Latest news with #Bonaparte
Medscape
28-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Behind History's Icons: Napoleon and His Notorious Anatomy
The ancient Egyptians believed that mummifying the king's body enabled his ascension to the realm of the gods. According to this belief, the preserved body, known as the Ach — a luminous spirit — was thought to enter the sarcophagus, symbolizing the womb of Nut, the mother goddess of the sky. This belief in the enduring power of corpses echoes human history. In the early history of the Church in the West, Christians developed a special reverence for the bones of saints. Among the many preserved relics are Jesus' foreskin and the head of John the Baptist. By the 19th century, European scientists had begun to preserve and study the organs of extraordinary individuals. From Mohammed's beard and Buddha's teeth to Adolf Hitler's testicles, this offers an overview of the most famous human body parts in history. Part I examines the masculinity of Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon: Symbol of Masculinity How masculine was Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)? The answer to this question depends on the definition of masculinity. However, sufficient biographical evidence exists to offer clear answers to some of the possible variations in this otherwise broad and general question. During the French Revolution, young soldier Bonaparte distinguished himself as a military talent of the highest caliber. He went on to become a general of the First French Republic, the First Consul of France, and eventually the Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine. Pieter Geyl wrote in 1947, 'It is impossible that two historians, especially two historians living in different periods, should see any historical personality in the same light.' reflecting on the personality that enabled Bonaparte's swift rise to military and political power. What is beyond dispute is that Bonaparte was 'ambitious,' 'highly intelligent,' 'exceptionally well-organized,' and possessed 'an excellent memory.' These traits allowed him to issue complex military orders swiftly and accurately during critical battles without losing track of troop movements. Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington from 1769 to 1852, said his presence on the battlefield was worth 40,000 soldiers. He could charm people when he needed to but could also publicly humiliate them and was known for his rage when his plans were frustrated. By that measure, if masculinity was defined by ambition, resolve, and authority, Napoleon would undoubtedly be masculine. Frail Figure Physical strength is another traditional indicator of masculinity. Swiss officer Johann Ludwig Wurstemberger, who accompanied Bonaparte between 1797 and 1798, described him at 29 as 'slight and emaciated looking.' Among his troops, Bonaparte was nicknamed Le Petit Caporal, translated as 'The Little Corporal.' In many later portraits, he appears noticeably shorter than his officers do. This apparent contradiction between personality and physique inspired the Austrian physician and psychiatrist Alfred Adler in 1870-1937 to retrospectively diagnose Bonaparte with an inferiority complex, which was largely caused by his small stature and sexual dysfunction. Adler's theory evolved into what is now known as the 'Napoleon complex.' Historians now know that Napoleon was not unusually short. Standing at 1.686 m, he was > 8 cm taller than the average Frenchman of his time. Young soldiers usually measured between 1.65 and 1.69 m. The fact that Bonaparte nevertheless appears short in paintings is probably due to his preference for tall soldiers — none of his bodyguards were < 1.76 m. Contradictory Sex Life Bonaparte had his first sexual experiences at 18 as a second lieutenant with Parisian prostitutes from the Palais-Royal. He remained faithful to his first wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais, for 2 years — 1763-1814. While on campaign in Egypt, he met Marguérite Pauline Fourés in 1778-869, who was newly married. After sending her husband, a lieutenant, back to France with an important letter, Bonaparte had an affair with Fourés. Two years later, he became involved with the famous Milanese opera singer Giuseppina Grassini — 1773-1850. Later, Bonaparte had affairs with actors Marguerite-Joséphine Georges in 1787-1867 and Catherine-Joséphine Duchesnois in 1777-1835, as well as with Adèle Duchâtel — 1782-1860, the wife of an elderly state councilor. Napoleon appointed the young Genoese dancer Carlotta Gazzani in 1789-1827 as de Beauharnais's reader to facilitate his affairs with Gazzani. Bonaparte also seduced the wives of his officers and other politicians. However, politician and writer Marie-Henri Beyle in 1783-1842, who witnessed one of Bonaparte's encounters, wrote about his sexual performance: 'The emperor, sitting at a small table with his sword at his side, signed decrees. The lady entered, without being disturbed, he asked her to sit on the bed. The main part of the meeting lasted < 3 minutes. Often his Mameluke stood behind a screen.' Surgeon and author Robert McNair Wilson later speculated that Napoleon had testicular atrophy and impotence in his 50s. Even when the Countess of Ornano, Maria Walewska in 1786-1817, with whom he had already fathered an illegitimate child, secretly visited him in exile in 1814, she was given separate accommodation. The Final Symbol A final thought-provoking detail about Bonaparte's masculinity comes from his penis, obtained during an autopsy in 1821 and reportedly preserved to this day. In a Channel 4 documentary by the British television network, Napoleon's preserved penis, reportedly owned by American urologist John Kingsley Lattimer, was measured off-camera. at 1.0 inch (2.54 cm). Experts estimate that in his lifetime, it may have measured approximately 3-4 cm. The penis is often viewed as a symbol of male creativity and power. However, the discovery of the penis of one of history's most influential and idealized figures, Monarch Napoleon I, invites a reconsideration of penis cults and old stereotypes.
See - Sada Elbalad
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Egyptian Amb. to Armenia Highlights Cultural Ties Through Francophonie Celebrations
Nada Mustafa As part of Francophonie celebrations in Armenia, Serenade Gamil, Ambassador of Egypt to Armenia, organized a series of cultural events aimed at strengthening bilateral ties through arts and literature. A key highlight was a lecture titled 'Aznavour: An Egyptian Passion' delivered by renowned Egyptian writer and historian Dr. Ahmed Youssef at the Charles Aznavour Foundation in Yerevan. The event explored the deep cultural connections between Egypt and the legendary French-Armenian singer, Charles Aznavour. In another academic initiative, Gamil partnered with Haybusak University in Yerevan to host a special presentation of Dr. Youssef's latest book 'Bonaparte.' During his lecture, Dr. Youssef shed light on the historical presence of the Armenian community in Egypt, notably praising Nubar Pasha, the first Prime Minister of Egypt in the 19th century, for his significant contributions. For her part, Gamil emphasized the importance of strengthening cultural cooperation between Egypt and Armenia, noting that such exchanges enrich mutual understanding and celebrate shared heritage. It is worth mentioning that, Charles Aznavour Foundation, established by Charles Aznavour and his son Nicolas Aznavour, aims to carry forward the humanitarian legacy of the legendary artist. The foundation develops and supports a wide range of educational, cultural, social, and national initiatives both in Armenia and internationally. Egyptian Ambassador to Armenia read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Carême, review: the story of the Napoleonic superstar chef is whipped into a sexy soufflé
In Carême (Apple TV+), an eight-part drama set in the fine dining rooms and bustling kitchens of post-revolutionary France, Bridgerton gets into bed with Bake-Off. Sex and food make their joint entrance in the very opening shot, as a pretty young woman delicately licks a cream-tipped finger. Yes, she's sampling a recipe for icing, but she's soon the recipient of more intimate foreplay. The finger belongs to Antonin Carême, Paris's fêted young pastry chef who is here exhumed from the pages of actual history. He's an extraordinary figure who, despite humble origins, was employed by Talleyrand, cooked for European royalty and codified haute cuisine. As embodied by Benjamin Voisin, he's now playfully repackaged as a touselled pin-up of the hot hob. The script extracts the basics from Cooking for Kings, Ian Kelly's 2004 biography of Carême. Kelly, who adapted the book into a one-man play, is credited as co-author of the pilot, but there are signs of a right old food-fight in script meetings as a result of which facts have been tossed aside or massaged into a fantastical soufflé. That Carême worked for Talleyrand (Jérémie Renier) is the drama's core ingredient. For the grandmaster of chicanery, he cooks up a storm to achieve political goals: please Bonaparte, sway the exiled Louis XVIII, send a coded message to a political prisoner. There's even a cooking compo which is essentially MasterChef in perruques. As a barely glimpsed Napoleon gears up to be crowned emperor, the plot pouts and schemes through a maze of interpersonal twists and geopolitical turns. When not cooking, Carême uses his privileged access to grand houses to go snooping. His nemesis is a furniture-chewing chief of police (Micha Lescot), while he consorts with a sultry quartet of paramours and princesses – kitchen frenemy Agathe (Alice Da Luz), iffy girlfriend Henriette (Lyna Khoudri) and Mesdames Bonaparte and Talleyrand (Maud Wyler and Sigrid Bouaziz). It's fun stuff, served with a saucy side order of rumps and humps. An orgiastic dinner in episode one, where everybody's going every which way with anybody, sets the tone, and there are flirtatious glimpses of sapphic subtext. But the true porn, filmed in lingering close-up, happens in the kitchen, where the vol-au-vent is succulently invented, and towering cakes drip with gold icing. The show's army of food designers are its ultimate stars. It's handsome to look at and, being in French, to listen to. The script's insouciant disdain for accuracy has been fully embraced by the costume department, who dress Carême as a strutting New Romantic popsicle in cream donkey jacket, tartan troos and dandy earring. In the climactic episode he dons – supposedly invents – the classic all-white outfit topped with the tall hat, and coins the word 'chef'. Carême's hedge-betting pitch to both foodies and French Revolution buffs feels like an on-trend commissioning strategy. Amazon Prime attempted something similar in My Lady Jane, which introduced magical creatures into Tudor dynastic politics. Where to next? A drama that appeals alike to fans of spycraft and antiques? Classical civilisation and home improvement? Vampires and gardening? We are all slaves to the algorithm now.
Al Bawaba
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Napoleon's personal sword up for auction at $2M
Published April 27th, 2025 - 12:05 GMT ALBAWABA - Napoleon Bonaparte's sword will go up for auction for the first time in history next month in France, with an estimated value of around $2 million. Also Read $6M auction for first editions of Shakespeare's plays Napoleon's sword for $2M A rare sword once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte for 'personal use' will be auctioned in Paris on May 22, with an estimated price of $2 million, according to the Giquello auction the sword was designed at Bonaparte's request between 1802 and 1803 and was used for personal purposes during his tenure as First Consul of France. It was crafted by Nicolas-Noël Boutet, a renowned French gunsmith and bladesmith who served as director of the Versailles state arms factory, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). A rare sword once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte for 'personal use' will be auctioned in Paris on May 22, with an estimated price of $2 million, according to the Giquello auction house. (Evans X) Later, Bonaparte gifted the sword to Emmanuel de Grouchy, a French military leader. Since 1815, it has been preserved by de Grouchy's descendants and will be featured for the first time ever in the upcoming auction in France. It is worth noting that an identical copy of the sword, also designed by Bonaparte, is housed in the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Also Read Charles de Gaulle watch sells for $525K at auction © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
