MURAT (JOACHIM). - Lot 168

Lot n° 168
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Estimation :
2000 - 3000 EUR
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Result : 2 730EUR
MURAT (JOACHIM). - Lot 168
MURAT (JOACHIM). Autograph letter signed with his initials, [A PAULINE BONAPARTE]. Naples, May 7, 1814. 2 pp. 1/2 in-12 on wove paper gilt on edges. PAULINE INVITED TO NAPLES AT THE FALL OF THE EMPIRE. On her way to the waters of Gréoux-les-Bains, Pauline Bonaparte had stopped along the way, worried about the turn of events following the abdication of her brother the emperor. She rented a house belonging to the deputy Louis Charles, at Le Bouillidou, near Le Luc (Var), and was able to see Napoleon again, who stopped there before embarking for Elba at Fréjus: Pauline gave up the house to him temporarily and moved to Rayol, near Le Muy. Joachim Murat having retained his crown, he invited his sister-in-law to Naples, where she spent the summer. "My dear sister, I have received your two letters, one by Roederer [Antoine-Marie Roederer, then Prefect of Trasimene, who was for a time attached to the administration of the Kingdom of Naples under Murat] and the other by a courier. I WILL NOT LOSE A MINUTE TO SEND YOU A FREGATE; my dear sister, you should not doubt how happy we are to see you again. YOU GIVE ME GREAT PLEASURE IN GIVING ME NEWS OF THE EMPEROR. You, who know my heart, must be the judge of what I'm suffering, but it takes courage and patience. Maman is on her way to Rome, along with Faich [Letizia Bonaparte and her half-brother, Cardinal Joseph Fesch]. Adieu, ma sœur, arrive quickly and keep your health. Adieu, I embrace you with all my heart. Your affectionate brother JM..." AUTOGRAPH APOSTILLE SIGNED BY LOUIS MARCHAND: "This letter was written to Princess Pauline by the King [of] Naples and addressed to Le Muy near Fréjus..." THE COMTE LOUIS MARCHAND WAS ONE OF NAPOLEON I'S EXILE COMPANIONS AT SAINTE-HELENE: the son of a protégée of Madame de Montesquiou, who became the King of Rome's cradle-keeper and followed him to Vienna, Louis Joseph Marchand (1791-1876) was appointed Napoleon I's first valet de chambre in April 1814. He remained attached to him until his death, following him to Elba and St. Helena. There, his devotion and discretion won him the full confidence and attachment of the emperor, who made him one of his executors, writing in his will: "The services he rendered me are those of a friend". Marchand took part in the Return of the Ashes journey, and held the stove at the state funeral. His memoirs were not published until 1952.
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