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BONAPARTE, NAPOLEON

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BONAPARTE, NAPOLEON
(1769 - 1821) The "Little Corporal" whose brilliance in the field of battle and as Emperor of France has made him perhaps the most important figure of post-Renaissance Europe. Fine content L.S. "Nap" 1p. 4to., Paris, Jan. 17, 1811, in the midst of the disastrous Portugal campaign, Napoleon writes to Berthier to reprimand his older brother, Joseph! In part: "...Make known to the King of Spain that having given the government of Madrid to Gen. Belliard and in general not having not having ceased in giving me good service, I don't mean that his government would have been his; and above all that it would have been given to an officer who has not [given] service to France; that...it would be true and that the King had rendered the government of Madrid to Belliard...this is my formal order: that in general I mean that any French troop be...under the order of an officer in service to Spain...". Napoleon crowned his elder brother JOSEPH NAPOLEON (1768-1844) King of Spain in 1808, after forcing him to reliquish his reign as King of Italy to Murat. AUGUSTE-DANIEL BELLIARD (1769-1832) served Murat as chief of staff before holding other senior posts during the Peninsula wars. Top corner missing, otherwise boldly signed and very good.