Standing tall and proud in the picturesque town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the Column of the Grande Armée (known locally as Colonne de la Grande Armée) is a striking monument that commemorates one of the most ambitious military campaigns in history. This 53-meter high Corinthian order triumphal column is not just an architectural marvel but a symbol of French military prowess and the indomitable spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Column of the Grande Armée was originally conceived to celebrate a successful invasion of England, an invasion that never came to pass. Instead, it now stands as a tribute to the first distribution of the Imperial Légion d'honneur by Napoleon to the soldiers of the Army of England at the camp de Boulogne. The idea for the column was proposed by Marshal Soult in September 1804, and the town of Boulogne purchased the site from the widow Delahodde-Fourcroy, a reluctant royalist who referred to Napoleon as the usurper.
The project was a collective effort, with the architect Étienne-Éloi Labarre, the bronze-caster Houdon, and Jean Guillaume Moitte for the bas-reliefs. Soldiers, sailors, and officers contributed their pay to fund the construction. The first stone was laid by Soult on 9 October 1804, amidst great festivities and the awarding of decorations. The stone was sourced from local Marquis marble, discovered by Monsieur Piron, who named the quarry and the marble after Napoleon.
After the Grande Armée left Boulogne in 1805, work on the column slowed. By 1811, the project had run out of funds, with the column only 20 meters high. The site closed, and work halted completely in 1814 following Napoleon's fall. The statues and bas-reliefs intended for the column were melted down, and the project seemed doomed to remain incomplete.
However, in 1819, the minister of the interior allocated funds to restart the work. By 1821, the platform on top was in place, and a royal globe crowned with fleurs de lys and a royal crown was added in 1823. The July Revolution of 1830 saw the crown removed and the fleurs de lys replaced by stars. In 1831, the column was officially named the Column of the Grande Armée. That same year, Queen Hortense and her son, the future Napoleon III, climbed the column.
In 1838, François Joseph Bosio was commissioned to cast a new statue of Napoleon, and Lemaire and Théophile Bra were tasked with creating new bas-reliefs. The statue, depicting Napoleon in his coronation costume, was completed in 1840 and exhibited in Paris before being transported to Wimille. On 15 August 1841, the statue was placed atop the column by the future Napoleon III in a grand ceremony attended by 50,000 people.
In 1853, Napoleon III ordered the construction of an avenue leading up to the column, and in anticipation of the Crimean War, he gathered 10,000 troops on the Boulogne coast for a major review in 1854.
The column was declared a monument historique in 1905 and withstood the ravages of the First World War. However, it was severely damaged by bombing in 1944 during the Second World War. The original statue was replaced by a new one in 1962, sculpted by Pierre Stenne, depicting Napoleon in a chasseur uniform. The restoration was inaugurated by Charles de Gaulle in a ceremony that drew a large crowd.
In 1999 and again in 2002, the column was struck by lightning, causing severe cracks and the fall of some marble blocks. Despite these setbacks, the column has been fully restored, and visitors can once again climb to the top for a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
The Column of the Grande Armée is flanked by two pavilions, one of which houses a free museum featuring the restored 1841 statue. The bas-reliefs on the column's base are noteworthy; one side, by Bra, depicts the presentation of the column's plans to Napoleon by Soult, while the other side, by Lemaire, shows the first award of the Légion d'honneur on 16 August 1804.
The base of the column also contains an archive room with copies of busts of Napoleon. Guarding the entrance are two bronze lions sculpted by Jean-Guillaume Moitte, and the base is surrounded by railings adorned with the golden French Imperial eagle.
Visiting the Column of the Grande Armée is a journey through history, offering a glimpse into the grandeur and ambition of Napoleon's era. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a casual tourist, this monument stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of one of history's most iconic figures.
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