At this critical stage of his wars Napoleon was thirty-seven years old. He was no longer the slender, intense, youthful general of the days of Rivoli and Mantua, "burning eyes in a worn-out uniform," the passionate lover writing ardent letters to Josephine, his unfaithful bride of a few weeks. "Rome had now replaced Sparta," as Victor Hugo was to write years later, the young prodigy of the Italian campaigns had become the Emperor, the law-giver, the new Caesar. Though he now had most of Europe at his feet, he was still contemplating mew conquests. His powerful imagination - that 'gout de l'iossil' as he called it - roamed all over the world.
It was in this hectic half war, half hospital atmosphere that Marie spent the last week of the year...
Physically, he was at his peak. His powerful, broad-chested body exuded energy. He was always standing, walking, or riding, but rarely seated, and his capacity for work was prodigious. The pale olive complexion was clear and smooth, the brow wide and high, the blue-grey penetrating and unflinching. He had to watch his weight when in Paris but was always extremely fit on campaign. Though only five feet seven inches tall - the average height for Frenchman in those days he emanated dynamic self-assurance. Massena used to say that 'he seemed at least two feet higher, when he put on his general's hat.'
In 1896 Napoleon's troops arrived in Warsaw Poland to excitement and cheers.
Excerpt: 45-46:
As it happened, Marie had already met with French Troops at Walewice (the estate her husband owned) and had formed an unexpected friendship which was to lead to dramatic developments in her life.
On the march towards Warsaw, when Marshal Davout's troops occupied the town of Lowicz, the nearby castle of Walewice became the headquarters of the Guards Brigade staff. The Walewskis, who since September had been spending most of their time in Warsaw, much to Marie's satisfaction, had come down a few weeks before to be with Benedict, Marie's brother who was quietly recruiting volunteers in the province for service in Napoleon's army. ....
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Marie's son was about a year and a half years old ad was fussed over by elderly female relatives but he was not the most sturdy child.
Through introductions, the seventeen year old Marie, was escorted around by a twenty-two year old Charles de Flahaut, who was the son of Talleyrand and Adelaide de Flahaut, lover of Queen Hortense...
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Excerpt page 53:
According to the usually reliable memoirs of the Countess von Kielmansegge, when Tallyrand and his son discussed Warsaw society, Charles de Flahaut mentioned the beautiful chatelaine of Walewice. Father and son both agreed that 'there was at least one compensation for the terrible climate of this otherwise dismal country - the number of attractive women about, who in their education ad manner resembled the best of the French. Countess Kielmansegge also noted that Marie and Anastase dined with Talleyrand and Flahaut... a few days after the foreign Minister's arrival, and that Talleyrand appeared to have been much struck with Marie's beauty and also her intelligence....
Excerpt page 54-55:
Torch parades moved across town; bonfires were lit round the castle; hand-made Napoleonic golden eagles adorned houses and shops, ad the two principal theaters, the National and the Francuski, held open performances for the public.
All these preparations were, however, frustrated by Napoleon's unexpected arrival late in the night of 18 December. (1806) As the main raid to Warsaw was virtually impassable because of accumulated mud and raging floods, he arrived on horseback, to change mounts. ....
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The joy of Napoleon coming to the aid of the Poles was soon tempered by the anxiety and tension of battles being fought. Marie threw herself into tending to the wounded.
Excerpt page 57:
... Women gathered together to sew hospital linen, turn sheets into bandages, stockpile medicines. Families vied with each other in offering food and hospitality to the wounded.
It was in this hectic half war, half hospital atmosphere that Marie spent the last week of the year...
Excerpt page 58:
One afternoon in December, on their way back from the hospital, Elizabeth (Grabowska - Sobolewski) stopped the carriage in front of the Zamek. Workers were putting finishing touches to the gilt work in the great assembly-room on the first floor, where it was hoped Napoleon would attend a reception. 'We walked up to the huge empty ballroom.' Marie recalled in her Memoirs. 'I was stunned by the thought that quite soon I might see him in this very room, in the flesh. An inexplicable fear seized me, I called for my carriage and went home.'
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