Napoleon in Egypt (82 page)

*                  What was erected in the center of Ezbekiyah Square is variously described as an obelisk, a column, a pyramid, and even a mast, depending largely upon how impressed the spectator was by this monument.
Return to text
.

*                  The British settlement in Australia, and the French settlement in Guyana which was consciously modeled upon this, could not at this time be taken seriously as colonial exemplars, being nothing other than penal colonies or dumping grounds for those considered socially undesirable.
Return to text
.

*                  This list includes countries which were at war with France at the time, such as much of Germany. What is perhaps more interesting is the countries that are
not
on the list—such as Britain, America, Spain (an ally at the time) and Austria (also an ally). The new Egypt was evidently envisaged as a largely continental European affair, free from any Anglo-Saxon influence. It would also have no Hispanic or Dutch input. In other words, it would not include those countries that already had large empires beyond Europe. Now it was France’s turn, and the empire based on her culture was intended to dwarf all others.
Return to text
.

Chapter XII

*                  Physics was of course by now becoming a very mathematical science, so ironically this section of the Institute did not include what we would call physicists, who were instead in the mathematics section. The naming of the physics section was in line with the French scientific nomenclature of the period, where
physique
would perhaps be better translated as “physical sciences,” i.e., the study of all physical matter.
Return to text
.

*                  A vulgar sentimental tune, popular in the low taverns of Paris.
Return to text
.

Chapter XIII

*                  Most sources amend this spelling to the correct
Le Courrier
, but the bound copies in the British Library show that the magazine itself obstinately retained this anachronistic military misnomer throughout all editions.
Return to text
.

*                  This would seem to indicate that they had different classes of dining areas, with corresponding menus; presumably this ensured the separation of the officers, the NCOs and the men.
Return to text
.

*                  This saying was apparently once prevalent throughout the Levant, particularly within the confines of the Ottoman Empire, but in my experience it is now fondly recalled only in more remote parts of modern Turkey.
Return to text
.

Chapter XIV

*                  Reis Effendi was the official title of the Porte’s foreign minister, who at the time was Asif Ahmed; however, many contemporary reports refer simply to Reis Effendi (seemingly mistaking this for his actual name), and I have thus retained this usage to avoid confusion.
Return to text
.

*                  This hall was not actually within the confines of the sultan’s seraglio (or harem), but attached to it, and served as the council chamber of the cabinet (the
divan
). Here the grand vizier and his ministers would sit in order of rank on the low couches at the sides of the room (the original divans from which all such councils took their name). During meetings of the
divan
the sultan would sit hidden above the chamber behind a grille, listening to the discussions. He would rap his cane against the grille to signify the start and finish of these meetings, but would take no part in them. Afterwards, the grand vizier and other ministers might in turn be summoned to private audiences with the sultan to give account of what they had said. Unsatisfactory explanations could lead to serious consequences. During the earlier reign of Selim the Grim, seven grand viziers had been executed in eight years. Such government did not make for precipitous decisions; but by the same token, once a decision was made, and approved by the sultan, it was not lightly rescinded.
Return to text
.

Chapter XV

*                  In French, this last sentence reads: “
Je vous salue et vous aime
.” Whilst
aime
here is intended in terms of fondness and deep friendship, the word
love
conveys something of the shock value this disarmingly sympathetic avowal must have had (and was intended to have). During this period Napoleon seldom signed off his letters with anything but a simple “Bonaparte”; even his one or two favored generals were lucky if they were greeted, “
Je vous salue
.”
Return to text
.

*                  One of the holiest places in the mosque, marking the direction in which Muslims pray to Mecca.
Return to text
.

*                  This sudden roll of violent thunder was also heard above the Al-Azhar mosque; despite some claims to the contrary, it did not intimidate the rebels inside, who appeared not to distinguish it from the exploding shells.
Return to text
.

Chapter XVII

*                  Monge and Berthollet had by now appended their names to so many of Napoleon’s administrative projects in Egypt that many in the army were convinced that “Monge- Berthollet” was a single person.
Return to text
.

*                  In fact, a little over half this distance.
Return to text
.

*                  The town in the southwest corner of France after which the bayonet takes its name.
Return to text
.

*                  This collection was to become the basis of the Oriental manuscript collection at the British Library.
Return to text
.

Chapter XVIII

*                  The French would name the pastel greenish color of this muddy river water
eau de Nil
.
Return to text
.

*                  Daybreak is not actually so early in Egypt during October. This discrepancy resulted from the fact that the French continued to observe Paris time.
Return to text
.

*                  I have converted these prices, which are given by Belliard in the local currency,
médins
. To convey an idea of the worth of such prices for Belliard and his fellow diners, a senior savant such as Denon earned 500 francs a month. Even the
Courier
, a mere four-page weekly newspaper, cost twenty-one centimes—enough to buy a pair of pigeons and a dozen eggs, with change to spare!
Return to text
.

*                  Other sources, which confirm this story, claim he was a German, from Saxony.
Return to text
.

NAPOLEON IN EGYPT
A Bantam Book

PUBLISHING HISTORY
Jonathan Cape hardcover edition (UK) published 2007
Bantam hardcover edition / November 2008
Published by Bantam Dell
A Divison of Random House, Inc.
New York, New York

All rights reserved
Copyright © 2007 by Paul Strathern

Maps by Reginald Piggott

Bantam Books is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc., and the colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Strathern, Paul, 1940-
Napoleon in Egypt / Paul Strathern.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
occupation, 1798-1801. 2. Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821. 3. Civilization—Egyptian influences. 4. France—History—1789-1815. I. Title.
DC225.S77 2008
962’.03—dc22
2008028135

www.bantamdell.com

eISBN: 978-0-553-90588-5

v3.0