National Geographic History - 11.2019 - 12.2019

14 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

MILESTONES

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AN ESCALATION IN TERROR

GEORGES CADOUDAL IN A 19TH-CENTURY ENGRAVING

A Night at the Theater

As the conspirators laid their trap, Na-

poleon and his family prepared for the

concert. According to Gen. Jean Rapp,

Napoleon’s aide, Napoleon grew impa-

tient as his wife, Joséphine, fussed with

a shawl she had just received. Napoleon

decided to leave and boarded his car-

riage with three of his generals for the

half-mile ride to the theater. Joséphine

would follow in a second carriage with her

daughter, Hortense; General Rapp; and

Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister.

The first consul’s carriage sped away

quickly, leaving behind the cavalry escort.

Caught off guard by the sudden appear-

ance of Napoleon’s carriage, Limoëlan

failed to provide Robinault with a timely

signal. Meanwhile, the leading outrider

of Napoleon’s entourage, who saw a cart

blocking part of the road ahead and a

carriage blocking the other side of the

road, pushed between the two vehicles

to create a gap for Napoleon’s driver. Ro-

binault later claimed that he was knocked

over by the outrider’s horse, but in the

confusion he lost sight of Limoëlan and

lit the fuse seconds too late. The bomb

went off after Napoleon was far past, and

only his carriage windows were damaged.

Joséphine’s carriage had just reached

the palace gate when the bomb detonat-

ed. Her carriage windows broke as well,

and a shard of glass cut Hortense’s

hand. One of the cavalry escorts rode

up to inform them that Napoleon

was unhurt and that they should

proceed to the theater.

Marianne Peusol and the horse

both died immediately. The build-

ings near the explosion were badly

damaged or destroyed. Accounts

of the number of casualties varied,

but few bystanders on Saint-Nica-

CADOUDAL’S CONSPIRACY included other smaller

plots intended to distract the French police from

the royalists’ ultimate goal. In September 1800

French senator Dominique Clément de Ris was

kidnapped. In November former Bishop Audrein

of Finistère was assassinated.

PLACE DU CARROUSEL, which Napoleon’s

carriage crossed on the way to hear a

concert in 1800, is home to a triumphal

arch built circa 1808 to honor his victories.

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