第19章 Chapter 18 December 2, 1804: The coronation

The sound of heavy guns woke me at six oclock. I got up and went into Oscars room. "Dont be afraid," I said. "The guns are part of the coronation ceremonies." Oscar looked up at my face. "Im not afraid of guns, " he said. "I want to be a marshal, like Papa. And Fernand is going to take me to the coronation."

"Oh no, Oscar," I said. "Children arent allowed inside the church. Papa couldnt get a seat for you." "But we can see the procession outside; the empress, and aunt Julie, and the Emperor with his crown. Fernand promised me that." "Its too cold, Oscar. It has been snowing all night. You cant stand in the street for hours. You havent been well this week. And you didnt drink your medicine last night."

He put his little arms round my neck, and he gave me a wet kiss. "Please, Mama, please! If I drink all the medicine, may I go?" "When youre grown up, well go to another coronation," I said. Jean came in at that moment. "Whose coronation will that be?" he asked.

Whose? I had no idea. It was only an excuse. So I said: "Thats a secret. But well see it, Oscar. I promise you." During breakfast Marie came in with a small parcel. "A servant brought it from the Tuileries," she said. I tore the paper off the parcel. There was a red leather case inside it. And inside the case there was a little gold box.

Jean said: "Open it." But my hand was shaking. He had to open it for me. "Gold coins!" he cried angrily. "Napoleon dares to send you money!" Jean is jealous because I once loved Napoleon. But a girl cant forget her first love; and Napoleon has never forgotten his. He too is jealous. He is jealous because Jean and are happy together. His own marriage has not been happy.

I was wondering why he had sent me the gold coins. Then I saw a piece of paper among them. "Madame Bernadotte," the note said. "One day in Marseilles you gave me some money, so that I could visit Paris. That visit was the first step on the road to my coronation. Today I want to pay back those ninety-eight francs. I want to thank you. Napoleon."

I looked at my jealous husband. Did he understand? Yes, his smile told so. We drove to the archbishops palace beside Notre Dame. The other marshals joined us there with their wives. From its windows we could watch the crowns. Long lines of soldiers were keeping them out of the way. The snow had stopped, but it was still very cold.

The Popes procession appeared. Hundreds of soldiers rode in front. Eight grey horses drew his coach, and his own Swiss officers rode behind. He went into th4 church through the great west door. Then we waited for Napoleon. We waited for an hour. The Pope, the foreign guests, the people of Paris---- they all had to wait.

At last his procession came: hundreds of soldiers again, and a dozen coaches. The Emperors own gold coach came last. On this cold grey day it shone like the sun. The Emperor was dressed like a Spanish nobleman. He didnt look very comfortable in those tight clothes. "Hes wearing purple velvet," said Jean. "The imperial colour of ancient Rome. All his palace officers are wearing purple cloaks."

Now Josephine too got out the coach. She was looking truly beautiful in a white silk dress, and she was smiling happily. She is properly married now. So she feels safe. Poor Josephine! They came into our palace and put on their coronation robes. At last they were ready. We formed our procession. But we didnt start.

The Emperor called: "Joseph! What are we waiting for?" "Your Majestys mother ought to lead the procession. She isnt here," Joseph was secretly pleased again. Napoleon had specially invited his mother. But she hadnt arrived from Italy. "we shall go without her," Napoleon said. Was he angry? Or sad? His voice showed nothing at all. We moved slowly forward. The palace officers went first in their gold and purple uniforms. Then the palace boys in green velvet, and the marshals wives in pink silk. Then the Empress and the imperial princesses, all in white. Then the ministers of the government, and the marshals in their blue and gold uniforms. And behind them all, the Emperor himself. We went through the west door and up the middle of the church. Hundreds of important guests stood on each side. At the top of some steps there were three gold thrones. An old gentleman was sitting on one of them. He was dressed in a white robe. Pope Pius VII had been there for almost two hours. As Napoleon reached his throne, the band played the Marseillaise. This was our song --- Napoleons and mine. I remembered the night in Marseilles when he had asked me to marry him. He had whistled "Le jour de gloire," and I had whistled back "est arrive!" Yes. Today his "jour de gloire " has arrived indeed. The ceremony began. I followed the ancient customs of the kings of France, and it was very long. At last, Napoleons moment came. He left his throne and stood in front of the Pope. The Pope took the heavy crown from its cushion and he raised it with his weak old arms. Napoleon only had to bend his head. Then the Pope could crown him. But Napoleon didnt bend his head. He suddenly took the crown from the Popes hands and put it on his own head. Loud sounds of surprise came form the guests. Napoleon had broken the ancient customs --- he had crowned himself! The Pope turned to Josephine. He made the sign of the cross and he kissed one side of her face. He was ready to pick up her crown. But his hands never reached it. Napoleon himself picked it up, and put it gently on Josephines head. For the rest of the ceremony, Napoleons eyes were half shut. But once they met mine, and he smiled like a boy. At last it ended. I was glad to get home for a rest. But Oscar was waiting for me, and his head was full of questions. "Does the Emperor wear his crown in bed, Mama?" "No, I dont think so," I said. "Perhaps hell wear it when you dance with him tonight?" "Ill tell you tomorrow," I promised. "Now you must drink your medicine. And we must go to aunt Julies party." Poor Julie! She and Joseph had to invite all the Emperors guests to a dance at the Luxembourg Palace. But the Emperor himself didnt come, nor did Josephine. When the last guests had gone, Julie told me: "They had dinner alone together. Josephine had to keep her crown on. He likes to see it on her. And after dinner he went to his office. When Joseph saw him there, he was looking maps." "Hes getting ready for another war," said Jean. We drove home past the Tuileries Palace. Soldiers stood all its gates. But snow was falling thickly on them, and the night was terrible cold.