Khair mujhe kya me toh swarg se utri kokil kanthi apsara hoon!!!

Whiskey River Soaps for Napoleonic figures

Pauline

Talleyrand, but Fouché too

Davout

Junot

Murat

Bessières

Ney

Lannes, in one of his moods

Berthier

Victor

The entire Marshalate

Napoleon

Sending silly asks about marshals because I’m in the mood: do you think Murat would enjoy driving really, really fast cars. Also do you think he would read fanfic about himself

Oh absolutely no doubt about it whatsoever, Murat the certified adrenaline junkie would revel in driving fast cars, he would collect the most colorful, elaborate sports cars, and at some point he’d probably end up involved in a high-speed police chase and an irate Caroline would refuse to bail him out of jail again because this third time was the last straw, and Lannes would appear at the jail the next morning because Murat has already done the same for him (twice) and now an already burnt-out Ney has to drive them both to work every day because their wives and Napoleon insist on it and it’s Christmas season and if Ney has to hear them sing Last Christmas one more time…

…

Anyway. I could also see him reading fan fic about himself, if anything just out of curiosity. Whether he might appreciate our interpretations of him is another story. 😅

Bessières and Soult in Spain

After the battle of Baylèn in 1808, King Pepe Joseph had been driven from Madrid for the first time. Napoleon could not come to his brother’s aid immediately, because he first had to watch some theater plays together with Alexander during their meeting at Erfurt. Priorities. However, among others, Bessières was still holding out in Spain (under direct orders of Joseph which cannot have been much fun), leading second corps.

When the congress of Erfurt had ended, Napoleon hastily threw all available troops into the peninsula, including a certain marshal Soult who was destined to take over second corps. And while Soult’s presence usually caused his fellow marshals to adapt a slightly hostile attitude, Bessières, waiting in front of the enemy fortress of Burgos and not quite daring to attack, might be the only example of the marshal species who even wished for Soult's prompt arrival. It even seems that, on learning on 6 November 1808 that Soult was on his way and that he himself would take over Murat’s former position at the head of the cavalry reserve, he deliberately postponed all action and rather chose to leave the job to Soult:

The day of 8 November was lost unnecessarily by Bessières, and this was a blunder [...] The Marshal gave no serious excuse for his inaction; was it the high number of men attributed to the enemy that stopped him, was it that he waited for Soult's arrival in order to hand over command of the 2nd corps to him and to concern himself only with the cavalry? In a first letter to Berthier, he announced that "a full-scale battle" was needed to take the vicinity of Burgos, but he did not dare or did not want to fight it. In a second letter, he wrote: "I would very much like Marshal Soult to arrive soon... Marshal Soult and I will get on very well together."

As weird as that sounds, he was right about that latter point. Bessières also seems to have been delighted at the idea of rejoining Napoleon’s guard and at taking over the cavalry. Sounds as if he, learned cavalryman that he was, had not been very comfortable with commanding infantry.

Soult set out from Vittoria towards Briviesca on the evening of the 8th and joined Bessières on the morning of the 9th, who handed over command of the 2nd Corps to him.

Bessières: Oh, for god’s sake, you’re here! Look, I’m perfectly fine with the cavalry stuff but … there’s also all these folks who have uniforms and weapons – but no horses? Do you know what those are? What are we supposed to do with them?

Soult took command of his troops and began his offensive movement: he stopped on the evening of the 9th at the entrance to the defile which from Quintanapalla through Villafria leads to Gamonal and opens onto the Burgos plain. He wrote to Berthier: "His Excellency Marshal Bessières has kindly agreed to come with me as far as Burgos…"

Soult: Oh, c’mon, Bessie, I’m sure the emperor can wait another day. We’ve not even had time to properly catch up on everything…

Bessières: Okay. But only as far as Burgos. I’m not in the mood for another of Nappy’s lectures...

Bessières was to lead the cavalry, Soult the infantry. Soult had only expected an "avantgarde engagement" to take Burgos: it was a battle that had to be fought, as Bessières had thought, but the battle was a brilliant victory. On 10 November, at noon, Soult wrote to the Emperor from Burgos: "Your Majesty is master of Burgos: the corps of Estramadure, 12,000 strong, is destroyed. There are already more than 1,000 prisoners, 10 cannon, many caissons: the ground, for more than a league, is covered with corpses, weapons and debris; two flags have also been taken. Marshal Bessières has already passed Burgos and is pursuing on the road to Madrid all those who fled in a rout..."

[Translated from: A. Rabel, Le Maréchal Bessières, Duc d’Istrie]

Seeing somebody work well together with Soult in Spain is a nice change for once. Unfortunately it was pretty much the only time.

What the- today your birthday?!!!?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

I wish you happiness, health, that your loved ones are fine and that you are always in a good mood :D

Thank You Murat <333

Thank you so much 💝💝💝💝💞💞💝💞💝💞💝💞💝💞💝💞💝💞💗❤️💝💗💞💝💞💝💞💝💝💝❤️❤️❤️❤️

You meet his mom pretty quick after you start officially dating but you meet his extended family (the ones he’s close too anyways) a few months in and this man is alllll over you. The whole time. Literally goes no more then 10 minutes without touching you for like 8 hours while your at this freaking reunion. Either arm(s) around your waist, holding hands, arm around your shoulder, stood pressed behind you, kissing your cheek/face/head. It’s always something

He literally lives with Murat, his brother, and it's like the second or third time that you visit his place you meet him. But Hasan wants you to meet his mom as soon as possible.

When introducing you to anyone he's always going on about your accomplishments, and of the ways that you treat him.

He has two moods during this time and they are: Trailing behind you, holding your hand, and standing behind you, arms around your shoulders, kissing the back of your head.

To le Maréchal Soult;

I am writing to inform you that I may need your assistance. I actually am hoping it does not come to that and everything will be resolved between them without further incident. Duroc and Bessières had a domestic dispute earlier today and Jean has decided to retreat to his afterlife for now. I've decided I should go in after him.

Jean is in a bit of a mood, and I don't know what to expect once I get there. However, if you don't hear from me in a few hours or a day, you may want to send a search party. Just don't bring any obvious weapons. That might escalate things. I myself am going in only armed with a metal-tipped walking cane. Just in case. This does not thrill me, but my love for Jean and Geraud is of greater importance.

Also, would Louise be up for any occasional babysitting? Asking for a friend.

- Joachim Murat, "Roi d'Italie," @your-dandy-king

Soult reads the sign off of “Roi d’Italie” and scoffs. He’d heard about the spat with Napoleon. He had not heard much from his emperor, which suited him just fine. He drafts the letter-

Dear Maréchal Murat,

I am pained to hear of the troubles that have befallen your family. Let us hope that this is resolved quickly.

If it is not, you have my sword - in a metaphorical sense. The restrictions that you convey are concerning; I will bring a cane as well as a concealed pistol, but I am also considering enlisting the aid of Marshal Lannes. Unarmed, he would be sturdier and equipped to fight than you- and very much more so than my delicate frame. His concern for you and Duroc will ideally override his distaste for Marshal Bessières, I believe. If the importance of not aggravating the presences in this theatre is impressed on him, I should hope that he would comply.

I will bring one or two of my ADCs as well. They may be able to escape and call for help if needed.

I may also ask Duroc if he wishes to accompany us. In that case, and in future cases, I am sure that Louise will be happy to babysit, as aided by my men.

I wish you the best of luck and success.

- The Marshal Duke of Dalmatia

I had an adaroable adorable dream about Murat. It was a 5 seconds animation of him walking with the other marshals and Napoléon in the evening to an event. They are outside, it's dark and the lights gave a festive mood. Joachim is headed to the door as he innocently looks back because he thinks to have heard a trusted voice call for him and sees his baby daughter Letizia who is really tiny but able to walk running to him with open arms. 🥺😭💕 His face impression is shook and he immediately bends down to grab her so she doesn't get lost anywhere. She giggles and Murat gives her a kiss to the head and presses her to his heart and shoulder.

The other marshals like Ney and Bessi looked back as well and just smiled a little bit while they stand next to Murat. Napoleon who must have heard it too didn't look back because he was talking to Berthier or something (Naps was surrounded by a lot of people)

I really need to animate this but I don't have the time or the resources for it. :(

So I’ve seen a post made by @joachimnapoleon about Joachim Murat’s poem from 1812. His First Equerry, Michel Caraffa, added music to the words in 1814, and I really wanted to hear it and also play it myself (flute). So I “remade” the note sheet, and here’s the result! I worked in a music app where you can actually replay the music you create. I’m sharing the audio below. I really like how it sounds! It has a really happy mood 😁.

P.S. Sorry for some typos in the lyrics😁

Day 354a: Tuesday December 20, 2022 - “Christmas Vacation”

It wasn’t until I had my first cup of coffee in my hand, that it dawned on me, that I had hoped to sleep in this morning - my first of a nice long Christmas Staycation.  Instead I was up to see how beautiful the dawn was - light pink and blue sky, frigid air. Baby in a great mood, my pleasure to be up for all of it, letting mama sleep.

Last Christmas the Great Room was void of furniture as we hustled to finish the mesquite header.  Now it is such a peaceful good space, cozy against the white german schmear walls, our vision for this room now fully realized, at Christmas, with the stockings hung on the mantle and presents wrapped under the tree, with our little boy toddling around, collecting decorations from as high as he can reach, wow’d every day by the magic of the lights (or Holly sitting on top of the tree).   Great way to start my Christmas Staycation.  In an “easy mood’ that didnt even get shook by my supervisor calling in.  We sipped our coffee and connected and talked, like we did last night, laughing over Audrie’s wrapping work.   In a couple of days, she’ll be gone, and the hustle and bustle of the holiday will hit, and so I was grateful to get this go easy time this morning, even if it meant I didn’t sleep in.  Funny how when you’re loving the moment, you don’t feel tired at all.

Song: Jass Christmas Feed

Quote: “There's a simple rule to a sustainable life: Work hard, then take a good vacation, then work hard again and take a good vacation again... don't break this order!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

Yine aklıma Murat Kekilli'den "Çılgın" geldi. Mood yükseltmek için dinleyeyim bari

Audiovision Blog Post week 2

Research (technical, academic, creative practice)

This week i have been exploring various inspirations around AV 2.1. Regarding my selected video I have been exploring the sound design within the film 'Anhiliation'. I love the texture and variety that the composers of the film 'Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury' implemented within this scene. The raw emotion and tension that is built through the minimal use of synths and layered bassline sounds are highly effective in reflecting the importance of the scene.

Sound design study using reference from '1:30 - 2:50'

The disonance of the ambient white noise creates a sense of desolation pairted with the saw drilling synths that send a chill down your spine as the alien transforms into this expansive matter.

I am already pretty familiar with how these sounds can be recreated and reinterpreted in Ableton, so I aim to have this as a base to build my sound design upon.

Following this I have been exploring similar compositions within Ableton using plugins 'Vital' and 'Synthmaster' as well as a variety of distortion, phaser/flanger effects in order to replicate the sounds within the film. Vital is a great free synth instrument similar to 'Serum' allowing for vast customisation and modulation.

2. Reflection

I was absent from class during this week due to sickness so I am not able to reciprocate the learnings in class. However, regarding week 1's learning and class content I was quite fascinated by the various possibilities of foley within sound design. I especially liked the 'nightmare machine' device that is able to create a multitude of horrific and discordant sounds it can create with such simple elements. This has really inspired my own sound creation and the possibilities that I want to explore within my own sound design in the future.

Also the contextualisation of emotion and mood within a scene was never an aspect of sound production that I really took into account enough. The exercise rewatching the same clip with different soundtracks really made me think about the possibilities of how I can warp and push a videos narrative through opposing or contrasting visual elements whist still making sense contextually.

3. Progress

I have been emailed by one of the animation students and have started discussing various ideas regarding their project and how my sound design could work well with their concept. They are planning on creating an animation based around the Hong Kong coffin housing which is a great fit for me as I have already made my own animation and sound design based around a similar concept (Kowloon walled city) in a previous dms class.

I am also currently I am working on my AV 2.1 assignment and exploring various tutorials and reference material to build a foundation of how I want my sound to fit within the video. I selected Resonance - Murat Pak as I found it to be the most interesting to me as well as offer a wide variety of sound creativity.

4. Bibliography

Anihilation ending scene:

Tutorial how to make atmosphere and textured ambience

Sound design tutorial based on Annihilation

Article exploring context, character and sound relation

www.icad.org. (n.d.). Micro-Narratives in Sound Design: Context, Character, and Caricature in Waveform manipulation. [online] Available at: https://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD96/proc96/back5.htm.

halo ! can i get a tokyo revengers perfect match? female please.

i use she/her pronouns. im often described as really quiet and introverted, coming off as apathetic sometimes but im really just shy. im a lazy perfectionist, i procrastinate on projects but i have to make sure it's perfect or else ill scrap it immediately. i can be really hardworking if i wanted to, but it honestly just depends on my mood.

i love collecting a little bit of everything— from rocks to bookmarks, to even erasers. hence why my room is always a bit unorganised. i dislike crowded places, and strangers in general. i also love gardening, reading novels, and playing bass.

i hope that's enough for you to go off! i love all your stuff, hope to see more of it in the future . have a nice day ! 🩷

Hello. That is enough so don’t worry. And thank you for the kindness. I hope you like your matchup and I hope to hear from you again.

You Got….

Hinata Tachibana!!!

I totally picture her just coming home with something for you. She likes collecting stuff too so she would want you get more stuff.

You two would display all your little collectibles.

She would help motivate you to do stuff and she would help you make it perfect!

She’s your number 1 fan

Is pretty Murat so she’d help keep things organized

I could see you two having a little garden.

Would protect you and take the leading role in social situations.

Dates would be library dates then going to a cute cafe or a garden picnic.

Book Review: My Brother Napoleon

(Dedicated to @usergreenpixel for all the great reviews she's written for us. :)

I only recently found out this book existed, thanks to someone randomly posting a picture of the cover on Facebook. I couldn't find much info about it other than that it was a historical fiction novel. The one garbled review about it I came across described it as being about "Josephine's brother Napoleon."

Overall I came away with pretty mixed feelings; didn't hate it, didn't love it.

The book was published in 1971 (this seems to have been a little golden period for Caroline-related books; both Joan Bear's biography of her, and Hubert Cole's dual biography of her and Murat, came out the following year).

It is written in the first person (which, as I mentioned in an earlier post about it, I'm not a huge fan of), from the perspective of Caroline. It starts off with Caroline describing how she fell in love (or rather, lust) with Murat the first time she saw him, at Mombello when she was only fifteen years old. This also happens to be her first time seeing Napoleon's new wife, Josephine, for whom she develops a seething hatred that day because... well, the rest of the family hates Josephine, and she also makes Caroline conscious of her own shortcomings.

Her gracefulness irritated me and made me feel uncouth. I resolved there and then to do all I could, along with the rest of my family, to bring about her disgrace and downfall.

Luckily Murat swaggers in shortly thereafter and Caroline's bloodlust recedes back into regular lust. Of course Napoleon won't hear of her marrying Murat, who has a sordid reputation (which includes rumors of him having slept with Josephine). Caroline is promptly sent off to Madame Campan's school, where she meets her future arch-rival, the cloyingly sweet and naive Hortense, whom she is determined to loathe from day one.

Eventually Caroline has her way and Napoleon caves and lets her marry Murat. Murat is sent to Italy while Caroline is pregnant. When she gives birth to her first son, all she can think of is maneuvering to have him made the heir of Napoleon, who is still childless. Napoleon eventually sends her to join Murat in Italy, where she finds her husband has been sleeping with a different woman every night. They have their first major quarrel followed by some nice make-up sex and Caroline is soon pregnant again. She ends up back in Paris for a time, until Napoleon finds out Murat is accepting bribes in Italy, ratted out to an agent of Fouché by one of his captains. Caroline returns to Italy and helps Murat set the captain up to take the fall instead; the captain ends up hanging himself after his arrest. Napoleon finds all this very much amusing and rewards Caroline for it by making her husband the Governor of Paris, and jokingly says he should make Caroline Minister of Police.

Caroline and Napoleon have an interesting dynamic. Napoleon routinely invites her into his confidence to a greater extent than any of his other siblings, whose ineptitude he is constantly lamenting, and even lets her speak her mind on politics and the course he should take--but his mood is unpredictable, and when Caroline crosses the wrong line (which she does, frequently), he can lose his temper quickly. There are also some scenes where he assigns her to undertake certain little covert missions for him in a manner reminiscent of M and James Bond.

Your task, Caroline, is to gain Moreau's confidence and discover whether or not he is interested in removing me by an act of violence.

Napoleon also delights in seeing her fume over her siblings acquired titles while she remains without one. She gets the upper hand here, at last; after working herself into a full-on fainting spell over Napoleon's refusal to name her a Princess, Napoleon drafts an announcement for the Moniteur on the spot announcing all his siblings have been raised to the rank of Princes and Princesses.

Of course this isn't enough to satisfy Caroline, especially once the crowns start being doled out and arch-rival Hortense ends up becoming the Queen of Holland. But for the time being there are more important things to worry about: like pimping out her ladies-in-waiting to Napoleon so he can prove he's capable of making babies, since this is the best way to guarantee Josephine's downfall. Eventually it works, and the Bonaparte family have their Pyrrhic victory: Josephine is divorced, but announces on her way out that she's taking Napoleon's star with her. By this point, Caroline has achieved her goal of becoming a Queen; Napoleon has entrusted her with keeping her volatile husband under control in Naples.

Caroline is chosen by Napoleon to escort Marie-Louise, his new wife, back to France. Caroline wants to befriend Marie-Louise for mostly selfish political purposes, but despite the new Empress' bovine-like demeanor and naiveté, she proves immune to Caroline's wiles. Caroline eventually returns to Naples, and the brief interlude during which her relationship with Murat had reached the height of affection is soon at an end. Caroline is pregnant again, but ends up having a miscarriage. Murat blames her for the miscarriage, and their relationship marks a permanent turn for the worse.

Thereafter his moods became unpredictable. He was friendly one moment, antagonistic the next. I had once feared for his reason, and now that old fear was revived. It seemed to me that Murat had become two separate personalities.

It isn't just the miscarriage, but also Murat's growing belief that Caroline wants to oust and/or control him, combined with his growing disillusion about Napoleon's treatment of him.

This is the first point in the book where Murat is actually given any real substance or personality other than being a sex-crazed buffoon who makes an occasional snide quip here and there. King Joachim wants to do what is best for his subjects; he chafes under Napoleon's rules, wanting to be able to trade with countries other than France. He is already starting to envision himself as an independent King of a united Italy; this happens at the same time Caroline is growing increasingly fearful of Napoleon's own megalomania.

Napoleon, as I realize now, was completely crazy at this moment; crazier than Murat and far more dangerously so. But I was carried away by the hypnotic influence of his words, or more correctly by the hypnotic influence of his voice alone. I believe in him as one, with a bent for religion, believes in God. He had cast me into a sort of religious trance.

But after the debacle of the Russian invasion, Murat is convinced Napoleon's downfall is on the horizon, and Caroline is reluctantly forced to reach the same conclusion. When Austria sends Count Adam von Neipperg to Naples to speed along treaty negotiations with Murat, Caroline promptly takes him to bed to help things along (the latest in her line of lovers, which also includes, but is not limited to, Moreau, Junot, Daure, Lavauguyon, an unnamed Austrian ambassador, General Mcdonald, and a Monsieur Clavel).

But Murat balks at signing the treaty when the time comes; Caroline tricks him into doing it. His mind completely unhinged by the strain of the situation, he mistakes Caroline for the visiting Madame Récamier, and signs what Caroline tells him is a "confession of ingratitude and treachery to the Emperor Napoleon." In the morning, Murat has no memory of the scene, and declares that he must have been drunk, but decides to let the treaty stand since Napoleon is doomed anyway.

Anyone who knows the real story can guess the rest: Napoleon falls (twice); Murat goes to war with Austria, loses, flees to France, and ultimately ends up facing a firing squad in Calabria; Caroline ends up in exile in Trieste. Kenyon's Caroline is utterly emotionless in describing any of this, or anything else in the book, really. She is very much a carbon copy of Turquan's Caroline: a Machiavellian succubus, capable of lust, malice, intrigue, and little else. If that was what Kenyon was going for, he nailed it. If he wanted to make her relatable or empathetic, not so much. Stylistically speaking, Kenyon isn't a bad writer, but the only character that really had any significant depth in this story was Napoleon. He could've done so much more to flesh out the complexity of her relationship with/feelings for Murat, and I couldn't help but be disappointed by just how shallow this aspect of the book is. The part describing Murat's death and Napoleon's exile to Caroline is short and very matter-of-fact, and I genuinely can't tell if Kenyon was simply incapable of empathizing with Caroline or if he truly just didn't think she possessed actual normal human emotions like love or grief, or introspection, and just wrote her accordingly. But she just comes across, from start to finish, as very wooden and almost non-human. Having not read any of Kenyon's other books, I can't say whether this is par for the course with his characterization or not.

What I did like about the book were the depictions of the Bonaparte family squabbles, which were entertaining and well-written, and Napoleon in general (Kenyon seemed to have a good read on him, at least). And Caroline's back-and-forth with the unexpectedly combative Marie-Louise during their carriage ride back to France together was also a fun scene.

If I had to give it a rating, I'd go with a 6/10. It had its moments, and the writing isn't bad, but I just couldn't help but be disappointed by the characterizations of both Caroline and Murat.

Hey Josefa,

May I ask what Soult's relationship with Davout was like, if you were able to find any information on it?

I know that Aimee Davout was friends with Louise Soult but the only thing I can find regarding their husbands' relationship is in 1815 when Napoleon made Soult his chief-of-staff and Davout was incredibly exasperated with Soult's conflicting messages to the point where he threatened to resign as Minister of War multiple times.

Thanks in advance! ☺️

First of all: Thank you, both for your patience and for the question! That's a very interesting one!

I have wondered about it myself, especially when I read sources about the time in Prussia, where these two men are often described as acting in a similar way: Rough, severe, but fair, and holding up strict discipline among their troops. It seems the two had a similar, very methodical approach to their job. Another thing they had in common was the fact they both did not belong to Napoleon’s inner circle and were not as personally close to the emperor and general-in-chief as other marshals (Murat, Lannes, Bessières etc.). Possibly a basis for a bond.

I am unaware (but would love to be corrected on this!) that the two of them ever met before Soult returned from Naples and both he and Davout were nominated colonel général of a branch of the Imperial Guard – another bond they shared. That being said, I have in biographies never come across any mention about a particular friendship between Soult and Davout, so I can only list some correspondence that – for me – could point to those two getting along rather well. Which already says much, as getting along with Soult was not particularly easy.

1.) Soult’s letter of congratulation to Davout, when both of them became marshals in 1804 (already posted here):

Soult to Davout 3 prairial year XII (23 May 1804)

You do not like compliments, and I do not like to make them; thus, my dear Marshal, do not expect any from me; but I will tell you with all the warmth of the friendship I have devoted to you that no one applauded your nomination with more joy than the friend writing to you. I congratulate myself with all my heart to find on the new rank to which His Imperial Majesty has deigned to elevate me, a colleague whom I love and whom I esteem, in short, to find Davout...

That does sound a lot like: Thank god you’re with us, that’s at least one guy who knows his shit… - but mostly, it seems to be a very personal letter, directed at somebody whom the writer knows well.

2.) In »Le Maréchal Soult, prince d’Eckmühl, raconté par les siens«, Soult’s name is mentioned quite a bit for the time of the camp de Boulogne and the first months of the empire. Both Soult’s and Davout’s wife were in the service of Letizia Bonaparte, even if Aimée soon quit. It still seems as if Madame Soult had taken a liking to Aimée and visited rather often with her and that Davout, trying to get Aimée out of her depressive moods, encouraged these visits. Davout, Mortier, Bessières and Soult apparently also were contacting each other about some details of their new imperial duties, and by the end of 1805, after the battle of Austerlitz, Davout wrote to Aimée and asked her to let the wives of Soult and Bessières know that their husbands were unharmed and had contributed quite a bit to the victory.

3.) A letter from Soult to Davout, 12 October 1808, quoted in N. Gotteri, »Soult. Maréchal d’Emoire et homme d’état«. On this day, Soult has to hand command of »his« 4th corps in Prussia, that he had led ever since the camp de Saint-Omer, over to Davout, as Napoleon had called Soult to Spain. - Make no mistake, Soult had almost begged for this in a letter that qualifies as virtual cul-kissing, assuring »the greatest of all men« how much he would love to give up his life for him. But when he as a consequence has to part ways with his old army corps, it still seems to not be so easy for him. You know, emotionally and stuff. Not that Soult would ever publicly admit to having emotions, of course.

[…] I do not conceal from you that I am leaving the troops of this army corps with inexpressible regret; a long habit of living with them, their devotion to the service of His Majesty, their military virtues, I would even say the signs of attachment that they have given me in the most difficult circumstances, all contributes to making this separation painful for me; however, the one feeling which can soften the rigour of it is that of being replaced by you and the persuasion that you will not delay in judging them worthy of your benevolence. […]

And then he recommends them all to Davout, in particular chief-of-staff Compans.

I love this letter, especially the part about the »signs of attachment« (»You know, Davout, sometimes it almost looked as if they kinda liked me. Strange, isn’t it?«). But other than that, I think it’s also a nice praise for Davout, and an expression of trust. In any case, it does not feel like a mere business letter to me.

-

And then I feel like there is a long drought. Davout is in Poland, Soult is in Andalusia, both are confronted with similar rumours about wanting to become king, though a lot more serious in Soult’s case. But there seems to be little contact between them. The first time when they find themselves on similar ground again, is during the First Restauration – and it is to be assumed that the years between 1808 and 1814 have changed both men quite a bit. Davout is in semi-disgrace because of Hamburg, and I have read on the internet that he asked both Oudinot and Soult to intervene on his behalf. Both failed, however.

But according to this sale of letters, on 9 January 1815 Soult informed Davout that the king had allowed him to return to Paris – Soult at this point of course having become minister of war, a couple of weeks earlier. This may however only be a coincidence and does not necessarily mean that Soult had anything to do with Davout’s return.

During the Hundred Days, we do have a rather harsh letter from Davout to Soult, reprimanding him for having disrespected Davout’s authority. And an interesting exchange between Davout and Napoleon about how much money Soult would receive in his function as major-general, that remined me a lot about a similar exchange between Napoleon and Clarke about the same subject when Soult had to return to Spain after the battle of Vittoria. As a professional soldier, Soult of course had always placed great value on the most professional question: How much will I earn? (Likely answer from Clarke/Davout: »Eternal glory and the gratitude of the fatherland!« - Soult: »How much is that in Francs?«)

I imagine that at this point, the two of them did not have all that much in common anymore. Davout was Napoleon’s man through and through, whereas Soult had only joined him reluctantly, at the very last minute, immediately before war broke out. And instead of sending Soult back into the place he had occupied before, the ministry of war, Napoleon had chosen Soult over Davout to accompany him into battle, and had left Davout with the pesky administrative tasks.

After the battle of Waterloo, Davout famously appealed on behalf of those Louis XVIII had condemned. It’s usually seen as him standing up for Ney but it may have been meant as a protest on behalf of all the exiled as well, which would include Soult. Davout himself was in disgrace (and without treatment) for years, until from 1818/1819 on regulations gradually loosened, and the exiled were allowed home one by one. According to newspaper articles, in 1820 both Davout and Soult had an audience with the king, together or at least on the same day.

But it seems that Soult was not invited to the marriage of Josephine Davout, nor was he later at Davout’s funeral. However, again according to this sale, there is a letter of condolence when young Josephine died, so maybe there still was some personal contact between them.

That’s all I have found so far. As both men were not exactly forthcoming as far as their emotional life is concerned, I assume that their reationship will always be very much up to interpretation. But if anybody has something more to add, please do so!

Thanks again for the Ask, and as usual, apologies for not being able to answer any better.

İnsan Meselesi

önsöz // preface (Hegel, 1820)

İnsan Meselesi - Süslü Püslü Hikayemiz //   Human Question - Our Fancy-Pants Story Yıl Bir milyon // Year One million hikayemiz // our Story iki bin nokta // two thousand period üç yüz virgül // three hundred comma Oluvermiş // Has just becometh Zaman kalmamış // Time naught bitmiş // been depleted Kavgalar gitmiş // Fights agone Barış meğer bir dalga bir selmiş //   Peace—turns out—been a wave, a deluge En güzel en son değil // Beauty not last first İlk hemen hep göze dile kalbe gelmiş //   Speedy ever into eye ear heart has burst Adem ihsan adil insan aramış durmuş //   Adam Bestowed A deal, seeked human Kardeşlerini bulmuş // His siblings adream he’s found Motordan inmiş // Off the cold Engine surmounted Doğasına binmiş // On his Nature he’s mounted Nokta olmuş dönmüş Virgül çizmiş //   Period been, spun, Comma drawn Cümlesine çiçek bal beste hiç bitmeden gizlemiş //   His Sentence never-ending, flower honey in he’s sewn Kaymış uçmuş öpmüş gelmiş //   Ridden flown kisses shown Sonunda kalp düşünmüş büyümüş beni bulmuş //   At last heart conned, Me found, it’s grown Lucius görmüş akmış nehir olmuş //   Lucius’ seen, flowed, a river beyon' Rohan sevmiş murat bilmiş kerem doğmuş //   Rohan’s loved, purpose known, greatness born Evimi yapmış // My house he’s built Her yerde kapı pencere bulmuş //   Everywhere a door a window has found Hiç girme içeri // Not coming in anyways Zaten hep dışarda durmuş //   Outside he’s remained long aways Hep duymuş hep aramış // Hearing sake always seen Aşıkları bulmuş onlarla aşk olmuş //   Lovers found, with'em love he’s been İleriden geriye uyandım baktım geldim //  Forward back i looked arrived Woke Süslü püslü hikayemizi tekrar zevkle bildim //   Our Fancy-Pants story joy again i Stoke Her an // Every moment her yerde // everywhere her halde // every mood hep ilk, en çok Sen güzelsin //   always first, You most beautiful