Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 132

(x) French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon's Syrian Campaign, Signing in Gaza
1799 (26 February) entire letter signed "Bonaparte", and headed with Republican date in his hand "Gaza 8 Ventose au 7" (Gregorian 26 February 1799) ordering the payment of "neuf mille francs" to cover the cost of engineering works required for the first three cities conquered by Napoleon in Syrian: "Catieh" (Kattieh), "Iharich" (El-Arish) and "Gaza". Also signed at foot "Max Cafferelli" by General Caffarelli. The reverse with filing endorsement reading "Campagne Egypte, 8. Ventose au 7" and numbered in separate hand "No 23". Fine and immeasurable historic significance, this believed to be the earliest known letter from Gaza and one of very few signed Napoleon from this period of the campaign.

Notes: Fearing for the approach of the Ottomans and having learned of the seizing of El-Arish by Ahmed Pasha al-Jazzar, Napoleon embarked on a campaign into Syrian in order to stem the progress of the Ottomans. Napoleon and his forces first captured El-Arish on 20 February. Having been pushed back himself by the Ottomans in Khan Yunis, Napoleon fell back to Sheikh Zuweid, then marched sixty leagues across desert terrain to arrive on the outskirts of Gaza, entering on 25 February, and leaving three days later. By the 4th March, Napoleon had arrived in Jaffa and captured it by force, moving next to Acre. Jaffa then came under enormous pressure, with support of the British Royal Navy, eventually resulting in Napoleon's retreat back down the coast, re-entering Gaza for the only other occasion on 30 May, leaving the following day. The siege was viewed as the turning point of French fortunes in Egypt and Syria and was the third tactical defeat of his career. The hill on which Napoleon set his camp, south-east of the city walls of Acre, is still known as Napoleon's Hill.
General Caffarelli (1756-99), was among the more popular of Napoleon's generals among the soldiers, having lost a leg in 1795, he then died from wounds sustained from sniper fire during the siege of Acre.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£25,000 to £50,000

Starting price
£22000