the transfer of the Neapolitan crown from its Bourbon sovereign to Joseph Bonaparte. This event was the first of a series by which the Grand Empire was created. Something of the conception of this empire can be learned from document B.

REFERENCES. Fyffe, Modern Europe, I, 300-303 (Popular ed., 202-204); Fournier, Napoleon, 327-329; Rose, Napoleon, II, 5659: Sloane, Napoleon, 11, 255-256; Lanfrey, Napoleon, III, 106108.

A. Proclamation to the Army. December 30, 1805. Moniteur, February 1, 1806.

Soldiers,

At my Imperial Camp at Schoenbrünn,

6 Nivôse, Year XIV (December 30, 1805).

For ten years past I have done everything to save the King of Naples; he has done everything to ruin himself.

After the battles of Dego, Mondovi and Lodi he could oppose to me only a feeble resistance. I trusted the words of that prince and was generous towards him.

When the second coalition was dissolved at Marengo, the King of Naples, who had first commenced that unjust war, abandoned at Lunéville by his allies, remained alone and without defence. He implored me; I pardoned him a second time.

A few months ago you were at the gates of Naples. I had plenty of legitimate reasons to suspect the treason which was meditated and to avenge the outrages which had been committed. I was again generous. I recognized the neutrality of Naples; I ordered you to evacuate that kingdom; and for the third time the House of Naples was saved and strengthened.

Shall we pardon a fourth time? shall we confide for a fourth time in a heart without faith, without honor, and without reason? No! no! the dynasty of Naples has ceased to reign; its existence is incompatible with the repose of Europe and the honor of my crown.

Soldiers, march; cast into the waves, supposing that they await you, those debilitated battalions of the tyrant of the seas. Show to the world in what manner we punish perjurers. Be not slow to understand that all Italy is subject to my laws or to those of my allies; that the most beautiful country of the world is liberated from the yoke of the most

perfidious men; that the sanctity of treaties is avenged, and that the manes of my brave soldiers butchered in the harbors of Sicily on their return from Egypt, after having escaped the perils of shipwreck, of the deserts, and of a hundred battles, are at length appeased.

Soldiers, my brother will march at your head; he knows my plans; he is the depository of my authority; he has my entire confidence; encompass him with yours.

NAPOLEON.

B. Imperial Decree making Joseph Bonaparte King of Naples. March 30, 1806. Duvergier, Lois, XV., 323.

Napoleon, by the grace of God and the Constitutions, Emperor of the French, and King of Italy, to all those to whom these presents shall come, greeting.

The interests of our people, the honor of our crown, and the tranquility of the continent of Europe, requiring that we should assure in a stable and definitive manner the fate of the peoples of Naples and of Sicily, who have fallen into our power by the right of conquest, and who moreover make up part of the Grand Empire, we have declared and do declare by these presents that we recognize as King of Naples and of Sicily our well beloved brother Joseph Napoleon, grand elector of France. That crown shall be hereditary, by order of primogeniture, in his masculine, legitimate and natural lineage. Should his said lineage become extinct, which God forbid, we intend to call thereto our legitimate and natural male children, by order of primogeniture, and in default of our legitimate and natural male children, those of our brother Louis and his masculine, legitimate and natural lineage, by order of primogeniture; reserving to ourselves, if our brother Joseph Napoleon should die during our lifetime, without leaving legitimate and natural male children, the right to designate for the succession to the said crown a prince of our house, or even to call thereto an adopted child, according as we shall judge expedient for the interest of our peoples and for the advantage of the grand system which Divine Providence has destined us to establish.

We institute in the said Kingdom of Naples and of Sicily six grand fiefs of the Empire, with the title of duchy and with the same advantages and prerogatives as those which

have been instituted in the Venetian provinces united to our crown of Italy, in order that the said duchies may be grand fiefs of the Empire forever, appointments thereto, if there is occasion, falling to us or our successors. All the details of the formation of the said fiefs are remitted to the care of our said brother Joseph Napoleon.

We reserve from the said Kingdom of Naples and of Sicily the disposal of one million of income, in order to be distributed to the generals, officers and soldiers of our army, who have rendered the most services to the fatherland and the throne, and whom we shall designate for that purpose, under the express condition of the said generals, officers and soldiers not having power before the expiration of ten years to sell or alienate the said incomes, except with our authorisation.

The King of Naples shall be forever a grand dignitary of the Empire, under the title of grand elector; reserving to ourselves, however, when we shall deem suitable, to create the dignity of prince vice-grand-elector.

We intend that the crown of Naples and of Sicily, which we place upon the head of our brother Joseph Napoleon and his descendants, shall not affect injuriously in any manner their rights of succession to the throne of France. But it is likewise within our wish that the crowns of France, Italy, and Naples and Sicily, may never be united upon the same head.

76. Treaty between France and Holland.

May 24, 1806. De Clercq, Traites, II, 165-167.

The event shown in this document belongs to the series by which the republics dependent upon France were transformed into monarchies and made, in effect if not in name, parts of the Grand Empire. The reasons given for the change and the relationship with France should be particularly noticed.

REFERENCES. Fournier, Napoleon, 331-334; Sloane, Napoleon, II, 256; Lanfrey, Napoleon, III, 114-116; Lavisse and Rambaud, Histoire Generale, IX, 488-493.

His Imperial and Royal Majesty Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and the Assembly of their High

Mightinesses representing the Batavian Republic, presided over by His Excellency the Grand Pensionary, accompanied by the Council of State and the Ministers and Secretaries of State, considering:

Ist. That in view of the general tendency of opinion and the actual organization of Europe, a Government without stability and certain duration cannot fulfill the aim of its institution;

2d. That the periodical renewal of the Head of the State will always be in Holland a source of dissensions, and abroad, a constant subject of agitation and discord between the Powers friendly or hostile to Holland;

3d. That an hereditary government alone can guarantee the tranquil possession of everything which is dear to the people of Holland, the free exercise of their religion, the prescrvation of their laws, their political independence and their civil liberty;

4th. That the first of their interests is to assure themselves of a powerful protection, under the shelter of which they can freely exercise their industry and maintain themselves in the possession of their territory, their commerce and their colonies;

5th. That France is essentially interested in the welfare of the people of Holland, the prosperity of the State and the stability of their institutions, as well in consideration of the northern frontier of the Empire, open and stripped of fortified places, as under the aspect of the principles and interests of general policy;

1. His Majesty the Emperor of the French, King of Italy, both for himself and for his heirs and successors forever, guarantees to Holland the maintenance of its constitutional rights, its independence, the integrity of its possessions in the two worlds, its political, civil and religious liberty, as it is consecrated by the actually established laws, and the abolition of every privilege in the matter of taxation.

2.

Upon the formal request made by their High Mightinesses representing the Batavian Republic, that Prince Louis Napoleon should be appointed and crowned hereditary and constitutional King of Holland, His Majesty defers to this

opinion and authorises Prince Louis Napoleon to accept the Crown of Holland, to be possessed by him and his natural, legitimate and masculine descendants, by order of primogeniture, to the perpetual exclusion of women and their descend

ants.

In consequence of this authorisation, Prince Louis Napoleon shall possess that crown under the title of King, and with all the power and all the authority which shall be determined by the constitutional laws which the Emperor Napoleon has guaranteed in the preceding article.

Nevertheless, it is declared that the Crowns of France and of Holland can never be united upon the same head.

4. In case of a minority, the regency belongs of right to the queen; and in her default, the Emperor of the French, in his capacity as perpetual Head of the Imperial Family, appoints the Regent of the Kingdom; he chooses from among the Princes of the Royal Family, and, in their default, from among the nationals. The minority of the Kings ends at the age of eighteen completed years.

6. The King of Holland shall be in perpetuity a Grand Dignitary of the Empire, under the title of Grand Constable.

7. The Members of the reigning House of Holland shall remain personally subject to the provisions of the constitutional statute of March 30th last, forming the law of the Imperial Family of France.

8. The posts and employments of State, other than those appertaining to the personal service of the Palace of the King, shall be conferred only upon nationals.

9. The arms of the King shall be the ancient arms of Holland, quartered with the Imperial Eagle of France and surmounted by the Royal Crown.

10. There shall be immediately concluded between the Contracting Powers a treaty of commerce, in virtue of which the subjects of Holland shall be treated at all times in the harbors and upon the territory of the French Empire as the most specially favored nation.

Paris, this May 24, 1806.