The History Prizes
Prize: history and rules
As part of its mission to encourage research and public interest in the history of the two empires, every year an independent jury composed of some of the best First and Second Empire historians awards in the name of the Fondation Napoléon history prizes (from 1990 continuing what used to be the Prix du Souvenir Napoléonien). On 11 December 2019, the Board of Trustees of the Fondation Napoléon validated a modification to the prize rules whereby, from now on, two Prizes will be awarded, a Grand Prix (5,000) euros and a Prix du jury (3,500 euros).
• The Grand Prix is awarded to works in French on the history of the Consulate and the First Empire or possibly the period of the French Revolution at the end of the July Monarchy. It may also be awarded to a work dealing with the Second Republic, the Second Empire, or possibly one dealing with a later period up to the present day, provided that the theme is Napoleonic history or the history of the Imperial family.
• The “Prix du Jury” [Jury Prize] is nominated by one or more members of the jury and is awarded to a literary or artistic work or action related to Napoleonic history. In particular, this prize can be awarded to a historian, academic, writer, artist, curator or manager of a Napoleonic establishment “for their career”.
Eligible works must have been published or performed for the first time between the 1st October in year ‘n minus one’ and 30th September in year ‘n’ (for example, in 2005, between 1st October 2004 and 30th September, 2005).
To compete for a History Prize, all you have to do is:
- For books: send 15 copies of the work to the Fondation Napoléon (and NOT directly to the members of the jury) – the Fondation will then send them on to the jury.
- For audio-visual or musical works: send in the same way fifteen copies of the work, with an accompanying presentation dossier.
For the complete rules (in French) click here.
History Prize address:
Fondation Napoléon
History Prizes
7, rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
75005 Paris
France
For further information about the History Prizes: contact us
THE JURY FOR THE FONDATION NAPOLÉON HISTORY PRIZES AND RESEARCH GRANTS
- President: Victor-André Masséna, Prince d’Essling, President of the Fondation Napoléon
- General Secretary: Laurent Theis
- Members of the jury:
- Professor Marie-Pierre Rey
- Laetitia de Witt
- Professor Éric Anceau
- Professor Jacques-Olivier Boudon, President of the Institut Napoléon
- Jean-Christophe Buisson
- Adrien Goetz, of the Institut
- Professor Patrice Gueniffey
- Jean-Marie Rouart, of the Institut
- Professor Jean Tulard, of the Institut
- Emmanuel de Waresquiel
Updated January 2025
