“The head of the crown-wearer lies restless,” says Shakespeare’s Henry IV. While waiting for the official reopening of the Parisian cathedral, scheduled for next December 7th, we remember the coronation which took place at Notre-Dame exactly 220 years ago, on December 2nd 1804. That morning Napoleon woke up early in the Tuileries and with the his Josephine reached the church in a carriage pulled by eight bay horses. Waiting outside, there were thousands of people, who had already taken their seats since the night. A large air balloon, decorated with the imperial insignia and thousands of candles, was launched in front of the cathedral.

The elaborate (and very expensive) ceremony, in the presence of Pope Pius VII – after mass, various hymns and prayers – culminated with the actual coronation. Strictly speaking, the Pope should have placed the crown on the head of the new sovereign but, as is known, this was not the case. Legend has it that the general, surprisingly, snatched the diadem from the pontiff’s hands. In reality everything had already been decided: Napoleon took the crown – he had one specially made in medieval style – and put it on his head himself, whereupon the Pope said: “May God confirm you on your throne and may Christ give you the government”. The gesture served to underline that Bonaparte would reign on his own merits and by the will of the people, not by divine grace. However, it did not serve to consolidate the new dynasty. To those who complimented her on her son’s triumphs, Madame Mère – the wise Letizia Ramolino – always replied: “Pourvu que ça dure!”. And he was right, it didn’t last long.