Item 11: Letter from Napoleon III to “Mon cher Général,” [Count Chirstophe Michel Roguet] [French Language], 1869 August 27
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 11
Dates
- Created: 1869 August 27
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Good
Measurements:
8 in. x 5 ⅛ in.
Description:
The following item is a letter from Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, 1808-1873 to an unnamed general [likely Count Christophe Michel Roguet, the future king’s aide-de-camp from 1852-1865 and son of General Roguet], dated August 27, 1869. In this letter, Napoleon thanks the general for his good wishes sent to him for Napoleon’s party or feast. He ends the letter by complimenting the general’s dedication and assuring that both the general and “Madame Roguet” [likely referring to Marie de Lemanska, Count Roguet’s second wife] have his sincerest friendship. Although Napoleon III was fairly elected as President of France in 1848, he soon took absolute control of the country in 1851. The Second Republic ended in 1852 to be replaced by the Second French Empire. Thus then Prince-President Louis Napoleon became Napoleon III, Emperor of the French. In the 1860’s, Napoleon’s health began to decline. In the year that this letter was written, Napoleon had urinary tract infections that were being treated with opium, making his writing difficult to read. The Emperor and Empress moved from palace to palace following a schedule so this letter was sent from the Palace of Fontainebleau as it was the favored summer residence.
Location:
Palais de Fontainebleau (Fontainebleau, France)
Transcription:
Palais de Fontainebleau, le 27 août 1869.
Mon cher général, je vous remercie des vœux que vous m'adressez à l’occasion de ma fête. Je sais qu’ils partent du cœur en qu’ils sont l’expression d’un dévouement éprouvé. Recevez avec Madame Roguet l'assurance de ma sincère amitié.
Napoléon [signature]
Translation Attempt: Palace of Fontainebleau, the 27th of August 1869 My dear General, I thank you for the good wishes that you sent me on the occasion of my party. I know that they are from the heart and are the expression of proven dedication. Receive with Madame Roguet the assurance of my sincere friendship.
Napoléon [signature]
Translation Attempt: Palace of Fontainebleau, the 27th of August 1869 My dear General, I thank you for the good wishes that you sent me on the occasion of my party. I know that they are from the heart and are the expression of proven dedication. Receive with Madame Roguet the assurance of my sincere friendship.
Napoléon [signature]
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu