LS in French, signed “Np,” three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.25 x 9, April 4, 1811. Letter reads, in part (translated): “Since money shipments to the Army of the Center are very difficult, I want the 500,000 francs intended for the Army of the Center by virtue of my order of March 29 to be sent to the Army of Portugal…A 5th convoy will leave from Bayonne April 15 and will be escorted to Vittoria by two Battalions on foot. This convoy will consist of 6 millions, three million in cash, three million in bank drafts. These six million are intended for:
The Army of Portugal—cash 2 Mill. Drafts 1 Mill.
The Army of the South—cash 2 Mill. Drafts 1 Mill.
The Army of the Center—cash 1 Mill. Drafts 1 Mill.
You will make known to the King of Spain that I have authorized the Treasury to send him 500,000 francs monthly starting with April 1…the loan will be continued for the entire year 1811.”
In very good to fine condition, with light overall toning, a bit heavier along top edge, paper loss to top left corner of both pages, some stray ink marks to lower blank portion of last page, and a diagonal crease to first page.
In April 1811, Napoleon’s empire was beginning showing signs of decline. His armies in Spain were embroiled in the Peninsular War, pitting France against the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal. In early 1811, British reinforcements forced Marshall Masséna to retreat from Portugal. Following the route, Masséna’s Army of Portugal once numbering 70,000 was reduced to less than 50,000. Meanwhile, Napoleon’s forces in Spain—King Joseph’s Army of the Center and Marshall Soult’s Army of the South—were plagued by Spanish Guerrilla fighting. Numerically superior, the French had more than 350,000 troops, but 200,000 of these were deployed to protect supply lines, such as the one specified in this letter. The “King of Spain” was Napoleon’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte, to whom he gave the throne after he forced the Spanish royals to abdicate. A letter written at a crucial point in the Napoleonic Wars, when the Emperor was feeling the first sting of failure in Iberia. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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