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Noteworthy LS in French, one page, 6.5 x 8.5, January 3 [1806] Letter to his stepson Eugène de Beauharnais, in full (translated): “Twelve hours at latest after the receipt of this letter you will set off for Munich in all possible haste. Take care to arrive as soon as possible, then you may still find us there. Leave your command with whichever of your divisional generals you consider most capable and honest. It will be useless for you to bring a large suite. Leave at once, incognito, as much to avoid danger as to avoid delays. Send me a courier to announce to me that you will be arriving twenty four hours after him." The short postscript reads "One hour after you get this send me a courier with the day of your arrival." In fine condition.
Accompanied by several supporting documents, including a translation of the letter in the book entitled The Princess Auguste, Napoleon's Viceroy, a page from Napoleon and Josephine stating "Eugene was to leave Italy within twelve hours of receiving Napoleon's letter and to travel to Munich with all possible speed,” and a 1975 letter from Conway Barker, authenticating the signature.
Napoleon wrote this letter to his stepson, and later adopted son, Eugene de Beauharnais, the recently proclaimed Viceroy of Italy, to set into motion the latter's marriage to Princess Augusta of Bavaria, whom he wed on January 13 or 14, 1806. Although Augusta was promised in marriage to the heir of Baden, Charles, the engagement was broken at the behest of Napoleon, who was trying to ally himself with German princes and organized a double marriage: between Augusta and Eugène de Beauharnais, and between Charles of Baden and Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Eugène's cousin, who the emperor had adopted and raised with the dignity of an imperial princess. In return, Napoleon raised Bavaria from a state to a Kingdom. Although a diplomatic marriage, this union would turn out to be a happy one.
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