Lot 76
Napoleon I, Manuscript Letter Signed ("Nap"), with two words added in Napoleon's hand, 1½ pp, 9 x 7¼ in., Paris, March 16, 1810. To the Duke of Cadore (Jean-Baptiste de Nompère de Champagny, 1756-1834), Ambassador to Austria and Napoleon's Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, voicing his growing suspicions of the Russian Czar.
"Have a courier readied for St. Petersburg, who will take a dispatch in which you will tell the Duc de Vienne how ridiculous I find the complaints that Russia is making; and that if necessary, he should inform the Emperor [Czar] and Count Romanzoff that the Emperor misunderstood me in thinking there have been two sets of negotiations; and that I do not know what the eventual treaties will be; and that I am very strongly in favor of it; that on four occasions ten days have been requested for a reply. We did not open negotiations with the Austrians here until it became clear that the Emperor was not the master of his own house [n'était pas maître dans sa famille] and that he was not keeping his promises made at Erfurt….Austria had taken the precaution of sending her Minister [Metternich]with full authorization for all eventualities. As regards the question of religion, it is not religion itself which has alarmed us, but the obligation to have a Pope present at the convention. I have nothing more to say except that I could not ratify an act made without consideration….one which makes me a party to absurdities." The words "promises faites" on the first page are added in Napoleon's hand, substitutions for two deleted words.
In 1808, the war in Spain and Austria's military preparations made it expedient for Napoleon to seek a rapprochement with Russia. A secret agreement was made (the Erfurt Convention) which confirmed and renewed the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), which had been made between the two countries at the conclusion of the War of the Fourth Coalition. "His Majestiy the Emperor of the French and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias confirm and, in as far as there is need, renew the alliance concluded between them at Tilsit; binding themselves, not only not to make any separate peace with the common enemy, but in addition not to enter into any negotiation with it, and not to listen to any of its proposals except by common consent." Napoleon hoped that by recognizing certain Russian claims he could be assured of Russian support in the event of war with Austria; however, when war broke out with Austria in 1809, Czar Alexander did next to nothing and Napoleon became increasingly frustrated.
Additionally, the alliance between France and Russia was supposed to be cemented by the marriage of Napoleon to Czar Alexander's 13-year-old sister, Anna Pavlovna. When the marriage was vetoed by Russian officials, Napoleon was furious and stated (in this letter) that Alexander was not "master in his family" as he was not keeping promises made at Erfurt. Napoleon immediately turned to Austria and made an agreement to marry Marie Louise, the 17-year-old daughter of Emperor Francis II of Austria. Napoleon states in this letter that he did not open negotiations with Austria until Russia had breached her promise. French-Russian relations continued to deteriorate and in 1811, Napoleon declared, "…in five years I shall be master of the world: there only remains Russia, but I shall crush her." His failed invasion of Russia in 1812 was the turning point of the Napoleonic Wars.
Estimated Value $12,000-UP
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