HISTORY - Napoléon I (Ajaccio 1769 - St. Helena Island 1821) - Letter signed “Nap

Napoléon I (Ajaccio 1769 - St. Helena Island 1821)Letter signed “Nap”, dated “Fontainebleau le 9 octobre 1807” by the French Emperor. Letter written by Claude François de Méneval (1778-1850), Napoleon's private secretary and closest collaborator from 1802 to 1813. To Prince Eugène, concerning supplies for Corfu (large quantities of gunpowder, cartridges, clothing, cookies, wheat, etc.). Some supplies will leave from Venice, others from Ancona. As the Italian 5th Line in Corfu was poorly dressed, Napoleon ordered that the missing items be sent “ pour qu 'il soit en bon état ”. It was also necessary to send conscripts to complete the companies of the 6** de ligne and the 5° Italian at 140 men. Communications between I°Albania and the Kingdom of Naples must be free, and the Corsairs away! “Rendez-moi compte du départ de tous ces objets. Envoyez quatre petits batiments de ma marine italienne pour rester en station à Corfou pour servir à maintenir libre la communication entre l'Albanie et le royaume de Naples (où gouvernait alors le roi Joseph I Bonaparte depuis mars 1806) et en éloigner les Corsaires…”. An important strategic-military letter. Napoleon, who in 1806 and 1807 had strengthened his power with victories at Austerliz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland, was preparing to sign - 4 days later, on October 13, 1807 - the Fontainebleau decree that would reinforce the continental blockade and make the rest of Europe understand who the French Emperor was.