After the battle of Jena, Napoleon took up his quarters at Weimar; the royal family of Prussia having fled on the approach of the conqueror. The Duchess, however, did not abandon her capital, though her lord and master was at the head of 25,000 men in the Prussian army. She retired with her attendants into one wing of the palace, and prepared the best apartment for the reception of the French Emperor. On his arrival she placed herself at the head of the principal staircase to receive him; when on seeing her, he abruptly demanded, “Qui êtes vous Madame?” to which she replied, “Je suis la Duchesse de Weimar.” “Then I pity you,” said Napoleon, “for your husband has lost his duchy.” He paid her no further attention but retired to his apartment.
In the morning, the Duchess was informed that the city had been pillaged, and was still in confusion. She sent one of her chamberlains to inquire after the health of the Emperor and demand an audience. Napoleon was pleased, and expressed a wish that she should breakfast with him. Scarcely had the Duchess arrived, when, according to his usual custom, he began to question her respecting her husband, and enquired why he was foolish enough to make war upon him; to which she replied, that Napoleon would have despised him if he had acted otherwise. “Why?” asked Napoleon. “My husband,” said the Duchess, “has been thirty years in the service of Prussia. He could not quit the King’s service with honor at the moment when the latter had to contend against an enemy so powerful as your majesty.”
THE DUCHESS OF WEIMAR AND NAPOLEON.
NAPOLEON RECEIVING THE DEPUTIES OF THE SENATE.
The almost total annihilation of the Prussian army at the battle of Jena, opened the gates of Berlin to Napoleon. On the 25th of October, 1806, he was at Potsdam, and visited the royal castle, Sans Souci. The Prussian Court had abandoned Potsdam and Berlin so precipitately, that nothing had been removed from the king’s palace. Napoleon made his solemn entry into Berlin on the 27th.
The war with Prussia was thus ended. Of the 150,000 men who formed the main body of the Prussian army, seven-eighths had been killed or made prisoners; and the army of Frederic-William now consisted of only 20,000 men, infantry and cavalry. The king, the queen, and some of the Prussian generals who had sought refuge in Kœnigsberg, were reduced to so deplorable a situation that they were obliged to throw themselves on the generosity of the conqueror, and sue for peace. This was granted.
The French Senate complimented the Emperor on his success; and received from him the ensigns won from the enemy in that splendid campaign. Three hundred and forty banners and standards taken at Jena, as well as the sword, scarf, collar, and ribbon of Frederic the Great, were sent to the deputies to be placed under their care in the Hotel des Invalides.
