Nelson & His World
http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/

Lady Hamilton in France
http://www.nelsonandhisworld.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1681
Page 1 of 1

Author:  tycho [ Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Lady Hamilton in France

Vanda has reminded us in her post on the information forum that the 200th anniversary of Lady Hamilton's death occurs in January 2015.

This caused me to reflect that Napoleon was not defeated until the battle of Waterloo in June 1815, so Lady Hamilton was living in France at a time when the country was at war with Britain.

It seems strange that Emma, a citizen of a hostile power, was allowed to take up residence at such a time.

Any comments?

Author:  Mark Barrett [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 9:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lady Hamilton in France

Anna

I don't think the logic is quite right here.

The Treaty of Paris (30th May 1814) effectively ended the war with France. Napoleon went into exile on Elba. It was approximately one month later that Emma crossed the Channel to Calais.

The war recommenced when Napoleon escaped from Elba on 26th February 1815. Emma had died just over a month before.

So for the whole time that Emma was in France, Britain and France were not actually at war.

Hope I am correct in this!!

Mark

Author:  tycho [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lady Hamilton in France

Mark:

My ignorance is boundless.......many thanks for the correction!

Author:  Vanda Cain [ Sun Dec 21, 2014 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lady Hamilton in France

The social, economic and political background to the last years of Emma's life is covered in 'Life After Nelson.'

Best regards, Vanda

Author:  brian [ Mon Dec 22, 2014 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lady Hamilton in France

There is of course an additional complication in terms of which 'France' Britain was at war with in 1815 (if we were at war with 'France' at all rather then with Napoleon).
The legal regime of France after 1814 - when Lady H was there - was that of Britain's ally Louis XVIII; and presumably that remained the case even after Bonaparte's illegal seizure of power. Anybody know if that is so? I am too preoccupied with pre-Christmas conviviality to look it up!
Brian

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/