The Great Napoleon Crowns Himself.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 July 1914, Page 7

The Great Napoleon Crowns Himself.

For weeks before Sunday, December 21, 1801, the day of the coronation of Napoleon I. as Emperor of France, people had poured into Paris in order to be in the city on the eventful day. Notre Dame was decorated magnificently, the centrepiece being an immense throne erected at the west end for the Emperor and Empress.

Napoleon, arrayed in robes especially designed by a famous painter, and wearing a golden crown of laurels, drove from the Tuileries to the cathedral in a carriage nearly all windows.

When the Pope—who, at Napoleon's request, had journeyed from Rome in order, to be present on this occa-sion-^-had blessed, the sword and sceptre and anointed the Emperorelect, he turned to take the crown and place it upon Napoleon's brow. Without a moment's hesitation, the imperious little man waved him aside, and crowned himself first and Josephine afterwards !

For a 'moment the vast crowd was speechless at this audacity ; then a cry of "Vive l'Knipereur !" arose, and echoed and re-echoed among the pillars of the cathedral, the thunder of many cannon at the same time announcing to the inhabitants of Paris that Napoleon sat crowned Emperor of France!