Storms Over Paris
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, they had everything before them, they had nothing before them, they were all going direct to Heaven, they were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the earlier period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. 1
The City of Paris played host to a myriad of political idealists, opportunists and those with most to lose – they who held power today, and each idealist, opportunist and entrenched deputy, coveted the praises of a myriad of supporters, fanatics and hungry mobs. None of the supporters, fanatics and hungry mobs were entirely sure of the eventual outcome of the feuding protagonists, though each was certain that “their man” was the man for the job, whatever that job would be.
For the way forward was not a clear path. One faction in Paris supported the evident might of “La Belle Jambe” General Bernadotte, supported as he was by a faction of the military establishment, though not by anyone higher than the rank of General of Division. Added to which was the fact that he commanded a sizeable force outside the walls of Paris. Not new to intrigue and back stabbing, Commanding the Army of the Vendee in 1801, his post gained him an opportunity to collude with the very opponents of the revolution he was sent to quell!
Allied to him through intrigue and assignation, was the newly arrived General Pichegru. A hero of the revolutionary wars, he allowed his colleague Jourdan to be defeated, betrayed all his plans to the enemy, and took part in organizing a conspiracy for the return and crowning of Louis XVIII as King of France. The plans were suspected, and, when he offered his resignation to the Directory in October 1795, it promptly accepted. He retired in disgrace, but secured his election to the Council of Five Hundred in May 1797 as a leader of the Royalists. An eminently capable politician, speaker and intriguer, Bernadotte and Pichegru had been plotting Bonaparte’s demise, but their plans had been thrown to the wind by the First Consuls death in North Germany. Pichegru himself an ardent Royalist, was in league with George Cadoudal, the Vendean Catholic Royalist. These two were in turn plotting the demise of Bernadotte, now that Bernadotte wanted to see the “crown” of France on his own head. Pichegru was a well known figure in French politics, and would command a strong following, particularly in the south of France where the flame of the royalist cause still burned strong.
The peace of the city was maintained in no small part by Generals Oudinot and Davout. Oudinot was an elected member of the Chamber of Deputies, and both were capable and heroic soldiers that were well respected by all for their deeds in the revolutionary wars. They were aided by the universally hated Fouché, himself a Senator and one time head of the police. They commanded most of the troops within the city, including the very loyal Consular Guard, of which both generals held personal commissions in the infantry regiments of that corps, being Colonel Generals of the Chasseurs and Grenadiers, respectively. Fouché commanded an enviable intelligence network, and little escaped his notice, especially if it related to Royalist intrigue and plot.
Also within the city, and commanding a sizeable following within the army, was General Moreau. He had the tacit support of Davout’s party, as he promised the continuation of the republican ideals they had fought for, despite the rise of Bonaparte and his ambitions. Indeed, it was even said that if Bonaparte had not been Bonaparte, Moreau would have been! After the Battle of Hoenlinden he settled down to enjoy the fortune he had acquired during his campaigns. His wife collected around her all who were discontented with the aggrandisement of Bonaparte. This "Club Moreau" had annoyed Bonaparte, and encouraged the Royalists, but Moreau, though not unwilling to become a military dictator to restore the republic, would be no party to an intrigue for the restoration of Louis XVIII.2
Outside of France, Queen Louise of Prussia, being very beautiful and very intelligent, had enticed the Queen Marie Josephine of France from her estate in Schleswig Holstein to Kassel, where she also had persuaded King Louis XVIII to arrive on the same week all the way from Warsaw. Much support was given by the Prussian Queen to the French Royal Household, and the arrival of both King and Queen in Kassel, was seen as an end to their public estrangement and more importantly, as their preparedness to recover their throne in Paris! A royalist call to arms had been issued, and the plans for a proposed royalist army was allowed to be created in that town. The Prince du Conde was rumoured to be on his way, and anticipated to arrive at any time!
This news, together with the Austrians Grande Promenade of the Italian States prematurely forced the hands of the would be rulers of France in to action. By the end of September, battles had been fought, and the borders of the republic had been savagely breeched by the treacherous Austrians. Even Victor Emanuel I of Sardinia had rattled his sabre (egged on by his erstwhile cousins the King and Queen of the two Sicilies), demanding as he was, the return of his lands in Piedemont, and the neutrality of Switzeland. In this, it was said, support had been found in the Prussian Royal House, King Frederick William, though, was very vague on the subject saying “Victor who?” to which comment the Queen was seen to simply smile!
The news of the Austrian invasion had caused many to play their hands prematurely. The plot to kill the First Consul was made public by Fouche, and the howl of indignation from the Republicans caused Bernadotte & Pichegru to attempt to deny their involvement. Fouche was cleverer than them, and “found” evidence and witnesses that implemented the two in the plot to oust Bonaparte, and they were promptly arrested on the charges of treason against the Republic. Pichegru somehow escaped his captors but Cadoudal and Bernadotte were to stand trial, with Cadoudal eventually sentenced to a long term in jail, Bernadotte, his high rank and central character in the plot, had betrayed himself and was sent to face the firing squad! Davout, it was, who made sure he kept his appointment with a party of Guardsmen at dawn on a rainy September morning.
Meanwhile, the military situation was in need of a firm hand. Moreau grabed the reigns of the army and declared that he would be the saviour of the Republic. The assemblies met, and Moreau was declared Consul of France for a period of not less than two years. He was welcomed as equal by the other two Consuls. Fouché and Davout together, ensured that no dissenting voice was heard. The period after these events was to become known as the Quieting. Fouché was reported to have had shot over a thousand of the dissenters, an echo of his earlier career in the revolution.
Morau issued orders for the mobilization of the armies around Paris, and from them formed “The Army of Germany” and set about crossing the Rhine into southern Germany to combat the Austrian encroachment into Bavaria. The French strategy being the same as that which brought to an end the War of the Second Coalition.
General Andre Massena was given command of the smaller Army of Italy and gathered the disparate French forces already in the region to lead them in a third Italian campaign
Talleyrand was given the task of neutralising Prussia. His skills were much needed for in the negotiations, the many Princes of north Germany were all determined to benefit from the coming settlements. His intention was to make the “Prussian problem” go away so that the French could concentrate on the southern threat from Austria and the Italian states.
Given that France had invaded Hanover in the first place, it was generally taken that she would bear the brunt of the settlement. Refusing to cede lands on the left bank of the Rhine, Talleyrand offered Prussia the recognition of Prussia’s lead voice in the affairs of North Germany, usurping the control of the Empire.
Additionally, a sum of money was to be paid to both Hanover and Prussia as compensation for their losses in the late war. Hanover was also given the smaller state of Aremburg bordering the Hanoverian lands and the Batavian Republic, for no other reason that they had claimed it, and occupied it. Possession being nine tenths of the law! Prussia similarly gained the duchies of Salm in the same manner.
Hesse Kassel was given the lands of Hesse Darmstadt, and the two states became one, Darmstadt being erased for their actual support of France against their fellow men. Hesse also occupied Nassau to ensure the Rhine border remained intact.
Saxony was also paid a smaller amount to cover the cost of it’s mobilisation in support of Prussia.
Louis XVIII and his Queen, it was agreed, were to be sent to exile in England. Queen Louise did not want this exile for the French monarch and determined to find a way around the agreement so that the exiled King and his court remained in her control.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, they had everything before them, they had nothing before them, they were all going direct to Heaven, they were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the earlier period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only. 1
The City of Paris played host to a myriad of political idealists, opportunists and those with most to lose – they who held power today, and each idealist, opportunist and entrenched deputy, coveted the praises of a myriad of supporters, fanatics and hungry mobs. None of the supporters, fanatics and hungry mobs were entirely sure of the eventual outcome of the feuding protagonists, though each was certain that “their man” was the man for the job, whatever that job would be.
For the way forward was not a clear path. One faction in Paris supported the evident might of “La Belle Jambe” General Bernadotte, supported as he was by a faction of the military establishment, though not by anyone higher than the rank of General of Division. Added to which was the fact that he commanded a sizeable force outside the walls of Paris. Not new to intrigue and back stabbing, Commanding the Army of the Vendee in 1801, his post gained him an opportunity to collude with the very opponents of the revolution he was sent to quell!
Allied to him through intrigue and assignation, was the newly arrived General Pichegru. A hero of the revolutionary wars, he allowed his colleague Jourdan to be defeated, betrayed all his plans to the enemy, and took part in organizing a conspiracy for the return and crowning of Louis XVIII as King of France. The plans were suspected, and, when he offered his resignation to the Directory in October 1795, it promptly accepted. He retired in disgrace, but secured his election to the Council of Five Hundred in May 1797 as a leader of the Royalists. An eminently capable politician, speaker and intriguer, Bernadotte and Pichegru had been plotting Bonaparte’s demise, but their plans had been thrown to the wind by the First Consuls death in North Germany. Pichegru himself an ardent Royalist, was in league with George Cadoudal, the Vendean Catholic Royalist. These two were in turn plotting the demise of Bernadotte, now that Bernadotte wanted to see the “crown” of France on his own head. Pichegru was a well known figure in French politics, and would command a strong following, particularly in the south of France where the flame of the royalist cause still burned strong.
The peace of the city was maintained in no small part by Generals Oudinot and Davout. Oudinot was an elected member of the Chamber of Deputies, and both were capable and heroic soldiers that were well respected by all for their deeds in the revolutionary wars. They were aided by the universally hated Fouché, himself a Senator and one time head of the police. They commanded most of the troops within the city, including the very loyal Consular Guard, of which both generals held personal commissions in the infantry regiments of that corps, being Colonel Generals of the Chasseurs and Grenadiers, respectively. Fouché commanded an enviable intelligence network, and little escaped his notice, especially if it related to Royalist intrigue and plot.
Also within the city, and commanding a sizeable following within the army, was General Moreau. He had the tacit support of Davout’s party, as he promised the continuation of the republican ideals they had fought for, despite the rise of Bonaparte and his ambitions. Indeed, it was even said that if Bonaparte had not been Bonaparte, Moreau would have been! After the Battle of Hoenlinden he settled down to enjoy the fortune he had acquired during his campaigns. His wife collected around her all who were discontented with the aggrandisement of Bonaparte. This "Club Moreau" had annoyed Bonaparte, and encouraged the Royalists, but Moreau, though not unwilling to become a military dictator to restore the republic, would be no party to an intrigue for the restoration of Louis XVIII.2
Outside of France, Queen Louise of Prussia, being very beautiful and very intelligent, had enticed the Queen Marie Josephine of France from her estate in Schleswig Holstein to Kassel, where she also had persuaded King Louis XVIII to arrive on the same week all the way from Warsaw. Much support was given by the Prussian Queen to the French Royal Household, and the arrival of both King and Queen in Kassel, was seen as an end to their public estrangement and more importantly, as their preparedness to recover their throne in Paris! A royalist call to arms had been issued, and the plans for a proposed royalist army was allowed to be created in that town. The Prince du Conde was rumoured to be on his way, and anticipated to arrive at any time!
This news, together with the Austrians Grande Promenade of the Italian States prematurely forced the hands of the would be rulers of France in to action. By the end of September, battles had been fought, and the borders of the republic had been savagely breeched by the treacherous Austrians. Even Victor Emanuel I of Sardinia had rattled his sabre (egged on by his erstwhile cousins the King and Queen of the two Sicilies), demanding as he was, the return of his lands in Piedemont, and the neutrality of Switzeland. In this, it was said, support had been found in the Prussian Royal House, King Frederick William, though, was very vague on the subject saying “Victor who?” to which comment the Queen was seen to simply smile!
The news of the Austrian invasion had caused many to play their hands prematurely. The plot to kill the First Consul was made public by Fouche, and the howl of indignation from the Republicans caused Bernadotte & Pichegru to attempt to deny their involvement. Fouche was cleverer than them, and “found” evidence and witnesses that implemented the two in the plot to oust Bonaparte, and they were promptly arrested on the charges of treason against the Republic. Pichegru somehow escaped his captors but Cadoudal and Bernadotte were to stand trial, with Cadoudal eventually sentenced to a long term in jail, Bernadotte, his high rank and central character in the plot, had betrayed himself and was sent to face the firing squad! Davout, it was, who made sure he kept his appointment with a party of Guardsmen at dawn on a rainy September morning.
Meanwhile, the military situation was in need of a firm hand. Moreau grabed the reigns of the army and declared that he would be the saviour of the Republic. The assemblies met, and Moreau was declared Consul of France for a period of not less than two years. He was welcomed as equal by the other two Consuls. Fouché and Davout together, ensured that no dissenting voice was heard. The period after these events was to become known as the Quieting. Fouché was reported to have had shot over a thousand of the dissenters, an echo of his earlier career in the revolution.
Morau issued orders for the mobilization of the armies around Paris, and from them formed “The Army of Germany” and set about crossing the Rhine into southern Germany to combat the Austrian encroachment into Bavaria. The French strategy being the same as that which brought to an end the War of the Second Coalition.
General Andre Massena was given command of the smaller Army of Italy and gathered the disparate French forces already in the region to lead them in a third Italian campaign
Talleyrand was given the task of neutralising Prussia. His skills were much needed for in the negotiations, the many Princes of north Germany were all determined to benefit from the coming settlements. His intention was to make the “Prussian problem” go away so that the French could concentrate on the southern threat from Austria and the Italian states.
Given that France had invaded Hanover in the first place, it was generally taken that she would bear the brunt of the settlement. Refusing to cede lands on the left bank of the Rhine, Talleyrand offered Prussia the recognition of Prussia’s lead voice in the affairs of North Germany, usurping the control of the Empire.
Additionally, a sum of money was to be paid to both Hanover and Prussia as compensation for their losses in the late war. Hanover was also given the smaller state of Aremburg bordering the Hanoverian lands and the Batavian Republic, for no other reason that they had claimed it, and occupied it. Possession being nine tenths of the law! Prussia similarly gained the duchies of Salm in the same manner.
Hesse Kassel was given the lands of Hesse Darmstadt, and the two states became one, Darmstadt being erased for their actual support of France against their fellow men. Hesse also occupied Nassau to ensure the Rhine border remained intact.
Saxony was also paid a smaller amount to cover the cost of it’s mobilisation in support of Prussia.
Louis XVIII and his Queen, it was agreed, were to be sent to exile in England. Queen Louise did not want this exile for the French monarch and determined to find a way around the agreement so that the exiled King and his court remained in her control.
- after Dickens
- after Wikipedia
