French language
Achille Archambault (1792-1858) and his younger brother Joseph (1796-1874), orphaned at an early age, joined the Imperial Stables in 1805 as valets. In this capacity, they followed Napoleon on his military campaigns and in exile, first to Elba and then to St. Helena. Appointed Napoleon's pikeman, Achille followed him on his daily horseback rides. He was also responsible for drawing water from the spring from which Napoleon drank every day. A loyal companion right up to the Emperor's death, he attended the autopsy and held the Emperor's horse by the bridle as it followed the funeral carriage on May 9, 1821. Like his fellow exiles, Achille was part of the Return of the Ashes expedition in 1840.
During his exile on St. Helena, and then on this last voyage, Achille collected numerous objects bearing witness to the illustrious exile's life (glasses, plates, seals, etc.), to which were added more modest mementos linked to Napoleon's tomb (weeping willow leaves and cuttings near the tomb, pieces of stone from the tomb, etc.), chosen as relics of a bygone era.
These objects, collected by Achille Archambault, can be identified by their black wax seal: "Sainte-Hélène A.A", and are accompanied by an explanatory note in his own handwriting. Together, they honor the memory of this faithful servant of Napoleon.
This little book is published to mark the presentation of Achille Archambault's collection of historical memorabilia at the Musée de Malmaison.
This booklet celebrates the reunification of this collection: in addition to all the works donated to the museum by Max Bondi in 1926, the Colonna-Martelli family, descendants of Achille Archambault, have generously donated the precious historical memorabilia that this branch of the family had devotedly preserved for so many years, and which they resolutely saved from sale and dispersal.
Exhibition presented at the Musée des Château de Malmaison et de Bois-Préau from June 7 to December 31, 2023.
24 pages, 26 illustrations, paperback with flaps
Lienart Edition
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