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Auction: 25066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 135

(x) French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
Napoleon's Planned Invasion of England
1804 (26 Feb.) part printed letter dated 7 Ventôse, Year 12 of the Republic, headed "Ministry of War" featuring an allegorical illustration of the Republic ("Marianne"), addressed by the corresponding minister, Marshal Berthier, to the Minister of Public Treasury, Martin-Michel-Charles Gaudin (one of the key figures in the financial reorganization of France under Napoleon, promoting tax reforms and modernizing the economic administration) within the "1ère Division, Bureau de la Solde" (First Division, Pay Bureau), a department of the financial administration of the Ministry of War in charge of soldiers' salary payments and payroll accounting. The letter contains the following text:

"Je vous préviens, Citoyen Ministre, que d'après une décision du Premier Consul du 25 du mois dernier, le Ministre de la Guerre, Major Général des Camps destinés pour la grande expédition contre l'Angleterre, doit jouir des distinctions affectées au grade de Général en chef, ainsi qu'en jouissent les Généraux Commandant les Camps. Je vous prie en conséquence de donner les ordres nécessaires pour assurer le payement du traitement de Général en chef, que le Major Général, d'après l'art. 3e de l'arrêté du 23 frimaire an 12, doit annuler avec son traitement civil, à compter du 1er ventôse courant".

Its corresponding translation: "I inform you, Citizen Minister, that according to a decision of the First Consul dated the 25th of last month, the Minister of War, Major General of the Camps designated for the great expedition against England, is entitled to the distinctions assigned to the rank of General-in-Chief, as are enjoyed by the Generals Commanding the Camps. I therefore ask you to give the necessary orders to ensure the payment of the General-in-Chief's salary, which the Major General, according to Article 3 of the decree of 23 Frimaire, Year 12, must combine with his civil salary, effective from the 1st of Ventôse of the current year".

In fact, 14 February 1804 (25 Pluviôse, Year XII), is a date historically linked to Berthier's appointment as Major General of the Army of England, although he had already been acting in that role de facto for some time. The document bears Berthier's signature as Marshal. On the front, several administrative notes appear following its receipt by the intended office.

Notes: Napoleon's planned invasion of England was a major but ultimately unsuccessful military operation. Despite extensive preparations, including assembling the Grande Armée and building a large invasion fleet, the campaign was repeatedly delayed and never launched. British naval superiority, especially after the decisive Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, prevented Napoleon from gaining control of the English Channel, making the invasion impossible. This failure forced Napoleon to shift his focus to continental Europe, shaping the course of the Napoleonic Wars.

Louis-Alexandre Berthier was a key French military leader and strategist during the Napoleonic Wars. As Napoleon's brilliant Chief of Staff, he expertly organized and coordinated army operations, playing a decisive role in the success of numerous campaigns. Beyond the battlefield, Berthier held important political and administrative roles within the Empire. He was Chief of Staff of the army as early as 1796, served as interim Minister of War on several occasions, was made Maréchal d'Empire in 1804 and he also held the crucial position of Major Général of the Grande Armée, effectively functioning as the army's Chief of General Staff within the Napoleonic military structure. His precision and discipline in military logistics earned him great respect among his contemporaries.



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Estimate
£2,500 to £3,500

Starting price
£2000