Napoleon's Imperial Barge

Posted by John Crandall Mar 5, 2007

The oar powered river barge known as Le Canot Imperial in French has magnificent decoration. It shows the extravagance Napoleon was sometimes capable of in his Imperial capacity despite his long standing claims to be a representative of the people, and "a man of the Revolution." The nobility that he had invited to return to France upon taking power at the end of the Reign of Terror probably appreciated such splendor. From the time when Napoleon first became First Consul until the end of World War II France often exhibited the dual nature of its Republican ideals and its Monarchical and then Imperial Napoleonic past.

Whatever ideals they espouse, Nations such as France love such Imperial splendor. The pomp and circumstance of such a craft is impressive indeed. Napoleon I used this boat only once, but it was later used by Napoleon III in 1848, and by the President of the French Republic in 1903. It can be seen today in the Musee National de la Marine where it has been since 1943.

It is a beautiful piece of ship construction, and an interesting bit of history. Pictures of replicas of the barge can be seen on several web sites, although I have failed to find a link or information about the actual museum in English.