He returned to Paris on... - 20th October.
Thank you. Are you leaving, Bourrienne? - Yes.
Good evening. Sit down.
The things I have to say are of extreme gravity.
The idea that first came to me was to speak to each of you separately,
but aware of a certain amount of dissension among you, I decided
to bring you together and inform you of the decisions
concerning you that I have made.
Nobody can flatter themselves they have a greater sense of family than I.
Joseph, you are the oldest, so I will address you first.
On my accession to the throne, I made you first Prince.
Today, I make you King of Naples.
Why? - What do you mean, why?
You give me a great vote of trust that I greatly appreciate.
But how will Julia and I look on a foreign throne?
Why foreign? I am king of Italy! - That's true, forgive me.
Lucien. I make you Prince of Canino.
I'll never forget what you did for me on 18 Brumaire.
Unfortunately, you have contracted a marriage that deprives me
of the happiness of giving you the crown of Spain.
But... I haven't asked for anything. - No. That's true, you haven't asked for anything.
But the important thing is to ensure to the Empire a valid offspring.
Since Joseph has no male offspring, succession happens to your children,
since I am told I cannot possibly have one.
Although I'm sure it's Josephine who is at fault.
Nevertheless, as I still refuse to divorce her, that's why.
Lucien, for the last time I'm asking you...
divorce, marry the wife of a king and keep your wife in the background.
A dishonorable proposition for her and my children... I refuse.
Tomorrow, you will have your passport for America.
Very well, Highness.
Louis, I name you king of Holland. - I thank you profoundly.
Jerome, as you agreed to break your marriage to Miss Patterson,
and marry the Grand Duchess of Württenberg,
you will be the king of Westphalia.
Excited by this great honour, I thank Your Majesty most deeply.
And us?
Who? - Murat and I.
Murat is a Marshal of France. - Yes...
Is not that worth all the titles? - Yes ...
Murat, do not be suspicious. - Of you?
No, of yourself.
And remember, so you don't start brooding about this,
remember that in 1793 you wanted to call yourself Marat,
in honour of a revolutionary.
Don't let it upset you not to enter the nobility.
Being a marshal is fine, I don't argue. But what about me? I have nothing.
You are what I am, a sister. - Me too and I do not claim anything.
And me, don't I have rights? - Yes, but yours is different.
You have married foreigners, Borghese and Bacciochi,
while Murat is French.
Dear Murat, if you wish the throne of Naples, I cede it to you.
Do not give away the gifts I give you! And be very careful, Joseph...
don't do something imprudent in opposition to me.
Fleeing from my enemies instead of facing them!
Refrain from visiting Mme. De Staël! Do not waste time with Bernadotte!
Order your daughters to call me Emperor and not consul!
You can have the democratic spirit, but I do not give you
two million a year so that you can walk around in a dress-coat and cap.
And that goes for everyone! Reasons of State
are never far from my decisions!
I have reason to to name you King of Naples!
And Jérôme! And Louis!
I know. - That does not stop us from being surprised.
Jérôme has always been the favourite of the Emperor.
If you think Jérôme will give up his little American for a throne,
you're mistaken. - Nobody asked for your opinion!
It's as if I've denied you the inheritance of our father.
Say good night to me and go and argue somewhere else.
We'll see.
Perhaps.
Later.
As for you, my dear brothers, set an example in dignity.
Refrain from frivolous pleasures which degrade the heart and damage the state.
Good evening. - Good evening, sir.
Pardon. Good evening, Highness.
I'm not nervous, but ... - Oh no?
Not at all. What is striking me is your resemblance.
To whom? - To yourself!
It's incredible that you look so much alike.
Your image is everywhere. There is nobody better known.
What are you called? - Eleonor. But I can change it.
Eleonor, nothing more? - No, Denuelle.
And there's more: Denuelle De la Plaigne.
It seems that I am the daughter of a famous author, perhaps you know of him?
Married? - Divorced.
You still see each other? - Five minutes a month.
It is the prison regulations.
Ah, is he... - Yes, incarcerated. He's a rogue.
With good heart, but a rogue all the same.
Can I sit there?
In this chair? - No, on your knees.
Do I look pretty to you? - Very pretty.
So...
They say that you are impatient. Do not change your habits for me.
It would be nice if a man accustomed to giving orders
gave them to a girl like me.
Kiss my neck.
Unbutton my dress.
You would do it! Oh, how agreeable!
But we are not here to have fun...
The 25 of September 1806, he returned from leave, with Prussia as his target.
On October 14, he met the Prussian army at Jena.
My dear Josephine, my affairs are going well.
With God's help, the situation is becoming terrible for the king of Prussia,
which I can pity because personally, he is a good man.
The Emperor obtained from Prussia a booty of 159 million francs.
The Prussian prince handed him the symbolic keys to the city.
On December 20, the Emperor was located in the castle of Pultusk.
What happen? You seem excited. - I have good reason.
A message arrived from Paris that will bring you great joy.
On 13th December, Ms. Eleonor Denuelle,
who you received in Paris... - Yes, I remember.
Gave birth to a child of the male sex, and who
resembles you marvelously, she says.
She requests that you give the child a name. And she asks how you would like it registered.
If I'm not jumping with joy, it's because this news is more grave than pleasant.
It may have incalculable consequences.
If the news is true.
You have doubts, Highness? - How could I not?
When my mother sees the child, I'll tell you what I think.
A beautiful girl, that Eleonor,
but without education and with the brain of a mosquito.
She did something extraordinary.
Bored with me while we made love,
with the heel of her foot, she righted the movements of the pendulum
hanging on the wall.
An hour with the Emperor Napoleon I was too much for her.
I only saw her three times. - Once is enough to...
Yes, we can agree about that. And that's why I prefer to pause.
Write, please.
"That the child be declared son of Mme. Eleonor Denuelle
and an absent father,
be delivered immediately a sum of 20,000 francs. "
And as for the name, perhaps take...
Yours? - No, nothing like that.
How about half? - What do you mean half?
Léon.
Yes, Léon, I like that.
Let's not think about it again.
But he could not stop thinking about that news,
which put poor Josephine in grave danger.
At the same time, the Tsar decided to take over Poland,
on the false pretext of defending her.
Following my advice, he vowed to protect Poland. And he appointed me governor.
You met in Warsaw on the 2nd of January, and before the nomination ...
I bowed.
I greet you, Governor of Warsaw. Satisfied with your new position?
Yes, Your Highness. And I hope to show myself worthy.
It serves as an omen for the feelings of His Majesty
towards Poland, which has not figured on the map of Europe,
and to which it would be convenient to return its unity. It may be necessary
to protect us from the Cossacks. - Poland, Poland...
There is someone who knows her well.
They are in the salon.
Shall I ask them to join us? - Please.
Madame the Countess Walewska.
Highness, in heaven's name, free Poland!
Your Highness, take care of all the Poles!
Proclaim yourself king of Poland and you will win the heart of the Poles!
I'd like to see you again, madame. - Yes, you'll see her again.
Thursday, if you are agreeable.
I like Poland a lot.
As you can see, it is not as inconsquential as you thought.
There are always pockets full of women.
You are late, Madame.
Carrying a laurel wreath, not wearing jewels and her dress is white.
And yet you know that the Emperor Napoleon prefers women to dress
in pink and to be more decollete.
The provisional government of my country has asked me to
make myself available of the Emperor Napoleon.
I think I have dressed in a fitting manner for such a sacrifice.
Madame the Countess Walewska.
What is this?
I have not hidden from that woman the sentiments that she inspires me!
And for two days, I hope every afternoon for her visit!
In vain.
I have written passionate letters, I have sent bouquets,
I have given her admirable jewels. And she gave them back to me.
Do you see how she did not lie when she praised the nobility of this little country?
I advise not to speak of her again!
One day I adopted the commitment that I would never oppose you
without giving a day's warning.
But if Poland, by your doing, does not regain its independence ...
What would happen?
Come on, speak!
It would be the beginning of the end.
Madame the Countess Walewska.
As you can see, I come in a pink dress. - Why did you change your mind?
The first time you invited me to come ... - You did not come.
I would have been coming for my country. I disliked being a political pawn.
The second time, in my heart, there was my country and then you.
The third? - You and my country.
And tonight?
Now there is only you.
From conquest to conquest, the Emperor achieved victory at Eylau.
Five months later, on June 19th 1807, Napoleon was in Tilsit.
And on the 25th, on a barge located at the same distance from the two banks
of the Niemen River, the Emperor received the Czar, for whom he felt
a singular regard, and shortly afterwards, the king of Prussia.
Thus ended the war. Peace was signed on 8 July.
For the next 15 days, the three sovereigns dined in each other's houses
with ease and cordiality.
This brotherly covenant was surprising, as well as edifying,
after all the bloody struggles that had taken place.
The 26 of July, the Emperor was in Saint-Cloud. He worked, ordered, decreed.
Bourrienne!
Sorry to bother you. Look here.
He closed 17 theaters, granted pensions, organized the Court of Accounts.
If he remembered a girl from the day before, he sent a note
and waited for the next day.
He fixed at 3,530,000 francs the expenses of the Secret Police.
Nothing escaped him, everything passed through his hands.
Mr. De Barbet-Marbois, Minister of Finance, is in the living room.
Highness, Ms. Delacroix has arived.
Delacroix? - That young redhead who you...
Is she really a redhead? - Oh, Highness!
Show her into my room. - She's already there, Your Highness.
Have her wait.
As for the payments to the Church, I find it disgusting.
We must not deprive the poor of that which consoles them of their poverty.
Show in Mr. De Barbet-Marbois.
Ms. Delacroix requests... - Have her undress.
The Minister of Finance.
I must ask you to give me your portfolio.
I do it in consideration of the good of my service.
Your Highness, Mademoiselle ... - Have her lie down.
I warned you. Everything paid has to be done
by order of my ministers.
I hope your majesty does not accuse me of being a thief.
I would prefer it. Corruption has a limit, stupidity hasn't.
Mademoiselle Delacroix... - Have her go!
On 22nd September, he was to leave again.
He had decided upon a divorce and he swore to himself to inform
the Empress before his departure.
But there are looks in a woman's eye that strike the heart,
especially when the woman, extremely well-informed,
would rather not hear any more.
Prince...
haven't you forgotten that in Spain... - No, Madame, no, no.
No, I've forgotten nothing.
Let me tell the life of the Emperor in my own way,
disregarding everything that history will omit in the future.
But still, Trafalgar...
If the English want to remember it, let them!
From now on, events accelerated.
After Essling, the Emperor concentrated his forces on the Island of Lobau.
After crossing the bridges of the Danube, he inspected his troops with Murat.
Terrible news interrupted their pleasure.
Marshal Lannes, badly wounded, had suffered the amputation of both legs.
Marshal, marshal! The Emperor.
You will survive, my friend, You will survive.
Count on me, Your Highness. I still want to be useful
to France
and to Your Majesty.
Highness... Highness...
Enough!
Despite the advice, he prepared for Wagram.
He traversed the lines, indicating to each their target.
He advised Mr. Dino, talked to McDonald, visited Massena,
injured the day before, and who reviewed his troops from a carriage.
6 July, 1809. Wagram.
A blazing victory that began with the great feat of General Flahaut.
The battle ended that same night.
And when night came, the "Grande Armée" rested.
And what was the Emperor doing?
Sleeping.
After spending 60 hours on horseback, shattered by fatigue,
he dropped in the shadow of his grenadiers,
stretched out and fell asleep.
So that he would not be cold, his soldiers
had erected a pyramid of drums.
Protected from the cold and the enemy, Napoleon slept next to his army.
It will be good when the war ends, a good day.
When the war ends, the war,
I will see my mother again, if the good God so wills.
When the war is over, if I do not have a mother
maybe I'll see her too,
if God the Father sends me to paradise.
When there is no longer war, when the Austrians,
the Russians and Prussians are in the ground.
It would be good that at last the civilians became the military,
and declare war for a little distraction.
It will be good that the war ends, a good day,
a good day...
When he woke up, he named MacDonald and Marmont as Marshals.
The armistice with Austria was signed in just 24 hours.
Already in Paris, he received news from Warsaw that fulfilled his hopes.
Countess Walewska has given birth to a child, baptized as Alexander.
Write:
"I decree that the son of the Countess Walewska receives 170,000 francs.
On the other hand, that the son of Mme. Eleonor Denuelle
receives, on his first birthday, twenty shares in the Orleans' Canal.
Finally, let it be granted to Mr Pallapra the control of the finances of Cambalose,
on the condition that he recognizes the girl given to me by his wife."
The Empress is not to know anything of all this.
I would ask you to adopt one of those little ones.
But Josephine was about to commit an imprudence.
Come in.
I do not want my husband to imagine that I am unaware
of his innumerable and constant infidelities.
I receive enough women to give me the details.
That's how I learned of your interminable adventure with Mme. Duchatel.
Of your scandalous relationship with Mme. Fourès,
who often dresses like a man.
I am not unaware of your adventure with Grassini, the Italian singer.
We could talk about my great friend, Carlotta Brantano.
She told me many things, like never taking off her stockings or gloves,
because you didn't like her fingers.
You could talk to me finally of Mme. George.
Or do you prefer to talk of the Countess Walewska?
Not tonight?
Well... some day we will.
Divorce...
And so, her final hour had come.
Her Majesty, the Empress.
With the permission of my august husband I declare that,
with no hope of having the children that would
meet the needs and interest of France, I'm happy to give you
the highest demonstration of loyalty and of devotion that has ever been given.
I acknowledge all your goodness. It was your hand that crowned me,
and from the height of his throne, I have received
testimonies of affection and love from the French people.
I believe I return those feelings by consenting to the dissolution of
a marriage that presumably supplies an obstacle to the well-being of France.
The dissolution of my marriage will not change the feelings of my heart.
The Emperor will always have in me his best friend.
I know this act, caused only by policy
and for the wider good, has chilled his heart.
There he is. We feel glorious,
for the sacrifice that we are going to make.
Later, she went to the castle of Malmaison, which the Emperor ceded to her.
Never was there such a cruel moment.
And yet, believe me, it was impossible to have more patience.
Eleven years ago, in Cairo, Junot gave me some information
that I had not asked for. - He's never forgiven me.
Never.
He named me Duke of Abrantes just to forget my name.
What if we talk about the immediate future?
Enough of divorce! - Let's talk about matrimony!
Gentlemen, I am undecided between several princesses.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, we must turn to you.
Highness, you should not hesitate. I know your admiration
for the young sister of the Czar, but an alliance with Moscow
would only serve to antagonise Germany, Austria and England.
Then, the Austrian.
What's her name? - The Austrian? Marie Louise?
Lovely!
Delicious.
Beautiful!
Great.
I'll take her. - Accept her, rather.
If I decide on Marie Louise, then you, Berthier,
are who I will send to Vienna as ambassador.
Marriage...
What's he doing? - Searching the Civil Code.
Someday they'll say it's their capital work. - And will it be true?
Perhaps not.
The Archduchess Maria Louise is the best of marriages...
considered as an alliance.
If I am sincere with you, and if you allow me to express it vulgarly,
I will not hide from you that, in reality, I'm looking for a belly.
And in Vienna, he found one.
He's an authentic genius.
Your majesty is going to ask for another piece? - Yes, and I even know which one.
Ah, I know.
Does she know anything about it? - Not yet.
Whether or not you understand German... - Of course I understand every word.
Imagine His Majesty's reaction if we make a false step.
We must be extremely diplomatic.
What did she ask Mr. De Neippert? - Why he played Eroica Symphony.
The Eroica Symphony? Why? - Oh, she hates it!
What did he just say? - Marriage, Napoleon ...
You dedicated it to Bonaparte, maestro?
What? - You dedicated it to Bonaparte?
Ah, yes. After I composed the piece,
I wrote "heroic symphony for a great man".
In this way, you could divine it was for him.
It's better. - Of course.
Forgive me.
28th February, the Emperor was at Fontainebleau.
Berthier returned from Vienna and the marriage with Marie Louise
was diplomatically agreed. It would be celebrated on 2nd April.
It is a great victory over Austria.
A 60 year old man getting married with a young woman, can she have children?
Sometimes, yes.
And if he's 70? - Oh, then, always.
20th March 1811, he was waiting. Waiting for what?
The birth of the king of Rome, for he had already given the child that prestigious name.
And woe betide anyone who came to tell him that it was a girl.
Well? - The birth is becoming complicated.
What are they going to do? - We might lose one of them.
Save the mother. It is her undeniable right.
But don't lose your head.
Treat her like a shop-keeper on the Rue Saint-Denis.
I ask you to forget she is the Empress.
Thank you.
However, in the end everything went well. It was a boy and the mother was saved.
A son...
I am the happiest man on Earth.
Thank you.
He could now return to war.
General Caulaincourt. - Show him in.
7 of September 1812, he achieved the brilliant victory of the Moskova River. [N.B. Usually called the Battle of Borodino in English]
I can not find words grand enough, precise enough,
noble enough to describe your courage.
I've searched for many hours and I can only find City names:
Eckmühl, Essling, Wagram, Danzig. I offer them to you.
Massena, you will be prince of Essling. Lefebvre, Duke of Danzig.
Berthier, Prince of Wagram. Kellermann, Duke of Valmy.
McDonald, Duke of Taranto. Davout, prince of Eckmühl.
Duroc, Duke of Frioul. Marmont, Duke of Ragusa.
Murat, you are already king of Naples and today I can only confirm it.
As for you, Marshal Ney, the great victor of the day,
I appoint you prince of the Moskova.
Do not have too many illusions. If someone asks someday:
"How is the prince of Essling?", you will answer that Massena is well.
The Emperor's dinner. - Come on.
No, Highness. - Yes!
It was the beginning of the fateful invasion of Russia. You were there, were you not?
Yes, prince, indeed.
In Moscow, there awaited him the most impressive surprise of all.
All the inhabitants were gone.
All the windows, all the doors were open.
There was nobody to fight.
And the victory that he won there resulted in disaster.
In the Kremlin, he could not believe what his eyes saw.
The most terrifying spectacle imaginable: Moscow in flames.
The Tsar had sacrificed his most emblematic city
so that Napoleon could never say that it had been his.
There he wrote a letter to the Tsar, which was perhaps received,
but he never answered.
With nothing else to do, he opened the wallet and pulled out a dossier at random.
As a further proof of the diversity of his genius, he drafted
the "Statutes of the French Comedy", that take the name of
"Decree of Moscow" and that will remain in force for centuries.
Then, he ordered the retreat.
Horrible, indescribable, gigantic...
And as the responsibility had to fall on someone,
he summoned the Duke of Otranto and me.
Mr. De Talleyrand-Perigord, prince of Benevento.
and Mr. Fouché, Duke of Otranto.
I wanted to see you both... both together.
Fouché...
You are a traitor, a bandit and a thief.
You have forgotten that you voted for the death of King Louis.
I have never forgotten.
It was the first service that I rendered Your Majesty.
Get out! You are no longer my minister.
And I should hang you. - I do not share that opinion.
As for you, who has conspired ...
I have only conspired in times
where I had the majority of France as an accomplice,
and in which I was looking only at the well-being of the country.
On the other hand, there is no conspirator more dangerous to you ...
...than you yourself.
You are a thief and a coward! A man without faith!
It's an exaggeration, and everything exaggerated is insignificant.
You do not believe in God! For you, there is nothing sacred!
You're just shit in silk stockings!
Yes, it is a pity that he was so lacking in refinement.
But he was soon off to war again.
Despite the ties of kinship which united him to Francis II,
Austria declared war on the Emperor, allying with Russia and Prussia.
Thus the armistice of 1st June was broken and the war began again.
If you are indifferent, Murat, you are hostile
If you are hostile, reflect
and remember that you are a God until five in the afternoon.
And it is now six.
Despite the victory at Dresden, he already perceived the winds of defeat.
After winning in Champeau-Vert and Brienne, he suffered the attack of a Cossack.
But Gourgaud saved his life.
After winning in Mont-Miraille, he was forced to fight in retreat,
and retreat to Fontainebleau.
There he found his men in a lamentable state, demoralized.
But still he laboured under certain illusions.
That Ney, Marmont and Berthier be here in an hour.
We must fight on, even in Paris.
But, Your Highness, aren't you afraid of creating another Moscow?
I am forced to face to the enemy wherever
Providence will allow. Let me work.
Your Highness, do you know what is happening in Paris?
No.
The provisional government has proclaimed your dethronement.
My dethronement? Only the people have that right!
And as for the Allies, I will crush them in Paris!
No, Your Highness! The situation is desesperate.
Only one solution remains: abdication.
The soldiers think differently.
They only think of fighting and of giving their lives for me and for France.
They lack your titles and privileges.
You should follow you, since you do not dare to lead them.
The Army will not march on Paris. - The Army will obey me!
I only have to give the order and they will follow me!
Go, gentlemen.
The country is in danger, and they want to deprive her of her best soldier.
The situation left him in a pitiful position,
but he seemed to accept it, which was the pitiful thing of all.
And to think it took two hours before I understood.
Talleyrand has had his revenge. I treated him badly.
But, after all, I gave good service
for some time.
I committed a grave error.
After he arrived in such a degree of discontent,
I should have locked him up or had him always by my side.
Good night.
What is it?
It's poison!
Do not waste time! Call Corvisant.
"Since the Allied Powers have proclaimed that the Emperor
is the only obstacle to the restoration of peace in Europe,
the Emperor Napoleon, faithful to his oath,
declares that he renounces his claim and that of his heirs
to the throne of France,
and that there is no personal sacrifice, including that of my life,
that I would not be willing to undertake in the interest of France".
Your Highness, you have never been so great.
The Emperor!
Officers, non-commissioned officers,
and soldiers of my Old Guard.
I bid you farewell.
For 20 years, we have trod together the path of honour
and of glory.
I leave you.
You will continue to serve France.
Your happiness was my only thought.
And will always be the object of my desires.
Do not weep for my fate.
If I have agreed to continue living,
it is to see you serve in glory.
Farewell.
I would like... to clasp you all to my heart.
Let me at least salute your general
and your colours.
Long live the Emperor!
His farewell was heartbreaking. Especially,
as it contrasted with the return of a joyous, gout-ridden Louis XVIII.
On the other hand, it was absurd to offer him the sovereignty of the island of Elba.
But the most unexpected and extraordinary thing was how well Napoleon adapted
for a year to his forced exile.
On that island, 40 times smaller than the department of Côte-D'Or,
he passed his time reviewing his tiny army and walking from village to village.
In one of its three houses, he ordered the preparation of two rooms,
one for the Empress and another for the king of Rome,
without any hope of seeing them appear.
But fate had reserved a surprise.
He was informed that a lady and a child had landed.
The lady was no other than Maria Walewska, and the child was his son.
Maria! What joy! And what a surprise!
My adorable love!
What do you think about your son? - He is very handsome.
Can I kiss you, Dad? - Of course!
And to show you my confidence, I let you take my horse by the bridle.
And I cannot mount it? - If your mother allows you ...
I could not deny permission to the son of the Emperor.
Come on, up you get.
He is very handsome. And he looks like you.
I hope I am not indiscreet. - Oh no. Absolutely.
I knew that the Empress was not here.
May I issue an order?
But my God, you are useless!
Put up the tent there.
There? - Yes, there.
Cambronne. - Highness?
Control yourself, Cambronne. Yes, watch your language.
Someday you'll let escape a word for which you will be remembered.
Once you asked to spend one night in my bivouac,
on the battlefield. - And you said "no".
If I said yes this evening, would you still like to?
Of course.
Well, look at that.
Present arms!
General Cambronne.
Marshal Berthier. Grand marshal Bertrand.
Where is my son?
He expressed the desire to eat with the soldiers, so ...
You've done very well.
If you will be seated...
I cannot hide the truth from you.
Maria Louise is in Vienna with my son. - Yes, I know.
And you must know that, without that betrayal, it would not have been possible for me to come.
But you may not know that, shortly after my departure,
The Empress received the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Russia.
Yes, she invited them to Malmaison.
No, to Malmaison, no. To Rambouillet, I believe.
No, to Malmaison. I am sure.
So I discover a new treachery.
What he did not dare to reveal was that Josephine had died 8 days earlier.
What is your impression? - Oh, very good.
What are you hoping? Why? - I think she's here to call him back.
And I admit that...
I never thought he was going to retire after one defeat! Never!
Few people love as much as to enjoy the silence by my side.
Could you break this silence, briefly? - Of course.
I must warn you, Your Highness, of what is happening in Paris.
You know they are waiting for you.
And that poor King Louis XVIII is treated like an idiot.
And that abroad he is subject to cruel mockery.
Have you considered returning?
Have you considered it? And will it be soon?
Thank God.
When he spends two hours in silence, it is because he is planning something.
And what else would he plan but war?
When people talk about you, do you know what they call you?
The Polish wife of Napoleon. And it's so very true.
I love you.
On March 1, the Emperor disembarked in Golfe-Juan.
The news spread across France and the rest of Europe rapidly.
Marshal Ney must meet him and place him under arrest,
for no other purpose than the good of France.
That will have a brilliant effect. At least, I hope so.
Long live the Emperor.
Yesterday perhaps they shouted: "Long live the King!". - It's not important.
Everything will be fine while we can shout "Long live someone or something!",
because in reality we are shouting "Long live France!"
What would be bad, and even dangerous, would be having the opportunity
to shout: "Down with someone or something!". Do you understand me?
Highness, Marshal Ney, with orders of the King.
Prince of the Moskova, aren't you ashamed?
Yes.
In Scotland they dance the jig, in Russia the "kasatchok"
and in Vienna, the waltz. But suddenly,
the bagpipes were deflated and the musicians stopped playing,
and everyone had to remember that they were members of the cavalry.
The Emperor was approaching and the King withdrew.
It is difficult for a man seen from the rear to retain his prestige.
And the war began, once again.
Soldiers came from everywhere: Austria, Berlin, Moscow, England.
Call up the Guard.
What does it say? - He advises us to surrender.
What does General Cambronne say? Let them surrender!
Again? Shit!
Who said that? - Oh, what a hypocrite!
Napoleon signed for the second time his abdication and delivered it to Fouché,
who became, in a sinister maneuver, President of the Government.
The Emperor took refuge in Malmaison, where Queen Hortensia awaited.
My poor Josephine...
For 3 days, defections occurred, each one more unexpected than the last.
Since Fouché does not deliver the Emperor the passport,
I will not stay here until the enemy come.
General Count of Montholon. Jena, Madrid, Eckmühl, Wagram.
Injured 100 times in the service of His Majesty.
I will have the honor to accompany to the Emperor during his exile
and will not abandon him until he dies.
Thank you.
If I did not have to stay in France, I would be the first to accompany him.
We are in the same situation.
Again? What is your title? - Count of Las Cases, Your Highness.
I ask you for the honour of accompanying His Majesty,
if necessary, until the end of the world.
We will see if it is possible.
I want to go with you too.
What a pity! - It is impossible?
For the many reasons that you know.
Will you be able to return someday?
But how horrible...
May I tell you a confidence, Highness?
Of course... - You know how much I have loved you.
You know how much I've been in love, because one day you wrote me
that our souls understood each other, but I hid the truth from you.
Today I want to confess a secret, which will enlighten you, Your Highness,
about many things.
I love you physically.
I never dreamed of daring to make this confession,
but I would regret it all my life if I withheld it.
I adore your eyes, so beautiful.
I love your hands, so soft.
I love your lips and your breath,
and above all, I adore your smile, your wonderful smile
I love the noise of your steps, your deep voice
and your silence shocks me.
I never dared to look you in the eye, but I leaned over you
while you slept and I delighted in watching you for hours.
God only knows how many times you will have listened to women saying these things?
Never.
Never? - Never. This is the first,
and the only one.
Where is the child? - In the carriage.
Have you seen the Emperor? - No.
What is it?
It is a belt. I'd appreciate if you wore it.
Why?
Because inside I have sewn my diamond necklace.
Oh no... - Do not reject it.
Thank you.
An hour later, he found out that the Prussian advance
had already reached Pierrefitte and that he must leave Malmaison.
Yes, I have allowed myself to come.
It is not a crime, I just wanted that our little boy said goodbye.
You already know Countess Walewska and the child she has given me.
You may have also seen Mme. Pallapra and that adorable little girl.
Does she look like me?
What seems most interesting is that the three are similar to each other.
They are your children.
What do you want? - Nothing.
Who are you looking for? - The king of Rome.
The king of Rome was on his grandfather's knees,
listening to Mr. Metternich.
My little treasure...
From now on, you're going to be The Duke of Reichstadt, right?
Everything that happened after that day served to magnify his glory
and his immense reputation. He became invulnerable.
If all the countries of the world had combined their efforts to
ensure the immortality of the Emperor, they could not have done it better.
By rejecting all the great men who requested to welcome him.
Convinced that he was the vanquished,
as if Waterloo obliterated Austerlitz.
Rehabilitating through an ignominious death those who
those who had served him before.
Straight to the heart! Fire!
Do not aim at the face!
By sending him to St. Helena, to the small island of St. Helena.
His Excellency, Governor Hudson-Lowe.
By entrusting someone's custody, so infinitely valuable,
to a stubborn and petty individual, without brain, heart or education.
By not avoiding any wounds to his dignity.
By placing him in a ridiculous residence.
By depriving him of all that could ease his boredom.
By reading his mail before handing it over.
By leaving him in the care of a suspect physician.
By treating him as "general" and not "Emperor."
As far as I know, there is no Emperor on the island of St. Helena.
Sir?
By allowing him to suffer a slow death.
France... My Grand Army...
Very good.
And by not writing anything on his tomb, they made him into a legendary character.
On December 15, 1840, thousands and thousands of French
received the immense catafalque which returned his remains to Paris.
But with the heart governing their eyes, this is what they saw.