Cardinal Napoleon in Egypt 1802-07
The Middle East and Northern Africa, has been in the sights of Rome, ever since the Ancient Roman Empire, itself. However since the initial Islamic invasion in 639 AD, Egypt has been under the rule of an Islamic monarch.
Christendom had tried to regain land in the Holy land, up until 1291, when the Catholic Church was unable to mount a coherent response when their last stronghold in the region, Acre, fell.
In this painting Cardinal Napoleon, gazes upon an ancient mummy and performs firstly the baptism of the dead unknown figure into the catholic faith, by anointing the forehead, spiritual cleansing the deceased, with holy water from the River Nile and then the funeral rites of a catholic, by placing in the mouth, a piece of bread and wine, representing, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Some historians, believe that this act of kindness and chivalry, won over the hearts and minds of the Egyptian people, who saw Napoleon, not as a conqueror but as a kind hearted man, performing the very acts that are written in the bible - love thy neighbours.
Napoleon was said to have taken great delight discussing with the Imans the theology of the children of Ismael.
While in Egypt, Napoleon attended the festivals to which the green turbans invited him and his religious tolerance was the natural consequence of his philosophic spirit.
While there on religious reasons, Napoleon, had set about introducing civic structures, by donating money to local, he believed would help the community to bring about what he felt were the benefits of 'enlightenment' to a country, whose government, were keeping them from advancing their lives.
For example, the printing press was first introduced to Egypt by Napoleon. He brought with him, a French, Arabic, and Greek printing press, which were far superior in speed, efficiency and quality than the nearest presses used in Istanbul.
Napoleon was able to his sermons and ideas translated Arabic, for the
He was also able to help on a diplomatic level as well. While taking water from the River Nile, to be blessed as holy water, he came across French traders, who were complaining of harassment by the Mamluks (former slaves of the Kings) who held held political and military power, Napoleon, was able to step in and deal with the complaints neutrally, gaining him the nickname, "the Representative of Men"
While travelling around Egypt and Syria, many had come to recognise the little figure riding on the Arabian horse. Napoleon and Marengo (his horse) would visit religious and military sites as possible, as well as French communities, spreading the word of Christianity.
His mission, came to an end, in 1807, when Napoleon, was asked to be Dean of the College of Cardinals, following the death of Cardinal Henry Benedict Stuart.