"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Thursday, December 21, 2023
With Napoleon in the news lately, due to the new movie...
...here's the Art Deco channel to discuss a famous painting of L'Empereur.
Interesting. However, considering Napoleon's accomplishments that remain, it's worthwhile noting also that Hitler made the trains run on time and created the conditions for the autobahn.
I lost a lot of respect for Napoleon when he sold out and started doing brandy endorsements.
One of the few amusing stories I've read about Napoleon relates that, during his exile on St. Helena, he felt his household was so strapped, financially, that he decided to hold an auction of his tableware. Unfortunately, I can't remember how that turned out; I seem to recall that the island's Governor was shamed into providing him with an increased stipend, but I may well be wrong about that.
V: I tasted my first Napoleon pastry at a little shop in Miami probably 40 years ago. If anything was ever, truly, "sinfully delicious", it was surely that item.
Oh, Napoleon had his moments ... ... for example, he had quite a bawdy sense of humor.
There's a story that I heard while in the Army; that sort of oral history has probably been banned.
In that service, the artillery is known as the "King of Battle" and the infantry is the "Queen of Battle".
The names seemingly go back to Napoleon. It's important to remember that in his day, artillery consisted primarily of muzzle loading smooth bores firing round shot.
The Emperor was reported to have said thus: "Artillery is the king of battle, and infantry the queen because the king puts the balls where the queen wants them!"
(I should also note that before Napoleon became the Upstart Corsican ruling France, he was a colonel of artillery.)
I told that story during a boring shift in a command post, and got a very dirty look from a senior officer. He didn't say anything because everyone else was laughing hysterically.
Curiosity got the better of me, and it appears that "queen of battle" is still in use, at least in some parts of the Army. I suppose the explanation at:
What is the origin of Infantry being called the Queen of Battle?
The earliest attributed quote credits Sir William Napier (1785-1860) with saying “Infantry is the Queen of Battles.” In a text by a Mr. G. Maspero, published in 1892, the army of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (7th century, B.C.) is described as follows: "There is, on an average one hundred foot soldiers to every ten cavalry and every single chariot; the infantry is really Queen of the Assyrian battles.” The expression hailing infantry as the queen of battle was widely in use at the time of Napoleon I (1769-1821).
The ascendancy of the infantryman has been dated as far back as the English victory at Crecy in 1346, and to the later Battle of Agincourt, scene of another English victory over the French, in 1415. The decisive weapon in both battles was the English longbow; at Crecy the French crossbowmen could not match the rate of fire of the bowmen, while at Agincourt the massed French cavalry fell before the waves of arrows fired against them by an outnumbered English army led by the young king, Henry V. Both battles were stunning affirmations of the power of capably led and properly armed infantrymen.
References to the queen of battle (or battles) continue to appear in doctrinal literature from the time of the First World War until today, and one of the most popular theories on the selection of the queen as symbol of our branch lies in the queen’s dominance of a chessboard, where she enjoys much more freedom of movement and mobility than any other piece. Her position as the most powerful piece on the board is indeed analogous to the role of the Infantry on the battlefield, and – like our branch – it is she who may well determine the final outcome. The king, on the other hand, is a vulnerable figure, and must rely upon others to protect him.
Interesting. However, considering Napoleon's accomplishments that remain, it's worthwhile noting also that Hitler made the trains run on time and created the conditions for the autobahn.
ReplyDeleteI lost a lot of respect for Napoleon when he sold out and started doing brandy endorsements.
ReplyDeleteSure, but what about the pastries?
DeleteI'll cut him a lot of slack for that.
I lost a lot of respect for Napoleon when he sold out and started doing brandy endorsements.
ReplyDeleteOne of the few amusing stories I've read about Napoleon relates that, during his exile on St. Helena, he felt his household was so strapped, financially, that he decided to hold an auction of his tableware. Unfortunately, I can't remember how that turned out; I seem to recall that the island's Governor was shamed into providing him with an increased stipend, but I may well be wrong about that.
V: I tasted my first Napoleon pastry at a little shop in Miami probably 40 years ago. If anything was ever, truly, "sinfully delicious", it was surely that item.
Oh, Napoleon had his moments ... ... for example, he had quite a bawdy sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteThere's a story that I heard while in the Army; that sort of oral history has probably been banned.
In that service, the artillery is known as the "King of Battle" and the infantry is the "Queen of Battle".
The names seemingly go back to Napoleon. It's important to remember that in his day, artillery consisted primarily of muzzle loading smooth bores firing round shot.
The Emperor was reported to have said thus: "Artillery is the king of battle, and infantry the queen because the king puts the balls where the queen wants them!"
(I should also note that before Napoleon became the Upstart Corsican ruling France, he was a colonel of artillery.)
I told that story during a boring shift in a command post, and got a very dirty look from a senior officer. He didn't say anything because everyone else was laughing hysterically.
Curiosity got the better of me, and it appears that "queen of battle" is still in use, at least in some parts of the Army. I suppose the explanation at:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.moore.army.mil/infantry/magazine/FAQs.html
is historically accurate, but it's also BORING.
What is the origin of Infantry being called the Queen of Battle?
The earliest attributed quote credits Sir William Napier (1785-1860) with saying “Infantry is the Queen of Battles.” In a text by a Mr. G. Maspero, published in 1892, the army of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (7th century, B.C.) is described as follows: "There is, on an average one hundred foot soldiers to every ten cavalry and every single chariot; the infantry is really Queen of the Assyrian battles.” The expression hailing infantry as the queen of battle was widely in use at the time of Napoleon I (1769-1821).
The ascendancy of the infantryman has been dated as far back as the English victory at Crecy in 1346, and to the later Battle of Agincourt, scene of another English victory over the French, in 1415. The decisive weapon in both battles was the English longbow; at Crecy the French crossbowmen could not match the rate of fire of the bowmen, while at Agincourt the massed French cavalry fell before the waves of arrows fired against them by an outnumbered English army led by the young king, Henry V. Both battles were stunning affirmations of the power of capably led and properly armed infantrymen.
References to the queen of battle (or battles) continue to appear in doctrinal literature from the time of the First World War until today, and one of the most popular theories on the selection of the queen as symbol of our branch lies in the queen’s dominance of a chessboard, where she enjoys much more freedom of movement and mobility than any other piece. Her position as the most powerful piece on the board is indeed analogous to the role of the Infantry on the battlefield, and – like our branch – it is she who may well determine the final outcome. The king, on the other hand, is a vulnerable figure, and must rely upon others to protect him.
I told that story during a boring shift in a command post, and got a very dirty look from a senior officer.
ReplyDeleteWell, if he was somebody like Milley, it probably means he didn't get it.
My motto is 'Compared to What?' the Les McCann song. Were the faults of the painting unusual for its time, or was it part of common practice?
ReplyDeleteTrue dat, Paco.
ReplyDelete