Details
NAPOLEON I (1769-1821)
Letter signed to the Comte de Flahaut, Troyes, 27 February 1814 'a 9 heures', one page, 4to (two small ink smudges in upper portion of leaf).
Provenance: Emily, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1819-1895, daughter of Charles, Comte de Flahaut de la Billarderie, and wife of Henry, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne) and by descent; Christie's sale of Important Autograph Letters from the Historical Archives at Bowood House, 12 October 1994 (lot 50).
NAPOLEON PLANS TO DECEIVE THE ALLIED COMMISSIONERS. An order issued two hours after the previous letter about the negotiations at Lusigny, telling Flahaut to make the plenipotentaries believe that he left the previous night for Bar-sur-Aube, while he is really going to Arcin-sur-Aube, to operate in the rear of Blucher, York and Wintzinerode, and emphasising the need for secrecy, 'Vous sentez combien il est important que les commissaires et l'ennemi ne se doutent pas de ce mouvement'. Napoleon's stratagem was frustrated. The allies rapidly learned that he was not at Bar-sur-Aube and seized the initiative, occupying Troyes and ending the peace negotiations. The present letter was omitted from the publication of the Correspondance, for which Flahaut was one of the commissioners, perhaps because it might reflect adversely upon Napoleon's reputation.
Letter signed to the Comte de Flahaut, Troyes, 27 February 1814 'a 9 heures', one page, 4to (two small ink smudges in upper portion of leaf).
Provenance: Emily, Marchioness of Lansdowne (1819-1895, daughter of Charles, Comte de Flahaut de la Billarderie, and wife of Henry, 4th Marquess of Lansdowne) and by descent; Christie's sale of Important Autograph Letters from the Historical Archives at Bowood House, 12 October 1994 (lot 50).
NAPOLEON PLANS TO DECEIVE THE ALLIED COMMISSIONERS. An order issued two hours after the previous letter about the negotiations at Lusigny, telling Flahaut to make the plenipotentaries believe that he left the previous night for Bar-sur-Aube, while he is really going to Arcin-sur-Aube, to operate in the rear of Blucher, York and Wintzinerode, and emphasising the need for secrecy, 'Vous sentez combien il est important que les commissaires et l'ennemi ne se doutent pas de ce mouvement'. Napoleon's stratagem was frustrated. The allies rapidly learned that he was not at Bar-sur-Aube and seized the initiative, occupying Troyes and ending the peace negotiations. The present letter was omitted from the publication of the Correspondance, for which Flahaut was one of the commissioners, perhaps because it might reflect adversely upon Napoleon's reputation.
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