Napoleon in 1812

17. The Great – 2

Prague, a place where the passion, romance and soul of bohemians lived and breathed, was one of Europe’s most preferred cities for renowned artists. War, national conflicts, and political conflicts were difficult to find in a city filled with neoclassical, romantic, and realism styles.

It was a land of romantics filled with only culture, art, and people who enjoyed it. Ludwig van Beethoven[1], a master and great musician of the times, was also one of these Prague lovers.

He did not like this place very much at first. He was born in the city of Bonn, Prussia, but the city that allowed him to learn music was Vienna.

When he was young, he studied in Vienna and went through numerous learning and exchanges with the musicians there, and in the process, he naturally took pride in being a ‘musician from Vienna’.

Cities known for being a ‘land of art and culture’ had their own sense of competition, where artists who learned and engaged in art had to prove themselves better for the honor of cities (or universities) and sponsors.

Since Vienna and Prague were cities competing for the top of culture and art within Austria, it was natural that Beethoven, who considered Vienna the home of his heart, hated Prague.

However, his perception changed little by little as he played and collaborated in Prague with the support of Prince Lichnowsky[2] and other aristocrats.

The condescension of musicians from Prague was still ugly, but Beethoven could never hate the city as long as there were happy audiences who purely enjoyed music and admired it.

If Vienna had an aristocratic and authoritarian aspect, Prague had a more popular and common-class-centered character.

It was no coincidence that Beethoven, who was deeply immersed in the idea of republic and human equality, was attracted to Prague’s atmosphere.

In Montina concert hall in Prague Palace, nobles from Bohemia approached Beethoven, who was seated in the VIP seat of the concert hall, pretending to know him.

After greeting him, they wandered around as if they were in need of something. When Beethoven put his finger on his chin with a displeased expression, only taking the informal politeness, the nobles return to their place with bright faces.

There were a lot of them. The noble and the musician (artist) were in a relationship in which the latter unilaterally courted the former.

It was because musicians gained the right to play their performances to the public only when they received financial support and network support from the aristocrats. However, the story was different for the few musicians who had risen to the level of ‘master’.

Beethoven, who was even considered to surpass Haydn and Mozart[3], was in a position where he did not need to regret the sponsorship of the nobles. Treating aristocrats in an ignorant manner could also be regarded as a cranky characteristic of someone who had reached the level of a master.

“A very special guest is here today. He is so famous that it is rude to list the numerous concertos, symphonies, and solo songs he wrote. Here is the Kapellmeister of the Kassel Court Orchestra, Ludwig van Beethoven!”

Clap clap clap clap clap!!

The audience, including the nobles, applauded and marveled at the appearance of the famous person, and the members of the Montina concert hall swallowed their saliva when they saw the master, showing both tension and expectation.

Beethoven got up from his seat and greeted them briefly. Soon after, the orchestra started playing.

“…”

Beethoven had long starting to lose his hearing. It was not completely lost, but he could hardly hear them play. Nevertheless, Beethoven was often showing his face to events like this recently, becoming a decoration for the audience to see and enjoy.

One of the reasons was to pay for living expenses, but the more important reason was musical inspiration. A feast of tens of thousands of notes flowing on his skin, not his ears, had been inspiring him with new stimuli and inspiration these days.

Beethoven also liked this scene where the whole audience listened to the music with concentration, even if it was not the music he played.

A newspaper came into Beethoven’s eyes, as he was enjoying the atmosphere around him so comfortably. He picked up the newspaper from a local journal in Prague that was randomly lying on the ground as if its original owner had abandoned it. A name on the headline caught his eye.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s New Year’s address to the Imperial Council…

Beethoven stared at the newspaper. The scenery of the concert hall was no longer visible. The republicans who wanted to overthrow the old system had put their expectations in one person.

A man named Napoleon Bonaparte. Beethoven had been one of them, and had prayed for Napoleon’s success even though he was from an enemy country.

However, as this ambitious man ascended to the position of Emperor on his own, he completely broke the expectations of Beethoven and the other people who sympathized with the ideas of human equality.

‘I didn’t want to hear about this man, but I can’t help it. After all, Europe was conquered and is now under Napoleon’s feet, so the contrary would be strange.’

The republicans, who had their hopes on Napoleon, turned completely and threw all kinds of curses against the traitor. His dictatorship without control had to be defeated. According to their theory, the fake Emperor full of contradictions and his Empire would fall in a short period of time.

However, Napoleon Bonaparte wrote history by creating a new myth, and the French Empire was at its peak.

The brilliant achievements, successes, and ideal state affairs were enough to confuse the cursing republicans.

“Today’s Empire will be more proud and just for the people than yesterday’s Empire… I believe it, as do the loyal government officials here, the brave generals, and the faithful scholars.

In order to continue this success, the efforts of the entire cabinet to promote reform and development without a break, and your active support are needed.

Thanks to the blood and sweat of many citizens, the Empire’s finances allow us to carry out various construction and investments. I intend to invest these capitals in infrastructure and welfare budgets in our old and sick society.”

In a speech to the Imperial Assembly, Napoleon promised social support for the poor and vulnerable, saying, ‘All imperial citizens have the right to be protected by the Empire’.

The phrases cited here related to Articles 1 and 13 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen issued by the French Revolutionary forces after the historic storming of the Bastille prison in 1789.

Napoleon went even further from here. He argued that the ideas of free and equal human rights required government assistance for those suffering from poverty, disability, and age.

Even if members of a family were born low, poor, or even disabled, they had the right to enjoy personal and family happiness as long as they were born French.

European monarchs and nobles who heard of this declaration did not hide their ridiculous looks. A country boy from Corsica was under the illusion of equality and happiness of the majority to hide his complex.

When they heard these unsuitable words, they thought that he was imitating a monarch of tolerance and enlightenment as if he were Friedrich the Great. However, the emotions felt by the intellectuals and artists in European society were different.

‘How should we treat him if he really, really, tries to realize what he said? Should we criticize his past’s actions of ascending to the position of Emperor and setting the framework for lifelong dictatorship? Or should we support his current actions to spread human rights, utilitarianism, and equality?’

If it were before, he would have laughed and said ‘Do you believe Nabot’s words of deceit and hypocrisy? Idiots!’ However, Napoleon was really different from before, and the anecdotes and records of his changes had spread all over Europe.

Beethoven still did not like Napoleon, but now he did not turn a blind eye to his words and promises.

What Beethoven remembered when he saw the name Napoleon was the symphony ‘Eroica’, which he still cherished the most and performed very often.

The original title of this song was ‘Bonaparte’, none other than Napoleon’s family name. At one time, Beethoven thought of Napoleon Bonaparte as the best and ideal ruler of this era and wrote this song to portray his success story.

However, angry at Napoleon’s alteration, he scratched his name on the cover, and eventually the song was released under the title ‘Eroica’ (hero in Italian) instead of the original title. Even now, he had no regrets about his choice. He was resentful for not recognizing the traitor who had fallen into power. However, much of his blind anger and the past betrayal had long since been washed away.

After becoming Emperor, Napoleon wielded unparalleled power and ruled the country at will like Louis XIV, the Sun King. But he eventually became a person who knew how to respect parliament and cabinet, received absolute support from the people, and turned to the lowest people of the Empire.

Today’s Napoleon was in line with Beethoven’s idea of an ideal ruler. Except for being a secular monarch by himself.

‘If he hadn’t become the Emperor, there would have been no one more suitable than him as the hero of Eroica… Huh, what am I thinking!’

Beethoven shook his head with a little smile on his face and turned his gaze back to the concert hall. He had long put down the newspaper.

Soon after, the flow of melodies on his skin stopped. Beethoven’s ears, which almost lost their hearing, still heard relatively clearly the concert hall being filled with applause and cheers.

Beethoven did not stand up like the people around him, but he applauded while sitting down. He was a little sorry for not having fully enjoyed the performance.

“What did the master think about their performance? Wasn’t it really great?”

Beethoven smiled and responded to the words of the blushing noble woman who was sitting next to him.

“Overall, it can be said to be a march of high-level virtuosity and clever counterpoint. Except that they are following the trend of the baroque days of the past.”

By the time the woman, who did not understand his words properly, turned her head, Beethoven had already left the concert hall. A gentle smile was hanging on his face.

===

François Carnot, who took office last year as the new chief executive of the Imperial Cabinet, recalled the passionate speech of his monarch from a week ago.

‘Under my reign, the people of the Empire will no longer suffer from hunger and hardship. The Empire will become richer and greater in the future. I promise it to you here. The fact that you are a French citizen born in France will continue to be regarded as the first thing to be proud of. The Great France is even greater (La Grande France est encore plus grande)! Remember this slogan. It will be a symbol of this era, and will be heard and sung countless times in the future.’

At first, the Emperor spoke to the members of the cabinet and to the people in the Imperial Parliament, but he gradually expanded the subject of his words. His speech, which he declared as if it were a pledge to the people of the French Empire, conveyed an unhidden sincerity.

Carnot, who initially doubted him, no longer did. The Emperor truly cared for and loved his people.

Looking at the Emperor of the past during the Prussian-Polish expedition, philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel had called him ‘the world-soul on horseback’.[4]

Carnot felt a similar feeling. However, the Emperor was not sitting on a horse, but was on the podium of the Imperial Council and in front of the citizens.

‘I don’t want to remain in absolute power until my death.’

The first words spoken by the Emperor who called Carnot one day were very surprising.

‘Many European intellectuals criticized me and cursed me with a contemptuous tone for throwing away the banner of the revolution containing the spirit of freedom, equality, and brotherhood and becoming a secular monarch. If I’m not mistaken, you would have been one of them.’

‘…I won’t deny it.’

‘But, I say this with my heart and soul, it was a means and never a purpose.’

At that time, France was extremely unorganized internally, and externally threatened by the intervention of numerous powers. To overcome this, a single, vertical, and intuitive system was needed.

‘If all the dangers threatening France disappear and the country stabilizes, I will give up my position as Emperor without regret.’

‘…!!’

‘So don’t be too disappointed in me. Just sit close to me as you are now and give me the right advice on the management of the Empire. And prepare the most correct and reasonable measures that you can take in case I abdicate.’

What was left after the complicated thoughts that ran through his head was by no means negative.

‘I will do my best, Your Majesty.’

It was the moment when François Carnot could fully trust the man named Napoleon Bonaparte.

TL notes

[1] Ludwig van Beethoven. Here’s an photo of the scratched title page of the Eroica Symphony:

[2] Karl Alois, Prince Lichnowsky

[3] Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

[4] Here’s an illustration of Napoleon and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel meeting in Jena in 1806: