NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821)

NAPOLEON I: (1769-1821) Emperor of France 1804-14, 1815. A letter of interesting content, L.S., `Nap´, one page, guilt edges, 4to, Palace of Tuileries, 23rd March 1813, to the Baron La Bouillerie, in French. Napoleon tries to reorganize his troops after the disaster of the Russian campaign and wishes to attend the debts pending with his own Guard, stating `Monsieur le Baron La Bouillerie, je désire que vous teniez un troisième million à la disposition du Duc de Frioul mon Grand Maréchal, pour être payé en avance aux différents corps de la garde sur la somme qu´ils doivent recevoir du Ministère de la Guerre pour les dépenses qu´ils ont à faire. En avance vous seront remboursées par les corps...´ (Translation: "Monsieur le Baron La Bouillerie, I wish you to hold a third million francs at the disposal of the Duke of Frioul, my Grand Marshal, to be paid in advance to the various corps of the guard from the sum they are to receive from the Ministry of War for their expenses. You will be reimbursed in advance by the corps.....") Extremely small overall minor age wear, otherwise VG

François Marie Pierre Roullet (1764-1833) Baron and later Count de La Bouillerie. Advisor to the King and treasurer of France. French Minister of State and in charge of the finance department.

Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc (1772-1813) Duke of Frioul. French general and diplomat who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his friendship with Napoleon Bonaparte, who appointed him as the first Grand Marshal of the Palace, the head of the Emperor´s military household. He is sometimes referred to as ‘Napoleon's shadow’ ("l'ombre de Napoléon").

Few days before the present letter was written, Sweden proclaimed the declaration of war against France. Swedish Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a former ally of Napoleon, formally declared war on France after forming an alliance with Russia.