Napoleo Latinitate vestitus

A wealth of vernacular writings has ensured that Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most written-about figures of the modern age. But today few people are aware that, during his active public life, he was also the subject of numerous Latin verses, some praising him, others works of furious invective against him. A large number of practically unknown Latin poets from almost every part of Europe followed the example of Roman poets such as Virgil and Horace to reflect the mood of a new epoch, perceived as a new ‘Augustan’ age after the upheavals of the French revolution, with Bonaparte as a peacemaker, restorer of religion and patron of culture. The failure of the Russian campaign, however, saw them turn against Napoleon in their disappointment. This volume of pro- and in some cases anti-Napoleonic Latin poems dating from the French Revolution to his imperial coronation in 1804 contains some 60 texts consisting of over 4,300 lines in all, which are evaluated from both literary and historical perspectives. It represents the start of a larger project, which seeks to cover in several volumes all the Latin poems relating to Napoleon up until his death (1821) as well as those reflecting his posthumous reputation. As well as an edition of the Latin texts, the volume includes a metrical translation, introduction and commentary for each poem.