France, Empire. An Order from Consul Napoleon Bonaparte to the Minister of War to Rejoin Corps in Châlons after the Retreat from Egypt

A single halved page of paper with an order, signed by Consul Napoleon Bonaparte, to an unknown Minister of War, to rejoin corps in Châlons following the retreat from Egypt. The letter bears the letterhead of “Bonaparte, Consul of the Republic”, with a handwritten note, reading;

“Vous donnerez l’ordre, citoyen Ministre, que tous les individus revenant d’Egypte, qui se trouveraient à Toulouse, de rejoindre leurs dépôts à Châlons. Vous donnerez l’ordre à tous les individus vivant de Corfou et d’Ancône rejoignent leur corps à l’endroit où ils se trouvent." Translation: “You will give the order, citizen minister, that all individuals returning from Egypt, who are in Toulouse, return to their stations in Châlons. You will order all individuals living in Corfu and Ancona to return to their corps where they are located”.

The note is written in ink that has faded to a medium brown, and is signed by Napoleon Bonaparte using a signature that corresponds to the time period of this order. The page bears a partial watermark along the left side, along with cut off writing along the top left corner, measuring 24 cm (l) x 17.3 cm (w), in extremely fine condition. 

Footnote: The French Campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798 - 1801) was a campaign in Ottoman territories. The primary purpose of this campaign was to “defend French trade interests” and to establish “scientific enterprise” in the region. The Siege of Corfu took place between November 4th 1798 and March 3rd 1799, ultimately resulting in defeat for Bonaparte to the Russians. The capitulation agreed between the French and the Russian victors allowed a provision for the French troops to retreat to Toulon. With the Egyptian campaign then stagnating and political instability developing back in France, Bonaparte decided to return to France. According to contemporary research, he felt that he had nothing left to do in Egypt and that the forces that were left to him were not sufficient for an expedition of any importance. He also foresaw that the army at his disposal was getting weaker from losses in battle and to disease, and that he would be forced to surrender or be taken prisoner by his enemies. Fearing that the Republic’s future was in doubt, Bonaparte left the remains of his army in Egypt in charge of Jean-Baptiste Kléber, setting sail for France on August 24th, 1799. He launched a coup d’état on November 9th 1799, eventually establishing a dictatorship.