Memoirs To Serve For The History Of Napoleon I V3: From 1802 To 1815

by Claude-François de Méneval

Memoirs To Serve For The History Of Napoleon I From 1802 To 1815 (1894) is a historical book written by Claude-Francois De Meneval. The book is a comprehensive account of the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the most influential figures in European history. It covers the period from 1802 to 1815, which was a crucial time for Napoleon as he consolidated his power in France and embarked on a series of military campaigns that would shape the future of Europe.De Meneval was a close confidant of Napoleon, serving as his private secretary from 1802 until his exile in 1815. As such, he had a unique perspective on the events of the time and was able to provide a firsthand account of Napoleon's actions and decisions. In the book, De Meneval provides a detailed description of Napoleon's military campaigns, including his victories and defeats, as well as his political maneuvering and diplomatic efforts.The book is divided into several chapters, each of which covers a specific period in Napoleon's life. It includes a wealth of information on the key events and personalities of the time, as well as insights into Napoleon's personality and leadership style. De Meneval's writing is engaging and informative, making the book an excellent resource for anyone interested in the history of Napoleon and the Napoleonic era.Overall, Memoirs To Serve For The History Of Napoleon I From 1802 To 1815 (1894) is a fascinating and informative book that provides a unique perspective on one of the most important figures in European history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Napoleonic era and the history of France and Europe in the early 19th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

558 pages, Paperback

Published September 10, 2010

About the author

Baron Claude-François de Méneval was a French soldier, librarian, journalist, diplomat and government official. In 1800, after his brief military service with the 5e Régiment de Dragons, he was employed by the Bibliothèque du Directoire for the purpose of sorting roughly 30,000 volumes from the Tuileries Palace library. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited to write for the 'Journal de Paris' newspaper by Pierre-Louis Roederer, the paper's director. Méneval was then hired by Joseph Bonaparte (elder brother of then-First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte) to be his secretary. He was also sent on several diplomatic missions, primarily involving negotiation of treaties. In April 1802, Méneval was invited to dinner with the First Consul, who was trying to find a suitable replacement for his private secretary, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne. The following day, First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte ordered that Claude-François de Méneval be listed in the "table de service" as his aide-de-camp. Within a few months Bourrienne was sacked, at which point Méneval became Napoleon's "secretary of the portfolio (secrétaire du portefeuille)". He held that position throughout the remainder of the Consulate and for the duration of the First Empire, until Napoleon's abdication as Emperor in 1813. After enduring the disastrous Russian campaign at the emperor's side, however, Méneval's health was shattered. After two months' convalescence, he was named "secretary of commands (secrétaire des commandements)" to the Empress Marie-Louise. Later in 1813 he was appointed "master of requests to the Council of State (maître des requêtes au Conseil d'État)". In March 1814 he accompanied the Empress on her journey from France to Schönbrunn Palace in her native Austria. Loyal until the end to his Emperor, he spent his remaining years in semi-retirement, mostly writing his memoirs. From 1816 to 1825 he lived in the château de Vaucresson (Hauts-de-Seine); in 1819 he became an officer of the Légion d'Honneur. After selling the château de Vaucresson in 1825, Méneval purchased an estate in 1827 in Gif-sur-Yvette (Île-de-France). He had a new home built, which he called "château de l'Ermitage". He served as a municipal councillor of Gif-sur-Yvette from 1831 to 1848, and his château is now the town hall. Claude François, 1er Baron de Méneval died in Paris in June 1850.