Return of Napoleon.27s ashes July Monarchy

the transfer of napoleon s ashes on board of la belle poule on 15 october 1840. painting eugène isabey.

while thiers favored conservative bourgeoisie, made sure satisfy left s thirst glory. on 12 may 1840, minister of interior, charles de rémusat, announced deputies king had decided remains of napoléon transferred invalides. british government s agreement, prince de joinville sailed saint helena on frigate la belle poule retrieve them.

this announcement struck chord public opinion, swept along patriotic fervor. thiers saw in act successful completion of rehabilitation of revolution , of empire, had attempted in histoire de la révolution française , histoire du consulat et de l empire, while louis-philippe, reluctant, aimed @ capturing himself touch of imperial glory, had appropriated legitimist monarchy s glory in château de versailles. prince louis-napoléon decided seize opportunity land in boulogne-sur-mer on 6 august 1840, aim of rallying 42nd infantry regiment (42e régiment de ligne) along accomplices including 1 of napoléon s comrades in saint helena, general de montholon. although montholon in reality double agent used french government spy, in london, on louis-napoléon, montholon deceived thiers letting him think operation take place in metz. however, bonaparte s operation complete failure, , detained men in fort of ham, picardy.

their trial took place before chamber of peers 28 september 1840 6 october 1840, general indifference. public s attention concentrated on trial of marie lafarge, before cour d assises of tulle, defendant being accused of having poisoned husband. defended famous legitimist lawyer pierre-antoine berryer, bonaparte sentenced life detention, 152 votes (against 160 abstentions, out of total of 312 peers). not kill insane people, right! confine them, declared journal des débats, in period of intense discussions concerning parricides, mental disease , reform of penal code.