NAVAL EXHIBITION UNDER THE FIRST EMPIRE
CONFERENCES
THE BRITISH VIEW OF THE NATIONAL NAVY UNDER NAPOLEON I AND NAPOLEON III
16/02/23 - 18h30
There is one story told in Britain regarding the French navy in the 19th century that is extremely well known. The glorious reputations of Nelson, Collingwood and Napoleon I carry on their shoulders the story of hyper-power of the British navy and the endemic weakness of the French naval opposition at the beginning of the 19th century. On the other hand, the catastrophic debacle of the French Second Empire has obscured the remarkable achievements of her navy during the presidency of Louis-Napoleon and his subsequent reign as Napoleon III, period in which, for one year, the French navy became the most powerful on the planet. Though great expense was engaged in Britain to fight against the French menace at the time, this latter story is barely known in the UK and indeed little told in France. The paper here proposes an overview (through British eyes, and including period vocal satires in English and French) of the British naval preponderance 1795-1815 and French naval technological advances 1840-1870.
16/02/23 – 18H30 I Reservation required I 8€ I Free for members of the museum and the Souvenir Napoléonie I Lecture in French
IS SURCOUF A LEGENDARY SAILOR?
15/03/23 - 18h30
Is Surcouf a legendary sailor? Rather, is there not a Surcouf legend? Michel Vergé – Franceschi, French historian, will tell us his opinion on the most famous privateer!
15/03/23 – 18H30 I Reservation required I 8€ I Free for members of the museum and the Souvenir Napoléonie I Lecture in French
THE BOULOGNE-SUR-MER FLOTILLA TO INVADE ENGLAND
20/04/23 - 18h30
Did you know that our current Belgian provinces were involved in the flotilla that may have defeated the Empire’s fiercest enemy?
20/04/23 – 18H30 I Reservation required I 8€ I Free for members of the museum and the Souvenir Napoléonie I Lecture in French