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2 December 1804
Emperor of France
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Napoleon is crowned emperor of France in an extravagant ceremony conducted
by Pope Pius VII at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. In an echo of the crowning
of Charlemagne a millennium earlier, Napoleon places the gold laurel wreath
of office on his own head. This signifies that he owes none of his authority
– nor any allegiance – to the pope, who is then in a weak position. French
influence and control has grown greatly in Italy, threatening the Papal
States and Rome. Pope Pius hopes to preserve something of the position
of the Catholic Church by making concessions to the new emperor.
'He who governs should possess energy without fanaticism, principles
without demagogy, severity without cruelty; he must neither be weak nor
vacillating, nor, so to express it, must he be ashamed to do his duty.'
Napoleon
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