Introducing the Napoleonic Era!
For dinner, Chicken Marengo as we discussed the Battle of Marengo, while surrounded by violets that represent early 19th century Bonapartists.
Dinner conversation revolved around the Lewis and Clark Expedition to Thomas Jefferson and William Wilberforce’s attempts to end the slave trade.
That led to our evening entertainment.
In the Regency Era, everyone often gathered in the parlor after dinner to enjoy the ladies playing the piano forte and singing.
WILLIAM WILBERFORCE
We sang Amazing Grace which was written in 1779.
Wilberforce knew the author of the song, John Newton, which are all showcased in the movie, Amazing Grace.
ADRIENNE DE LAFAYETTE
On that note, everyone met with abolitionist Adrienne de Lafayette, whom I portrayed to tell her amazing story.
She helped her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette, work to end slavery, especially after they had abolitionists Benjamin Franklin and William Wilberforce in their home for dinner.
While holding Lafayette’s epaulettes, Adrienne explained that he was imprisoned in Austria.
Needing to send her son to America for protection, she and her daughters planned to join Lafayette in prison.
Eventually freed on the condition Lafayette not reenter France, the family moved to Holland to stay at a family member’s house while Adrienne returned to Paris to secure their property and convince Napoleon to allow Lafayette to return home.
I had the audience in tears.
ENTERTAINMENTS
After a Q&A (there were many questions from everyone since this was new information) we gathered around the piano forte to sing How Firm a Foundation written in 1787.
After I finished playing the piano forte I exclaimed, “Caroline! Would you regale us with a reading from William Wordsworth?”
Of course! She read, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
MERIWEATHER LEWIS
Then Meriweather Lewis read to us the letter he received to co-head the expedition to the Louisiana Purchase.
Then he explained his purposes and objectives.
Afterwards there was a Q&A. (And yes, this is exactly what Meriweather Lewis wore! We did a great deal of research which I shall share in a future post.)
CAROLINE BONAPARTE MURAT
Then I exclaimed to Caroline Bonaparte Murat that everyone would love to hear all about the latest project that she is coordinating!
Caroline Bonaparte Murat is the sister of Napoleon!
She and my daughter share many things in common, including a birth month and their interest in art!
ENTERTAINMENTS
Then we listened to the original version of The Star-Spangled Banner, written in 1814, on the fife.
NAPOLEONIC BATTLEFIELD TOUR
Then we prepared for our tour of the battlefields where Napoleon fought.
As a Bonapartist, I dressed for the outing, wearing a Brandenburg Style or military style spencer, a short jacket from the Regency Era.
Ladies’ clothing was influenced by Napoleon’s Hussars, or light infantry.
Elements of braiding and epaulettes were replicated in a fashionable feminine symbolic styling on coats (called pelisses and redingotes) and jackets (called spencers).
During the battlefield tour, I, as the Bonapartist, shared how purple and the violet were the secret colors and flower of Bonapartists. The little leaflet was from 1815.
A French soldier gave us the tour.
My son made these charts, one for each of the seven coalitions and other campaigns like Egypt and the Peninsular Wars.
We spread them throughout the house to symbolize that Napoleon was everywhere.
My son chose the most notable battles of each of the coalitions and campaigns and shared the location, date, and significance of each.
He used his recently made overlay maps as his guide book, while sharing memorable and fascinating information with unique events.
Halfway through the various battle stations someone proclaimed, “Napoleon was everywhere!” Mission accomplished!
JOSEPHINE BONAPARTE
Then we met with Josephine Bonaparte, wistfully longing for Napoleon.
Despite his decision for an annulment, he still visits her at her home, Chateau de Malmaison.
ENTERTAINMENT
Then we became Virginians of the early 19th century, and sang around the piano forte, some newly written songs, Angels from the Realms of Glory, from 1816, and Silent Night, from 1818.
1820 MISSOURI COMPROMISE
After the silence I grabbed the gazette and exclaimed, “Did you hear the news about the Missouri Compromise of 1820?
Exploding into shock regarding the current events of the day, we agreed this would be sorely grievous news to Mr. Jefferson, who never meant his words to be twistified, as he would put it, against himself.
He who fought for states’ rights and freedom of slaves never meant for states’ rights to be the argument to further enslave humankind.
ENTERTAINMENT
Then I asked my daughter if she’d mind sharing a bit about the newest novel from Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote Cranford in 1824.
Sharing her literary analysis, my daughter presented delightfully fascinating information about the Jenkins sisters.
Her presentation was quite reminiscent of the scene in Becoming Jane when Jane does a public reading of one of her earlier writers for her sister and all the guests.
Full of wit, maturity, and restrained satire, my daughter read her paper in a delightfully fun way!
1825 MONROE DOCTRINE
As I noticed another piece of news in the gazette, I asked if anyone else heard the news about the recently passed Monroe Doctrine of 1825?
1824-1825 LAFAYETTE GRAND TOUR
After a bit of chatter regarding that, we found another interesting news item…Layette was making his Grand Tour of America.
We were hoping to see him again in Virginia.
NAPOLEONS FOR DESSERT
We ended the evening with a dessert of Napoleons, a dessert with eleven layers that we made from scratch.
My son said that the many layers represent the many battles and victories of Napoleon.
Then we toasted to the health of Napoleon, as mentioned in the leaflet of Corporal Violet.
