This will was dictated from April of 182 1 to June of 13. It was written by Count bertram, who followed him in wartime and accompanied him in exile in Jamestown, the capital of St. Helena in the South Atlantic. He is very serious, and his will was finalized after several revisions. He wrote in his will: "I died young because of the murder of the British oligarch and his hired executioner, and the French people will avenge me sooner or later." He decided to divide the assets of more than 200 million francs into two parts, one for the officers and men who had fought under his command, and the other for the people of French provinces who had been invaded by foreign countries. He made it clear: "I hope to bury my body on the banks of the Seine, among the French people I love so much."
Napoléon Bonaparte was exiled to St. Helena in June. He was born on August 5, 769 in Corsica, Mediterranean. This small island has long been ruled by Genoa city-state in northwest Italy, and its residents are mostly Italian. Napoleon's father, Charles Bonaparte, is a noble descendant of Tuscany in central Italy. One year before Napoleon was born, Genoa found it difficult to cope with the islanders' struggle for independence, so it sold the island to France. Therefore, Napoleon was born a French citizen. When he was old, his father sent him to France for education, but there were still many language and emotional barriers between him and his French classmates. At this time, on the eve of the French Revolution, he liked reading, accepted the enlightenment thought of opposing feudal autocracy and advocating freedom and equality, became a staunch supporter of the revolution, and gradually integrated into French society.
17 years old, graduated from military school and became a French officer. 1789 After the Great Revolution, he led troops from other southern provinces to the capital Paris to suppress the rebellion launched by royalists several times, and became famous at one fell swoop, feeling that he had "changed from Corsican to French". Since then, in order to defend the achievements of the Great Revolution, he has fought many times in European feudal autocratic countries that formed anti-French alliances, with brilliant results. In less than 20 years, he was promoted from an artillery second lieutenant to a general, and the country was in power. Finally, in 1804, he was elected as the emperor of the French Empire and became a "pure French". At this time, his ambition gradually turned into violent ambition, bent on becoming the overlord of the whole of Europe. 18 14 years, he failed to go to Russia, was forced to announce his retirement, and was exiled to the Mediterranean island of Elba. In less than a year, he returned to power, but within a hundred days, he was defeated by the anti-French Coalition forces of Britain, Prussia, Russia and other countries. He abdicated again and was exiled to St. Helena, far from the European continent. St Helena is a British overseas colony, and Napoleon who came to the island was supervised by the British governor on the island. The tiger fell flat and was bullied by dogs. Napoleon, the powerful French emperor, became a prisoner at this time, with difficult life and mental torture. In less than three years, his health deteriorated sharply. 18 17 At the end of the year, his stomach trouble recurred and he wanted to change his residence, but the British authorities on the island refused. The British doctor prescribed the medicine, but out of distrust, he didn't take it at all. 182 1 began, and the condition got worse, with vomiting, fever and unbearable pain. Realizing that he might die soon, he began to write a will. On the night of May 4th, just after the will was written, the wind roared outside the window. He was indoors in pain, muttering from time to time: "French nation-army-charge-"At 5: 49 pm the next day, he stopped breathing because of stomach cancer after being confined for nearly six years, less than three months at that time.
Count bertram and his entourage immediately wrote to the British and French authorities, hoping to fulfill his last wish and transport the body back to Paris for burial. The British side disagreed. French King Louis Stanislas Xavier, who came to power after the restoration, declined politely for fear that the return of the remains would cause political turmoil. In this case, the body had to be temporarily buried on the island.
The cemetery was chosen in Torbett Valley, not far from his residence. It has beautiful scenery and is a place where Napoleon often plays. There are three stone tablets on the ground as tombstones. Because Britain and France have different opinions on Napoleon's title, there is no inscription on the monument Behind the monument are several willows with swaying branches, and under the tree is a grave. Four days later, at the insistence of Count Bethlem and others, a grand funeral was held for Napoleon, who was temporarily unknown. In the roar of the salute, the five-story coffin specially made for him slowly sank down the grave. This all-powerful hero was quietly buried in a foreign land.
1830 In July, the French "July Revolution" took place, the Bourbon dynasty in Louis Stanislas Xavier was overthrown, and Louis Philippe ascended the throne. At this time, people from all walks of life in France strongly demanded that Napoleon's body be transported back and reburied. Considering the new dynasty, it will bring great political effect and help to consolidate the rule of the dynasty to conform to the public opinion and transport the remains back. Louis Philippe appointed Prince Loiville to lead a group of people from all walks of life to St. Helena. They set off from Toulon port in the south of France on the frigate Baylor-Puller, sailed for 93 days, and arrived at Jamestown port on June 54381October 8. After a long negotiation, the British authorities on the island agreed to hand over Napoleon's body to France in June+10/October 65438+May 65438.
10 14 at night, under the supervision of Prince Loiville, British soldiers dug up the grave and carried the huge coffin into the tent set up in advance. The coffin consists of five layers: mahogany, lead, rosewood, mahogany and cast tin. The layers were carefully opened, and finally a mass of white satin was revealed, in which Napoleon's body lay. He was wearing a green military uniform with a red border, with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honor crossed on his chest. The French horn was placed next to his thigh and his head was resting on a high cloth mat, as if he had just fallen asleep. All the people present were shocked, and the French were in tears.
After identification, a little perfume was sprinkled on the body, and the coffin was quickly restored and placed in a huge oak coffin sleeve brought from France. The whole coffin weighed 1200 kg, and was carried on a hearse covered with black gauze by 43 gunners. The hearse was pulled by four horses covered with black gauze, and accompanied by the rumble of salute, it slowly sailed to Jamestown Pier and was placed on the French frigate moored there. At dawn the next day, the British Governor-General and the French Prince came to the frigate and had a brief conversation, even if the handover ceremony of the remains was officially completed. In this way, Napoleon, who had been in exile for 25 years, even set foot on French territory.
101October 18 At 8 o'clock, the frigate wearing black flannel broke down and returned. After more than 40 days' voyage, the frigate arrived at Cherbourg outside the Seine Bay in northwest France. From there, transfer to a motorboat, go upstream against the Seine River, and arrive in Paris on February 14. The next day, the already prepared state funeral ceremony was held ceremoniously. Gorgeous and solemn hearse, 3 meters long and 10 meters high, was dragged by four groups of 16 horses, starting from the Arc de Triomphe, passing the Champs Elysé es, crossing the Place de la Concorde and heading for St. Jerome's Church. Although it was the middle of winter and it was freezing, the streets and roofs were crowded with people watching the ceremony. Louis Philippe and politicians from all walks of life greeted him in front of the chapel. As soon as the hearse arrived, the king ordered Napoleon's sword to be placed on the coffin to welcome his soul back. The body was planned to be buried in Invalides, which was specially built for French soldiers. However, the Invalides was not completed at that time, so it had to be temporarily buried in a small church. From 65438+February 16 to 24, the chapel is open all day for people to see the remains of their respected general.
Twenty years later, in April of 186 1, the Invalides was completed, and a tomb was built for Napoleon under the magnificent dome. There is a set of coffins made of quartz sand on the base built of green granite under the great circle. At this point, Napoleon's last wish was finally fully realized, and he was buried forever on the banks of the Seine he longed for and among the French people he loved.
Napoleon was born in Corsica, but he never expressed his desire to return to his hometown. It is not that he doesn't love his hometown, but that he has long since got rid of the fetters of narrow homesickness and regarded France as his hometown and motherland. This is just as he said in his will: "My motto: Everything is for the French people."