Since Their Correspondence Was Personal, Metternich Did Not Use A Diplomatic Cipher But Instead Went

“Since their correspondence was personal, Metternich did not use a diplomatic cipher but instead went to elaborate lengths to try to ensure that it was not intercepted. He arranged for [Countess] Lieven’s letters to him from London to be sent by British diplomatic bag to the secretary of the Austrian embassy in Paris, Baron Franz von Binder. Inside each sealed package from the Countess, Binder found another package, also addressed to him, which contained a further sealed envelope with no address but which he had instructions to send via the Austrian diplomatic bag to one of Metternich’s secretaries in Vienna. Inside this sealed envelope was yet another, also unaddressed, which the secretary handed personally to Metternich, who was entirely unaware that the letter it contained from Countess Lieven had been secretly intercepted, copied, and resealed during transit by the Paris cabinet noir.”

— Christopher Andrew, The Secret World

Still drawing things that I’m unable to share freely…

Shame on me. 😗

However, one day I’ll definitely post something respectable and fascinating from the historical point of view!

…Even though that glorious day came to me for the last time ages ago. 😑

Love that incredible painting very much, even though certain things in depiction of uniforms, for example, seem a little bit of! It’s overall grandeur and attention to details are superb anyway. ✨

It also turns out that this canvas was originally created by Russian artist! I was able to find several references to his work in our segment of the Internet. The artist’s name is Sergey Troshin. :)

However, it was rather obvious in the first place because of how closely resembles Troshin’s portrayal of famous Russian generals - Alexei Petrovich Yermoloff and Michail Bogdanovich Barclay de Tolly (who was at the time supreme commander of all Russian contingent in the allied army; tsar Alexander also rewarded him with the field marshal’s baton due to the successful Siege of Paris) - their original portraits made by George Dawe for the Military gallery of the Winter Palace in Saint-Petersburg.

Besides, I’d love to add a few more pictures with the same theme - the Entrance of the Allied forces into Paris on the 31st of March 1814.

Alexander is as glorious as ever, meanwhile king Friedrich Wilhelm III and prince Schwarzenberg are just 😑😑

And here is one more interesting depiction, as not tsar Alexander but field-marshal Schwarzenberg in all his glory suddenly becomes the centre of attention! 🇦🇹

Allied army entering Paris in 1814, Tsar Alexander, King of Prussia and Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg at the head (by unknown)

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“The differences of birth neither gives nor takes any assets; everything depends on personal worth.”

The melancholic civilian on the throne of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm III.

(fairly long rant incoming, slightly biased and emotional, I am no historian and merely stating my opinion)

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Good day to everyone in the Napoleonic segment of Tumblr once again! 🌺

I humbly assume, there is no bad timing for some “Napoleonic-related-game-world-news”, so here we are. :)

Won’t describe my own gaming history as it’s another long story to tell… However, I will make a remark that I am a gamer who have enjoyed such leisure activity on many platforms - PSP-gaming, computer gaming, console gaming, phone gaming as well. Speaking of the latter, there is one game in particular that fascinates me till nowadays. It’s called “Time Princess” and it is, in a nutshell, an interactive novel with the core dress-up mechanics.

The game’s name says it all: there is a main heroin who gains the ability to relive countless stories through, pretty much, any writing source available in this world. Those stories are based on different historical epochs, mythologies, classical literature pieces and so on, and so forth. The sole requirement for each story is straight-forward simple: the main character should be… female! That’s why there are some stories based on world famous classics where the main characters went through gender swap: for example, not “Romeo and Juliette” but “Romy and Julius”; a “Swan Lake” story where prince Siegfried becomes princess, while Odette and Odile are known as Aldous and Audwin. These changes are looking not that bad, actually, and are quite enjoyable during the play through.

There are also many original stories set in modern or future times, several interpretations of famous women’ biographies (which I would never discuss on serious terms as there’s too little left from the real-life historical personalities: their characters - as well as actual historical events - go through such drastic changes for the plot’s sake that it’s sometimes impossible to recognise them at all) and classical literature adaptations with canonical female characters aka “Phantom of the Opera” or “Little Women”.

Still, I’m here to speak about Napoleonic era as always. And in “Time Princess” there are no stories based on that memorable epoch (yet, dare I say - since I’m starting to believe that there is a possibility). What made me mention this lovely game on the Napoleonic agenda, then? Well, big thanks to one specific in-game event which comes to an end soon!

In short, it was an ambitious collaboration between “Time Princess” and one of the most famous museums in the world - Musée du Louvre in all its timeless beauty. There were many wonderful activities, mini-games and other stuff to do but the best gift - best gift for all the Napoleonic era lovers, of course - came in the very end of it.

Thus, behold la grande finale (or is it better to say “das große Finale”? 😉) together with us: the magnificent set of clothes inspired by coronation robes of Marie Louise, erzherzogin of Austria, empress of the French! 🇦🇹🇫🇷🎉

The full set is called “Midnight Vienna” and makes an obvious accent on Marie Louise origins and heritage. The descriptions of each piece of clothing are unbelievably pathetic and romantic, while the historical foundation is… well… How do I put it mildly? Many fellow enjoyers of Napoleonic history would be probably crying bloody tears over that one-sided interpretation of martyrdom and excessive exaltation.

But, despite all the cringy aspects, I believe the designers and software developers made a very good job in keeping overall resemblance to the classic silhouette many love and adore!

Just look at all those wonderful details: jewellery, embroidery, simple but gracious ornaments…

It’s also noted in game that the dress itself was “freely inspired by an engraving of Empress Marie-Louise by Louis-Adolphe Portier” which is, of course, preserved in the department of graphic arts in the Musée du Louvre.

In the end, I was able to find the original engraving which was mentioned - I’m attaching it as well. 🌺

And even though I’m very, very sceptical of any biographical adaptations which may come after such lovely representation, it’s undoubtedly nice to see the reminders of Napoleonic era beauty in any spheres of our everyday lives. 😌