Adieux de Napoleon a la garde imperiale a Fontainebleau

April 20, 1814

In this dramatic scene, Napoleon says farewell to the imperial guard after the failure of his invasion of Russia and before being sent into exile on the island of Elba.

His words were as follows:

"Soldiers of my Old Guard: I bid you farewell. For twenty years I have constantly accompanied you on the road to honor and glory. In these latter times, as in the days of our prosperity, you have invariably been models of courage and fidelity. With men such as you our cause could not be lost; but the war would have been interminable; it would have been civil war, and that would have entailed deeper misfortunes on France.

I have sacrificed all of my interests to those of the country.

I go, but you, my friends, will continue to serve France. Her happiness was my only thought. It will still be the object of my wishes. Do not regret my fate; if I have consented to survive, it is to serve your glory. I intend to write the history of the great achievements we have performed together. Adieu, my friends. Would I could press you all to my heart. "

The image shows the following personnages (the names are given below the figures)

Left to Right: General Ornano, Generall Belliard, Colonel Corbineau, General Kosakowski, Bon Fain, Duc de Bassano, General Petit, Lieut. Torti (he is weeping in the image)i, General Bertrand, General Drouot, Bon Koller, Col Gourgaud, Col Campbell, General Schouvaloff.

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