IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0096 MS 831
Held at: Senate House Library, University of London
Title: Statement by Napoleon I
Date(s): [1811]
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
Extent: 3 leaves
Name of creator(s): Unknown
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
By 1811, relations between Russia and France were deteriorating. In 1805, Alexander I, Tsar of Russia, had joined the coalition against Napoleon I. Defeats at Austerlitz and Friedland, however, led to a Russian-French Alliance agreed by the Treaty of Tilsot in 1807. Relations were soured by Alexander's liberal interpretation of Napoleon's Continental System, Russian fears concerning the possible unification of Poland, and quarrels over the independence of Prussia which led to French troops close to the Russian border. In 1811, Napoleon broke the Treaty of Tilsot by annexing Oldenburg, and the alliance was broken. Napoleon invaded Russia the next year, but was defeated.
For a reconstruction of this interview, see A.Vandal, Napoleon et Alexandre I (Paris, 1896), vol.III, c.6, and vol.III, p.212 n.1 for the sources on which he bases his account.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Copy of a précis of a statement by Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, made before the Russian ambassador to Paris, Prince Alexander Borisovitch Kurakin, on 15 Aug 1811, ostensibly proposing a basis for negotiations with Alexander I, Emperor of Russia. The document refers to the battle of Rudchek between the Turks and Russians, troops in Danzig, Warsaw and Poland, the size of French armies and Russia's violation of the Tilsit agreements. The source of the copy was a dispatch of the Austrian ambassador to Paris, Karl-Philip von Schwarzenberg.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: French
System of arrangement:
Conditions governing access:
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Physical characteristics:
The 3 leaves measure 295 x 186mm; 306 x 198mm; and 77 x 189mm.
Finding aids:
Collection level description.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Enclosed in an annotated copy of Charles de Martens' Manuel diplomatique (Paris, 1822), which has pasted into it a slip bearing the name of Alleyne FitzHerbert, Baron St Helens (1753-1839), and includes a transcript, possibly in his hand.
Immediate source of acquisition:
The volume was given to the University of London Library in May 1942 by R. Quinault.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
University of London MS 832 is bound in the same volume.
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.
Date(s) of descriptions: Jan 2002