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WELCOME
My interest in the Napoleonic period started some 20 years ago
whilst working in the United Kingdom. A friend, knowing I had
more than a passing interest in history, gave me the book 'The
Reluctant King' - Joseph Bonaparte, King of the Two Sicilies and
Spain - by Michael Ross. After reading the first few pages I knew I
was hooked and that one book became the first in a collection of
over 500 books, along with paintings, busts, china, weapons,
medals, furniture...
WHY NAPOLEON
His story is one that has fascinated and captured people's
imagination for well over 200 years. His life was one of triumphs,
to the greatest of heights, and of loss on the largest of scales. For
me, his military career is not the centre of my interest. It's the
other Napoleon which fascinates me. The Napoleon who
attempted to build lasting institutions; the Code Civil, the Conseil
d'Etat, the Banque de France, the legion d'honnour. All
institutions which he either created or re-founded. I see Napoleon
as a cultural rather than military figure and as someone who
wanted to create a system of government based on merit and of
equal justice for all.
MY COLLECTION
I consider it to be an average one, in that none of the items I
have collected are beyond the means of the ordinary collector. I
will admit I have had a bit of 'luck' and I have even managed to
find a few items that have a direct link to Napoleon; be it a
document where Napoleon has written 5 lines of text in his own
hand, or the laundry list of Madame Durand, Napoleon's
laundress, listing all the 'personal' items she had washed for
Napoleon in the month of July 1806. Or the expense accounts
kept by Constant, Napoleon's Premier Valet, while on campaign
in Germany in 1809. I have a copy of 'Postes Impériales' with the
Arms of Napoleon on the front indicating this came from one of
his personal libraries, or my most recent and perhaps most rarest
find, an embroidered bee from the 'Grand Mantle' worn by
Napoleon at his coronation in 1804!!
All the items I have in my collection tell me a story and help to
bring to life one of the most fascinating periods in recent history. I
am also keenly aware that I am just a temporary guardian of these
items and that I have a duty to research and document any
further knowledge I glean. The satisfaction that brings is
immense, as it was with the painting I purchased that had been
listed for sale as, 'A French Officer' and through research was
able to give him back his name - 'Louis Leger Boyeldieu', Baron
of the Empire and Commander of the Legion of Honour.
AS FOR ME
I am a Kiwi (New Zealander) living in Sydney Australia, where it
sometimes seem a 'million miles' away from where part of me
would love to be - PARIS...... but there is also much that I love
about living 'Down Under'.
Thanks for taking the time to view my site.....
Ken
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