their interests were secure; the gains made by the Revolution were
irreversible. Even the doomed Cadoudal realized he had played into
Napoleon's hands. He remarked gloomily: 'I came to make a king and
instead I have made an emperor.'
In May 1804, in the wake of general indignation about the plot, the
Senate proposed that Napoleon be made hereditary Emperor of the
French. On 4 May the necessary ratification took place, and ten days later
a new 142-article Constitution was published, which allowed Bonaparte
to nominate his successor as Emperor. Although Carnot was the only one
to oppose this publicly, many of Napoleon's adherents and so-called
supporters expressed doubts. Junot, an ardent republican, is said to have
wept at the news. The response of the opposition was more predictable.
Lafayette, who had fought a king in America, now found an emperor in
his native land, while Germaine de Stad remarked disparagingly: 'For a
man who had risen above every throne, to come down willingly to take
his place amongst the kings!' Even more famous disillusionment was
voiced abroad by those who had seen Napoleon as a radical figure. Byron
was sadly disappointed, while Beethoven tore up his initial dedication of
the 'Eroica' Symphony. Others predicted that everlasting war in Europe
would follow as Napoleon would be bound to go in search of fresh
thrones for his brothers. Only Fouche, inveterate foe of the Bourbons,
seemed enthusiastic about the idea. As for his bickering siblings,
Napoleon remarked sarcastically at dinner on the evening of his
proclamation as Emperor (19 May): 'To hear my sisters, you'd think I'd
done them out of the patrimony my father left them.'
A third plebiscite was held, this time to confirm Napoleon as Emperor.
On 6 November 1804 the result was announced: 3,572,329 'yeses' and
2,569 'noes'. Napoleon could now nominate a successor by adoption from
nephews or grand-nephews if he chose but, since he had no sons, he
began by making Joseph heir apparent, with Louis next in line; Lucien
and Jerome were currently in disgrace. Joseph and Louis were made
Princes of the Empire, at a salary of a million francs a year and in addition
they received an annual one-third of a million francs in 'expenses' arising
fr om these posts. On 18 May it was announced that the wives of Joseph
and Louis would be created Princesses and addressed as 'your royal
highness'. Predictably, this was construed as an insult by the Bonaparte
sisters. Elisa and Caroline, fu rious that they were without titles, sulked
and threw tantrums. Following a ludicrous opera bouffe scene thrown by
Caroline, complete with fainting fit, Napoleon relented and granted them
the title of Princess. Letizia too wanted a title but was so outraged by
marcin
(Marcin)
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