Chapter 194: Coronation Ceremony

In Paris, Marshal Murat, the military governor, led the procession with his officers, followed by four squadrons of cavalry and four battalions of infantry, along with a regiment of the Imperial Guard infantry and a group of Mameluke soldiers dressed in Egyptian attire.

Following them were the heralds on high-headed horses, leading 11 carriages carrying senior state officials, including Talleyrand, Berthier, and Fouché. Fouché, as the Minister of Police in France, was highly talented but also extremely cunning, ruthless, and ambitious. He had long sought to replace Napoleon but was remarkably intelligent enough to stay in power when he lacked the absolute strength to defeat Napoleon. Surprisingly, Napoleon understood Fouché's intentions well but still allowed him to hold high office, perhaps out of confidence in his own abilities.

Following the senior officials' carriages were the carriages of Napoleon's family, including Caroline, Pauline, and Elisa.

Finally, in the last carriage, was the Emperor of France himself, Napoleon. Roland sat with his father and mother in their family carriage, positioned towards the rear of the entire procession.

Napoleon rode in a magnificent carriage adorned with gold decorations, bearing the imperial emblem and the crown of Charlemagne on its doors. Standing behind the carriage was an aide-de-camp, driven by César, the coachman whom Napoleon trusted most. Since an assassination attempt, Napoleon had conducted a major purge of those around him, and César was one of the few who remained.

Napoleon's carriage was drawn by eight chestnut horses, covered in white horse-cloths and wearing Moroccan red leather harnesses with bronze bits, escorted by the stern Imperial Guard. They proceeded slowly towards Notre Dame Cathedral.

Emperor Napoleon, dressed in coronation finery, wore a Spanish red velvet robe inset with jewels and a short jacket with gold buttons. Accompanying the Emperor was Empress Josephine, dressed in a white satin dress adorned with gold and silver decorations. According to Spanish custom, his two brothers willing to participate in Napoleon's coronation, Joseph and Louis, sat opposite him.

However, his brother Lucien did not attend due to his lack of administrative ability and personal problems. Lucien had proudly embraced multiple mistresses while his wife was pregnant again, and he even attempted to defeat Napoleon in the presidential election to ascend to the throne of First Consul. In response, Napoleon had had enough, and on April 4, 1804, Lucien and his wife were exiled for life to Italy. This incident also caused Napoleon's mother to misunderstand him, creating an irreparable rift in the First Family of France.

On the way to the coronation, Josephine could hardly contain her smile, while Napoleon's expression was as cold as that of his brothers. Undoubtedly, this was a long-planned day, where France was laid out before him on a golden platter, a burden he would carry until his final day.

The entire Bonaparte family, especially Joseph and Louis, harbored strong hostility and jealousy towards Napoleon declaring himself emperor. Their eyes gleamed with anger. After all, who wouldn't envy a brother who grew up alongside them but now became a king of a nation?

Yet, with Napoleon ascending the imperial throne, a more pressing question surfaced: since Napoleon currently had no sons, who would be his successor?

Would it be Roland, whom Napoleon favored the most? No, even though Roland had Napoleon's favor, he was merely Napoleon's nephew. The most crucial figure was Josephine, Napoleon's wife. As long as she bore Napoleon a son, that child would be the inheritor of Napoleon's great legacy.

Since Josephine married Napoleon, she had become the family's number one "enemy," as the Corsican family opposed her stubbornly, often causing her great sorrow and tears. Though she may not have aspired to be queen, she had to protect her rights, even if it meant sacrificing her daughter's happiness.

Throughout all this, Roland observed with a cold eye. He knew his current position was awkward. Though not Napoleon's legal heir, in the eyes of some, due to Napoleon's favor, he had become a potential successor. Therefore, during this time, he must learn to bide his time and build his strength to compete for power.

But he currently had no power to contend with his uncles and aunts. Moreover, now that Napoleon held all the power, the fate of Lucien was a lesson.

At 11:05 in the morning, the Emperor and Empress passed through the Gothic wooden arches built between the palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. Napoleon, dressed in a deep red velvet robe with a short jacket adorned with gold buckles, walked in high-top leather shoes, with a sword at his waist inlaid with sparkling gems. He wore white gloves, holding Charlemagne's scepter and the "Hand of Justice," a symbol once used by the previous Bourbon kings to signify their power.

Leading the way was a court servant in a black and green robe, followed by a herald in violet outerwear carrying a scepter, and then servants in green and gold. Following them was Count Desegur, dressed in purple and silver, the master of ceremonies for the coronation, with his assistant. Behind them were the Emperor's relatives and three marshals, with Surrer holding the tray for the coronation ring. Mosse held a golden basket bearing the Emperor's train, while Murat held the Emperor's crown.

As Empress Josephine, escorted by her first lady-in-waiting and a military aide, stepped slowly into the silent cathedral, she became the center of attention. She was radiant with pride, for everything she now enjoyed was the privilege of a queen. Without her position as queen, she would never have had the opportunity to wear this gown, valued at a staggering 101,000 francs.

The elaborate coronation ceremony lasted for a full four hours. Finally, the climax of the coronation arrived (at least Roland thought so).

That was the crowning moment.

Normally, an emperor's coronation would be performed by the Pope, but Napoleon felt that his crown was not a gift from God but rather something he had earned with his own sword. Therefore, after the Pope anointed him with holy oil, he personally lifted the crown from the altar and placed it on his own head, just like the ancient Emperor Caesar. Then, he took another crown, the Empress's crown, and placed it on Josephine's head. From that moment on, French history had its first empress of French origin.

This scene was immortalized by artists and became a timeless classic.

While Josephine's friends and admirers were delighted by her glory, the princesses behind her—Elisa, Caroline, and Pauline—were experiencing a different sentiment. Women's jealousy is profound, and when this jealousy is magnified by power, it becomes an unbearable force for anyone.

The hostility of the royal women towards Josephine had reached a point where Napoleon had to intervene. He issued an ultimatum to his sisters: either accept Josephine as empress or be exiled with their husbands, forfeiting their titles and wealth.

Under Napoleon's pressure, they were finally able to join the ceremony today with the common people.

On the platform, Josephine looked at Napoleon with a smile, her eyes twinkling, clearly moved. But the Pope standing nearby wasn't in such a good mood. Napoleon's self-coronation clearly didn't sit well with him. Thinking of this, Pope Pius VII felt a mix of emotions. There was a bitterness in realizing that his ancestors' legacy was being undermined. There was a time when the Church's power was so strong that even a king would be punished if he dared disrespect it. But now, being ignored by Napoleon, it was a different story.

Regardless of his inner thoughts, the Pope had a job to do. Otherwise, knowing Napoleon's temperament, he might find himself in an embarrassing situation. So, he stepped forward, handed the emperor his ring, embraced him, then turned to the crowd and exclaimed, "Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"