By exploring a theme each year, the Rencontres militaires de Napoleonica la revue, organised by the Fondation Napoléon, aims to support and participate in this revitalisation of this topic of study. These days are organised in partnership with the Service historique de la Défense and the magazine Guerres et Histoire.

This study day will be held (in French) on Tuesday 22 October 2024, from 9am to 5pm.

Admission is free, subject to availability.
Registration opens on 14 October 2024.
Once registration opens, you can register with Emmanuelle Duprez from 9.30am:
– by e-mail: ce@napoleon.org ;
– by telephone on 01 56 43 46 00.

Fondation Napoléon
7 rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
75007 Paris
France

PrEsentation

At the beginning of the 19th century, there were no formal rules governing war. The Law of Nations, which took the place of the Law of War, was left to the goodwill of the warring parties. It was based in particular on the principle of reciprocity in warfare and on the idea that only combatants faced each other on the battlefield. Civilians were in principle kept out of armed confrontations. The reality of war was very different. During the Napoleonic conflict, non-combatants often found themselves at the very heart of the confrontations, and sometimes took part in them. The ‘misfortunes of war’ regularly befell the population, collateral victims of the passage of armies, occupations and fighting. Beyond the obvious violence of war, families had to endure the emotional suffering of mobilisation and separation. Dealing with absence and bereavement was part of everyday life in Imperial society. But this state of ‘society at war’ also offered magnificent opportunities for the most enterprising. The number of gatherings multiplied, and business was good! Studies on the role of civilians in war twentieth century have been plentiful, but are in full development for the Napoleonic era.

This the 3rd military meeting of Napoleonica la Revue, directed by Walter Bruyère-Ostell and François Houdecek, aims to support this development by bringing civilians and soldiers face to face in peace and war.

Programme

► Download the programme in French PDF

 

Published: 1 October 2024