LS in French, signed “Napol,” one page both sides, 7.25 x 9, April 6, 1808. Letter to his adopted son Eugene Napoleon, the Viceroy of Italy. In part (translated): “The Pope’s joy concerning the arrival of his courier in Paris is ridiculous like everything else that’s done in Rome. It must be seen that the Roman [papal] court is composed of nasty people. Fortunately it has no power at all. The courier carried an order to the Cardinal legate requesting that he ask for his passport. I granted him that on the spot because I don’t need him. It is impossible to lose more stupidly the temporal states that the genius and the politics of so many popes had formed. What a sad effect is produced by the placing of a fool on the [papal] throne. I’m sending your decrees…I have charged you with making the first appointments. Appoint men who know how to administrate, men of character who are in the habit of fighting against the priests. I send you a letter from the Colonel of the 24th of Dragoons. Look into it and dispense justice to everyone. I don’t know of any complaints exist against this colonel. It seems to me that I always had a good opinion of him—I signed the decree appointing the Colonel of Chasseurs.” In fine condition, with light central horizontal and vertical fold, and scattered light wrinkling.
The Emperor’s disdain for the papacy is clear, a court “composed of nasty people” with “no power at all.” Four days before writing his son, Napoleon decreed annexing the Papal States—the major historical states of Italy—‘in perpetuity’ to his Kingdom of Italy and disbanding the papal court. At the time, this action was only the latest in a long line of conflict between the men, often involving the French military leader's wishes for concessions to his demands. One year later, Pope Pius ordered Napoleon excommunicated—with the Emperor arresting the pope and holding him confined until Napoleon’s eventual fall in 1815. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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