Rueil-Malmaison: at the imperial jubilee, Napoleon has everything of a star

The crowd throngs in the Bois Préau park in Rueil-Malmaison in the Hauts-de-Seine.

This Saturday afternoon, the garden becomes the scene of an exceptional reconstitution, on the occasion of the fourth edition of the imperial jubilee which is held all weekend: the ceremony of the distribution of the eagles of December 5, 1804. Three days after his coronation, Napoleon gathered his armies that day in front of the Military School of Paris to mark the beginning of the Empire.

For this reconstitution, more than 800 soldiers mobilized.

Extras passionate about living history come as always from the four corners of France and Europe.

�PHOTOPQR/LE PARISIEN/Jean-Baptiste Quentin;

Rueil-Malmaison;

09/24/2022;

Parc de Beau Pr� haut4th Imperial JubileeCeremony of the presentation of the EaglesAn exceptional spectacle during which the Imperial Eagles, a symbol of rallying, are distributed by Napoleon to his army.

A ceremony with more than 800 soldiers in the presence of Josephine and her court.� LP/Jean-Baptiste Quentin *** Local Caption *** 4th Imperial Jubilee

As the Emperor approaches, head held high, back straight, gaze proud, the audience massed behind barriers contorts to film the scene.

In the distance, two women are waving to him, seated on the shoulders of fellows.

The Emperor has his fans.

Even for those uninformed, the costume impresses.

"It's the third jubilee that I'm doing, it's always great, it allows you to go down in history", enthuses Corinne.

For the occasion, her neighbor Jana wore a long green dress matched with an emerald finery.

"It makes it easier to approach the soldiers!"

And then, we get into the mood, we play the princess, ”she smiles.

More than 80,000 people at least are expected in total this weekend in Rueil-Malmaison for this fourth jubilee, the first edition of which took place in 2012. The event organized in the town of the Château de la Malmaison, where Joséphine lived, has been able to attract more and more curious people: in 2017 during the third edition, nearly 110,000 people came over two days, while 70,000 gathered in 2015 and 35,000 the first year.

The grand parade and its 2,000 extras expected this Sunday

Napoleon, "played" by Mark Schneider, an American known in his country to be the official double of the Emperor, because he has the same height (1m68), the same aquiline nose, and, it is said, the same look, took up residence with Empress Josephine.

The ceremony can begin.

“At the time, the ceremony took place in terrible weather conditions: cold, wind, snow, rain…, explains David Chanteranne, historian and master of ceremonies, which did not prevent the new emperor from galvanizing his regiments, distributing to each of them flags with golden poles.

At the top of these standards, imperial eagles have been fixed, reminiscent of ancient Rome and will henceforth serve as rallying symbols for the various troops.

Parc de Beau Pré haut4th Imperial JubileeCeremony for the presentation of the EaglesAn exceptional spectacle during which the Imperial Eagles, a rallying symbol, are distributed by Napoleon to his army.

A ceremony with more than 800 soldiers in the presence of Joséphine and her court. © LP / Jean-Baptiste Quentin

"For my CM2 son who has a presentation to make on Napoleon, it's perfect", reacts Boris who came from Paris on purpose to attend the presentation of the eagles.

"It's quite a symbol, in the imagination of a little boy it's magnificent," he continues.

While 150 events are scheduled throughout the weekend to take the public back to the first years of the Empire, the major event will be held this Sunday with the grand imperial parade on Avenue Paul-Doumer with more than 2,000 extras at 11:30 a.m., making it the largest historical re-enactment in Europe.

Eight hundred soldiers, a hundred cavalry, Napoleon's General Staff, Josephine's court and 500 musicians from the Republican Guard will parade on the departmental road.

"But before, we'll all sleep here in the park, lit only by candles, it's living history!"

What we love!

concludes Dominique of the 12th regiment of mounted chasseurs.