XLI - 1804

These four medals were struck, by the order of the French Government, to perpetuate the great event of the Coronation of Napoleon to be Emperor of the French. After Bonaparte had arrived to the dignity of First Consul, which he thought proper to have established by the people, the legislative bodies pointed out to him the necessity for taking the imperial title. Carnot was the only one whose opposed it, as he also did against vesting the Consular power in Bonaparte for life; but this trifling opposition gave the affair rather the appearance of free debate. The Tribunate of the 5th May passed a vote, that Napoleon Bonaparte, the First Consul, be proclaimed Emperor of the French, and be invested with the government of the French Republic; that the title and the imperial power be made hereditary in his family in the male line; and the rights of the people to be preserved in all their integrity. This decree was carried by acclamations, with the exception of Carnot.

Joseph and Louis Bonaparte were created Princes of France; the former made Colonel of the 4th regiment of the line, and ordered to Boulogne to join the Army of England. The Consul Cambaceres, President of the Senate, presented the Act to the new Sovereign on the 18th May, at St. Cloud, and addressed him in a long speech, which ended by saying, - the Senate entreat his Majesty, that their decree be carried into execution immediately, and that Napoleon be proclaimed Emperor of the French.

The Emperor replied, - that all which would contribute to the good to the country is closely connected with his happiness: he accepts the title they think necessary to the glory of the nation, and hopes France will never repent surrounding his family with honours.

The Senatus Consultum was proclaimed by the Emperor, and published in Paris next day at noon. His Imperial Majesty made his Highness Prince Joseph Bonaparte, Grand Elector; Prince Louis Bonaparte, Constable; the Consul Cambaceres, Arch-Chancellor; and the Consul, Le Brun, Arch-Treasurer of the Empire. They took the oaths prescribed in the presence of the Emperor.

Napoleon did not suffer his elevation to pass as a civil ceremony, but strove to give it all the effect he could from the aid of the religious institutions; his dignity was announced to the French Bishops in a letter, which concludes by desiring the Veni Creator and Te Deum to be sung in all their churches; a new form of prayer was also to be used; regulations were also laid down for the coronation, and many of the public functionaries and detachments of the different military corps were ordered to attend at Paris on the occasion.

The Pope, Pius VII, was also summoned, to preside on the important day, and on the 25th of October he arrived at Fontainbleau, to the great gratification of the Parisian populace. He was met by the Emperor, who was hunting at the time; they both alighted, and in the French fashion, embraced each other. His Majesty's carriages then came up; Napoleon entered one, and placed the Pope on his right; they arrived at the castle through troops and the loud roar of artillery, and were received at the bottom of the grand staircase by the great officers of the household, and his Holiness was led to the apartments prepared for him.

This important ceremony took place on the 2nd day of December, the new Emperor having ordered every preparation to be made which could give eclat to the day. The whole of the streets were strewed with sand, through which the procession was to pass; and the cathedral of Notre Dame, in which the ceremony was to be performed, was decorated for this occasion, both inside and out, with all the sumptuousness and frippery for which the French taste has always been so remarkable.

The military escort was numerous in the extreme, and the procession consisted of an immense train of carriages of the most brilliant and showy kind, filled with all the people of consequence belonging to the late Consular Court, in the midst of whom Napoleon and Josephine proceeded, accompanied by the Pope, through immense lines of curious spectators, until they reached the sacred spot where the ceremony itself was to be performed. The Emperor bore a sceptre of silver, around which was twisted a golden serpent, and surmounted with a globe, sustaining a figure of Charlemagne.

An English authoress observes, that much has been said, and many animadversions made, upon Napoleon's placing the crown upon his own head, and not waiting to receive it from the hands of the Pope, besides his being represented as having snatched it impatiently from the Holy Father; but she asserts, on the authority of eye witnesses, that although he placed the crown on his own head, yet he did not snatch it from the hands of the Pope, for the crowns both for himself and Josephine were laid upon the altar; and the Pope having anointed the foreheads of both Napoleon and his spouse with the holy oil which he had consecrated for the purpose, he proceeded to bless and consecrate the crowns, taking them in his hands as he pronounced the benediction. He then replaced them on the altar, and then retired to his own seat, when Napoleon advanced, and taking in his hand the crown destined for himself, which was a simple wreath of laurel, made of gold, he pronounced the oath to the nation, which had been decreed by the senate; and then repeated a declaration, importing, that he acknowledged to hold the crown by the favour of God, and the will of the French people; after which he placed it upon his own head.

Josephine then advanced, when Napoleon taking the crown destined for her, and which was made exactly like those formerly worn by the Queens of France, in his address, he stated, that she held the crown only as his true and lawful wife, but not from any right inherent in herself; he then placed the crown upon her head.

The evening was spent by the populace in plays, singing, dancing, fire-works, illuminations, fountains flowing with wine, and in short with every thing that could divert and amuse an inconsiderate populace.

On the 3d of December, early in the morning, Heralds at Arms marched through all the principal streets, distributing the preceding medals destined to commemorate the coronation; and the day passed with fetes in every quarter, and closed with illuminations and fire-works at night.

Bramsen - 329
Le couronnement