius VII was arrested at the Vatican in July 1809, detained in Grenoble, and sent to Italy for surveillance before being moved to Fontainebleau at Napoleon's request. According to Chataignier, "The Emperor intended to further assert his control over the Catholic religion, an intention he had orchestrated since his coronation at Notre-Dame."
An Era of Auctions and Allegiances
Today, Napoleonic memorabilia continues to thrive, over two centuries after Napoleon's death on May 5, 1821, in exile on the island of Saint Helena at the age of 51. Napoleon's regime remains a fascinating study in power dynamics and strategic alliances. To delve deeper, check out our exclusive articles Napoleon's Craze Reaches Auctions and From Exile to Asylum, Napoleon's Obsessions.
With AFP
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- Napoleon's letter, which sold for 26,360 euros at an auction, hinted at his disapproval of the arrest of Pope Pius VII, a historical event during his reign.
- The arrest of Pope Pius VII, a key moment in Napoleon's political and religious journey, was a calculated move by Napoleon, as revealed in his letter to Arch-Chancellor Jean-Jacques-Regis de Cambacérès.
- General-news outlets, such as AFP, reported on the auction of a Napoleon letter that showed the Emperor's struggle between exerting authority and distancing himself from the arrest of Pope Pius VII.
- Collectors and historians continue to buy and study Napoleonic memorabilia, such as the letter that sold at the Fontainebleau auction, to learn more about Napoleon's regime, its power dynamics, and strategic alliances.
