NAPOLÉON I. Letter signed "Np" to Grand Marshal... Lot 39

NAPOLÉON I. Letter signed "Np" to Grand Marshal Henri-Gatien Bertrand. Portoferraio, June 30, 1814. One p. in-4. The emperor was having a residence built in Longone, including an apartment for the empress, whom he still thought he could bring near him. Napoleon I first stayed at the town hall in Portoferraio, then acquired three residences: the main one in Portoferraio, the Villa dei Mulini, a second one inland at San-Martino (where the Grand Marshal Bertrand was also housed), and a third one at Longone on the south coast, a former Spanish citadel where he stayed from September 5 to 21, 1814. He also stayed temporarily in Monte-Giove, near the hermitage of La Madonna del Monte, from August 23 to September 4 - where he was visited by Marie Walewska. Finally, in Portoferraio, he reserved another home for his mother, the Casa Vantini. "I'm sending you the plan of the house in Longone [today Porto-Azzurro, a port town on the island of Elba]; I've laid out the layout as well as can be done on a plan. On the 1st floor, there is only room for 3 apartments, a large 8-room apartment, 1 with 6 rooms for the empress and the other with 3 rooms. I think we can make 4 on the first floor, but we'll have to redesign the layout so that we can make at least 8 or 10 apartments to house the entire House, while retaining a beautiful apartment for the grand marshal, a lounge and a billiard room for the House. There is room for kitchens, pantries and storerooms. I would like you to present me with the final layout. It will be necessary for you to go with the plan to Longone. At the same time, you will see the expenses that have been incurred, and you will decide on the budget for the refurbishment, with the person in charge..." The Treaty of Paris of May 30, 1814 granted sovereignty over Elba to the deposed emperor, who landed there on May 3, 1814. He immediately set up a monarchical regime on the island, assisted by several leading figures of the First Empire, including the former Bertrand as Minister of the Interior, in charge of civil affairs. As usual, he worked tirelessly to organize his estate, until February 26, 1815, when, despite an active network of spies around him, he managed to leave the island for France with a handful of loyal followers, including Henri-Gatien Bertrand.