From Wikipedia’s “Napoleon I of France” (5 July 2006):
The French suffered greatly in the course of a ruinous retreat; the Army had begun as over 650,000 frontline troops, but in the end fewer than 40,000 crossed the Berezina River (November 1812) to escape. In total French losses in the campaign were 570,000 against about 400,000 Russian casualties and several hundred thousand civilian deaths.
Napoleon’s losses in the invasion of Russia Read More »
From Napoleonic Literature’s “The Court and Camp of Buonaparte: The Ministers: Fouche“:
[Fouche,] who was so profoundly versed in the state of parties, — who was obeyed by one, courted by another, and feared by all; who, by means of his countless agents, could at any time congregate the scattered elements of resistance to the authority of government, was too formidable to be allowed to continue for ever in so dangerous a post. To this we may add that Buonaparte well knew the channel through which the knowledge of his amours passed to Josephine. Of the extent to which the head of the state was subjected to this galling system of espionage, Fouché furnishes us with an amusing proof:–
One day Buonaparte observed that, considering my acknowledged ability, he was astonished I did not perform my functions better, — that there were several things of which I was ignorant. ‘Yes,’ replied I, ‘there certainly are things of which I was ignorant, but which I now know well enough. For instance, a little man muffled up in a grey cloak, and accompanied by a single servant, often steals out on a dark evening from a secret door of the Tuileries, enters a closed carriage, and drives off to Signora G—-. This little man is yourself; and yet this fanciful songstress jilts you continually out of love for Rode the fiddler.’ The Consul answered not a word: he turned his back, rung, and I immediately withdrew.” — Memoires, tom. i. p. 233.
Fouche’s blackmail of Napoleon Read More »
From Central Missouri State University’s “Joseph Fouche“:
Fouché established an organization of policing and intelligence gathering that was decades ahead of its time. Napoleon, frequently on military campaigns, depended on Fouché’s information to maintain control over France and his military effectiveness. Six days a week, every week, Fouché sent secret reports to Napoleon. The information represented an incredible array of topics:
1. Palace gossip.
2. Audience reaction to a new play.
3. Stock market prices.
4. Desertions from the army.
5. Arrests of foreign agents.
6. Results of interrogations.
7. News of crime.
8. Offenses by soldiers.
9. Fires.
10. Rebellion against the Gendarmarie.
11. Intercepted correspondence.
12. Visiting personages.
13. Public reception of news of victories.
14. Shipping news.
15. Indiscretions of Fouché’s enemies.
16. Contractor’s tenders.
17. Agitation against the draft.
18. Suicides.
19. Prison epidemics.
20. Progress of construction.
21. Unemployment figures.
22. Extracts from inter-ministerial correspondence.
23. Persons detained or under special surveillance (Stead, 1983, pp. 41-48).
Fouche’s daily list for Napoleon Read More »