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131 - MURAT (JOACHIM). "WE HAVE ASSUMED THE CROWN OF THE TWO SICIL…
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Estimate €1,500 - €2,000
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MURAT (JOACHIM). "WE HAVE ASSUMED THE CROWN OF THE TWO SICILES...". "Abbiamo assunto la Corona delle Due Sicilie...". Letter signed "Joachim Napoleon" as King of Naples, in Italian, addressed to his Council of State. S.l., [end of July or beginning of August 1808]. 2 pp. 1/4 in-folio on a gilt-edged bifeuillet watermarked with the imperial eagle and the effigy of Napoleon I, small tears in the lower margins. INAUGURAL LETTER OF HIS REIGN, ADDRESSED TO THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ORGAN OF THE KINGDOM OF NAPLES. It was published at the beginning of August in all the gazettes of the Empire, either entirely in Italian or in a somewhat limited French translation. By requesting the collaboration of the Council of State, Joachim Murat demonstrated that he intended to respect the Constitution of his predecessor Joseph Bonaparte, who had promulgated it on 20 June 1808 when he was already in Bayonne and knew that he would soon cease to be King of Naples and become King of Spain. Although the Statute of Bayonne conferring the Crown of Spain on Joseph Bonaparte and that of Naples on Joachim Murat dates from 15 July 1808 with effect from 1 August, Napoleon I's decision had been taken since May. At the beginning of August, a Neapolitan delegation travelled to Turin to await the new sovereign, including two State Councillors, the Duke of Sant'Arpino (Alonso Sánchez de Luna) and the economist and philosopher Melchiorre Delfico. However, Joachim Murat, who would have preferred the Spanish throne, was slow to travel to Italy and did not enter Naples until 6 September. "I doveri, che accompagnano LA POSIZIONE IN CUI IL CIELO CI HA POSTI, CHIAMANDOCI AL GOVERNO DI UNA COSI BELLA E FLORIDA PARTE D'ITALIA, e a formare la felicità di tanti milioni di uomini, pieni d'energia, d'ingegno, e di ottime disposizioni, sarebbero sommamente gravi per l'animo nostro, se non fussimo già prevenuti della confidenza, che possiamo riporre nei lumi e nella fedeltà del nostro Consiglio di Stato, e dell'ajuto e cooperazione che dobbiamo aspettarci da esso nell'opera difficile ma gloriosa che il Cielo ci ha commessa. Noi dunque nel partecipare al Consiglio di Stato, che, mercé la divina Providenza e le disposizioni dell'augusto Imperatore Napoleone, nostro Cognato, contenuti nello statuto da lui emanato li 15 luglio, ABBIAMO ASSUNTO LA CORONA DELLE DUE SICILIE ; ci lusinghiamo di poter essere per la metà di agosto nel suo seno per deliberar con esso, ciò che possa esser utile all'amministrazione, e prosperità della nazione. E siccome LA COSTITUZIONE DELLO STATO, CHE ABBIAMO SOLLENNEMENTE ACCETTATA, formentà la base del nostro governo, cosi non dubitiamo, che il nostro Consiglio di Stato, misurando le proprie idee sulla medesima e sulle leggi precedenti, che in essa sono consacrate, non vorrà contribuire col suo studio, e con i suoi talenti a facilitare l'opera nostra, diretta tutta allo scopo di formare il sollievo e la felicità de' nostri popoli. Incarichiamo pertanto ciascuna delle sezioni e delle commissioni particolari del Consiglio di continuare i loro rispettivi travagli sulle diverse parti dell'amministrazione a cui ciascuna di esse sezioni e commissioni è proposta, preparandoci tutto il travaglio su gli affari, che possa esser più necessario, affinché al nostro arrivo possiamo speditamente occuparcene, e deliberarlo. Ogni pruova che ci daranno i membri del nostro Consiglio di Stato, di patriotismo e di zelo per il bene della nazione, la riguarderemo come un titolo a quella stima, e contemplazione, che ci sarà grato di loro dimostrare in ogni occasione... " Translation: "The duties which accompany THE POSITION IN WHICH HEAVEN HAS PLACED US IN CALLING US TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AND FLORISHING PART OF ITALY, and to contribute to shaping the felicity of so many millions of men, full of energy, intelligence, and the best dispositions, would be eminently burdensome to our souls if we had not already been informed of the confidence we could place in the enlightenment and fidelity of our Council of State, and of the help and co-operation we should expect from it in the difficult but glorious work which Heaven has entrusted to us. We, therefore, inform the Council of State that, by Divine Providence and the provisions of the august Emperor Napoleon, our brother-in-law, contained in the statute which he promulgated on 15 July, WE HAVE ASSURED THE CROWN OF THE TWO-SICILES, and we flatter ourselves that in mid-August we shall be able to be in its midst to deliberate with it on what might be useful for the administration and prosperity of the nation. And as THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE, WHICH WE HAVE SOLEMNLY ACCEPTED, will form the basis of our government, we have no doubt that our Council of State, weighing up its own ideas on this and on the previous laws which are enshrined in it, will wish to contribute by its work and its talents to facilitating our task, directed entirely towards the aim of ensuring the relief and happiness of our peoples. We therefore instruct each of the sections and commissions of the Council to continue their respective work on the various parts of the administration for which each of these sections and commissions is responsible, preparing all the work on the affairs that may be most necessary, so that when we arrive we can quickly deal with and deliberate on them. Every proof of patriotism and zeal for the good of the nation that the members of our Council of State give us, we will consider as a title to the esteem and consideration that we will be pleased to show them on all occasions...".
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About the sale The Empire at Fontainebleau - Second day
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits:
Michel Bury and Henri du Cray
See original version (French)
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