Maréchal Davout, prince d’Eckmühl / Napoléon Ier / Comte Decaen - LETTRE - 1815

Armée des Pyrénées-Orientales — Historical poster relating to the abdication of Napoleon I and the proclamation of Napoleon II — June 1815.

A sheet printed in French, in two columns separated by an ornamental rule, bearing the title:

“Letter addressed by His Excellency the Minister of War; to Mr. Count Decaen, Commander-in-Chief of the Observational Corps of the Pyrénées-Orientales.”

Printer: P. A. Fontanel, printer to the Prefecture, in Montauban.

The document reproduces letters from the Minister of War, Marshal Davout, Prince of Eckmühl, dated June 22 and 23, 1815, Napoleon’s declaration to the French people of June 22, and an excerpt from the minutes of the Chamber of Representatives of June 23.

It evokes the second abdication of Napoleon I and the designation of his son as Napoleon II. The proclamation “VIVE LA NATION! VIVE NAPOLÉON II!” appears in the lower part.

Testimony to the dissemination of political and military decisions in the days following Waterloo, as the imperial authorities sought to maintain territorial defense and dynastic continuity.

The names and signatures of the mentioned personalities are printed. Handwritten annotations, not attributed, are present in the margins.

Number of pages: 1 printed page.
Dimensions with frame: about 53 × 42 cm, height × width. The exact dimensions of the leaf alone were not recorded.

Condition: aged yellowed and browned paper, with stains and occasional foxing. Old creases, notably a horizontal crease with tears and small losses. Rough and worn edges, with marginal tears and paper losses at the corners and around the perimeter. The text remains generally legible.

Presented in a black frame under glass. The back and any possible repairs are not visible in the photographs.

The photographs are an integral part of the description.