Napoleon in 1812

Chapter 28

4. What happened at the dinner – 6

The provinces of Podolia and Volhynia were transferred to the Duchy of Warsaw after the negociations between France and Russia, that would later be called the ‘Treaty of Druskininkai’. It was Napoleon’s reward to the satellite nation for being the most active in the Russian expedition and investing the most in resources, but in fact it was only a pretext.

There was another real reason for giving so much to the Duchy of Warsaw, even yielding some of the terms of negotiations.

[Interests between countries depend on the national interests. When it comes to national affairs, a leader must take advantage of whatever is available.

Like the French Cardinal Richelieu’stil famous saying, no matter how poor the relationship between two countries was, they could still join hands according to their national interests. As a result of the Treaty of Druskininkai, Napoleon and Alexander I now despised each other, and France and Russia were burning with hostility, but depending on their national interest, the alliance might be maintained.

The problem was that unlike Britain-Russia, France-Russia was a relationship with no mutual benefit.

France was fully self-sufficient with its fertile land and did not have to import Russian wheat, meat, or wood, and Russia did not have to buy French cotton fabrics, which lagged behind Britain due to lack of industrialization.

In the end, the hostile stand between France and Russia would remain. Perhaps in the near future, France would have to fight a huge and long war against Russia beyond this expedition. Napoleon was well aware of the geographical importance of the Duchy of Warsaw on the periphery.

‘We have to raise them. At least, they need to have enough weight to withstand a Russian offensive until the French army comes. And… I will also take this opportunity to fulfill the promise I made with Poniatowski.’

Napoleon had witnessed Poniatowski’s competence during the Battle of Hrodna. The Polish troops had joined the battlefield ahead of schedule and had fought better than expected, but he had noticed in particular their united solidarity.

The Polish people’s dedication, sense of mission, and patriotism to regain their homeland may be one of the reasons, but Napoleon judged that Poniatowski could maintain such unity because he was the center point for the entire Polish population.

There is no army as scary as a united one. As long as Poniatowski existed, the value of the Duchy of Warsaw and the Polish Corps would always be highly appreciated by Napoleon. With the acquisition of the provinces of Podolia and Volhynia, the territory of the Duchy of Warsaw was increased by about 1.6 times.

And the population had grown by more than that. This was because the expeditionary forces had swept the surroundings as they advanced, and the grasslands and steppes of the frozen land were devastated with Russia’s sorched earth tactics and delayed strategies. In the process, a large number of refugees had fled to the Duchy of Warsaw. Most of them were Polish, Lithuanians, or Kievans, who were not against Poniatowski’s rule.

The territory and size of the duchy were now too large to still call it a duchy. Napoleon attributed part of the war’s victory to the Duchy of Warsaw, saying, ‘There is nothing lacking to be promoted to a kingdom.’ The next day, he declared the rise of the Kingdom of Poland through official procedures.

On the spot, he appointed Józef Antoni Poniatowski king of Poland.

“I swear to God that I dedicate my body and soul forever to Your Majesty the great Emperor. Once again, I declare that I am prepared to jump into the pillar of hellish fire for the Emperor and the French Empire.”

As soon as his long-cherished desire for his lost country came true, Poniatowski shed tears. The same was true for the Polish generals and officers. They kneeled before Napoleon and swore eternal allegiance.

They would fight for Napoleon until the moment they stop breathing.

“Long live the Kingdom of Poland! Long live King Józef!!”

“Long live the French Empire! Long live the Emperor Napoleon!!”

The historic day of Poniatowski’s official crowning into King Józef I of Poland was on July 20th, 1812. The citizens of Warsaw welcomed the revival of their country and the rise of the new king with enthusiastic cheers and shouts. Both the elderly and the children watching the expeditionary procession cried. How could one guess how they were feeling about reclaiming the territories that they had lost? The citizens filling the square and streets were holding the Polish flag in one hand and the French flag in the other.

The flags of the two countries, shaken by the wind, represented eternal loyalty and friendship. Citizens sang hymns of freedom and national anthems. The voices chanting the names of Poland, France, Poniatowski and Napoleon were resonating constantly.

“I never thought the Polish people’s support and cheers for the Empire and Your Majesty would be this great. You’ve never been treated like this when you stood in the Place de la Concorde after beating up the Austrians. Their enthusiasm seems to surpass the French.”

It was the words of Andoche Junot, who was looking at the emotions expressed by the Polish people.

Napoleon replied with a smile.

“It’s not enthusiasm, it’s liberation. This is a natural feeling for those who have regained their freedom. The most beautiful and hot feeling in the world, where no natural scenery, rare jewels, or famous paintings could be compared to it.”

Of course this was not the end. Freedom was only the first gateway to paradise. The Polish people would have to continue fighting to protect the freedom they had been given. The trials ahead would be formidable, but Napoleon believed they could do well. Those who realized the preciousness of the restored freedom and liberation would risk their lives to fight oppression and restraint.

“Now, it’s time to go back. Let’s do a little more for our dear comrades who are suffering in the Iberian Peninsula.”

Louis Nicolas Davout encouraged the soldiers with an unusually soft voice. Napoleon and his generals did not have the time to savor the achievements of putting on its knees the world’s largest empire. They had to go to war again. Iberia was also called the Land of Death by the French. The French soldiers’ steps were heavy. Despite being the winners of the war, they did not look like a victorious army.

Napoleon knew their feelings, and stepped up.

“My brave men who defeated the Slavic Empire and liberated Poland.”

His words drew the attention of the French soldiers.

“Have you read tales of legends?”

Soldiers hesitating at Napoleon’s question. Among them, a courageous officer shouted in a loud voice, ‘Yes!’

“If the stories of beautiful and wonderful heroes in tales and myths are shabby, think about how those who read them would feel. Can you feel the excitement and emotions there? In the eyes of the Polish people, we are like heroes in tales who made great achievements. But what would they think if they saw the backs of our men walking desperately like weak horses? Walk with your chest open and your back straight. You are the wisest, the elite, and the most qualified soldiers in the world to be called heroes.”

Napoleon continued, pointing to the citizens of Warsaw.

“Let’s make a great appearance until the end. Shouldn’t we show them that even the imperial soldiers’ backs are beautiful and strong?”

Just in time, Warsaw’s citizens threw petals of pansy flowers toward the French soldiers’ march. The petals scattered on top of the spire of the high church and came down from the sky as the wind blew. Countless pansy petals covered the streets as if it were purple snow.

May their fathers’ blade be placed in the hands of the brave, Remember us on the field of Mars! Baptise in the blood of kings and slaves, The blade thus blessed by your elders! And by bringing back home Both wounds and virtues, Return to shut our eyes When tyrants are no more!121

Some citizens even sang ‘Le Chant du Départ’, the national anthem of the French Empire, with an awkward French pronunciation. The French soldiers lifted their heads at the magnificent sight as if they were watching a triumphant victory ceremony. The Polish people gave the best courtesy to the French army for restoring the territory and sovereignty of their homeland and their king. Citizens who appeared to be bakers distributed small loaves of bread to marching soldiers.

the Polish per with an awkward

who appeared to

The appreciation and gratitude of the Polish people made the French soldiers think a lot.

Their shoulders stretched. Their bent back straightened and smiles were engraved on their saggy faces. They raised their arms high and matched the pace willingly. Meanwhile, they gave strength to their jaws so that the bread in their mouths would not fall. The march of the expeditionary forces regained its vitality.

Napoleon and his generals watched the scene with delight.

“Teacher, that’s him. That’s Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France and the ‘genius of the century’ that governs the European continent.”

“I can see everything even if you don’t make a fuss. Hmmm!…”

An old man with well-groomed gray hair and a yound man watched the French march among the citizens on the street. A man of great standing, starting in rural Corsica, had conquered Europe and ascended to the throne. Napoleon was someone who many European figures praised or looked forward to meeting.

However, he was criticized for defaming the spirit of the revolutionary republic, for being a dictator and even a secular monarch after a coup. The gray-haired elder, close to the latter, just snorted with his arms folded.

“The God of War, the King of Europe, an omnipotent dictator, liberator of the old system… There are a lot of words to describe him, but in the end, he’s a man with eyes, ears, a nose and a mouth like us.”

“I think it’s too harsh for us to judge the hero who defeated the hideous Slavs and saved our country.”

The disciple grumbled, but the gray-haired man did not care. He said rather coldly.

“Do you think Poland has been saved? What an innocent thing to say! Our struggle has only just begun. Our poor country will be at the forefront of the future war. France and Napoleon have only invested so much because they know we will play an important role.”

Although he was dissatisfied with the cynical teacher’s response, he decided to be cautious because he knew well the personality of his eccentric teacher. Meanwhile, a event began in the city of Warsaw. It was more colorful and magnificent than a victory ceremony, with pansy petals painting the whole world purple, with the people singing imperial hymns and marching songs, and praising Napoleon and the French army.

Seeing the people waving tricolor flags, the disciple felt strange.

“Haha… isn’t that a bit too much? No matter how generous he is, he’s still a foreign leader… Teacher?”

The disciple did not hear, but the teacher had just heard what Napoleon had said to his soldiers.

‘There is no reader who wants the heroes in the legend to be shabby. So we shouldn’t show that to the Polish people. That’s the pride the Imperial soldiers should have.’

At that moment he felt something inside. His so-called artist’s inspiration shone.

“…I have to go. Take care of the luggage on your own. … I have to go first.”

“T-Teacher?”

The disciple called him desperately, but the old man had already left the street at an impressive speed.

“Hero! Who spoke these words that made my heart flutter as soon as I heard them! The agony and paradox of a hero! Which one is the more desperate society, one without heroes or one that needs heroes?”

The man’s name was Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz.131 He had written Poland’s first comedy, ‘The Return of the Deputy’ and was also a great writer of literary works and historical books. ‘His pen driving the Polish culture’ was the symbol of Niemcewicz.

“Emperor Bonaparte! If what you said to your soldiers is true, I may have been wrong about you this whole time. If so, I will try to change my attitude towards you. To repay for this inspiration.”

Niemcewicz grinned as he said so.

TL notes

[1] Cardinal Richelieu

[2] You can listen to ‘Le Chant du Départ’ 

(3] Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz