Armand de Caulaincourt represented France in Saint Petersburg from 1807 to 1811 and spent those years advising Napoleon against war with Russia. In December 1812 the Emperor abandoned his routed army and returned to Paris in a carriage that held the two of them alone, for thirteen days, across a frozen Europe. Caulaincourt wrote down what he had heard: the manuscript was lost, recovered after 1918, and published in 1933 — a hundred and six years after its author's death.
The story
Born on 9 December 1773 at Caulaincourt, in Picardy, into a noble family of the old regime, he made his career in the armies of the Revolution and then of the Empire, and became one of Napoleon's intimates.
The affair of the duc d'Enghien, in 1804, dogged him all his life: sent on a cavalry mission linked to the abduction, he swore to his death that he had known nothing of what was being prepared.
Grand Equerry to the Emperor and made Duke of Vicenza, he was ambassador to Russia from 1807 to 1811 and argued against the war he could see coming. He knew Saint Petersburg too well to believe in a short campaign.
December 1812: Napoleon left his routed army and drove back to Paris in a carriage holding two men. Thirteen days face to face across a frozen Europe, from which Caulaincourt drew the most valuable account we have of the Emperor in private. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, it was he who carried the act of abdication in 1814.
He died on 19 February 1827 and lies in Division 29, chemin des Chèvres, second line, under a column topped by an urn. The inscription is two years out and has him dying in 1825.
The grave
A tomb of restored marble, enclosed by an iron railing, dominated by a tall column topped with an urn; the marquis's arms, garlands and inverted torches make up its decoration — the funerary repertoire of the Empire. An error is fixed there: the inscription says “died on 19 February 1825”, whereas the Duke of Vicenza died in 1827. The day and month are right; the year is two years out.
On site, do not miss
Read the year engraved: the stone has him dying in 1825, two years before his real death. Then look at the inverted torches and the urn atop the column — the funerary vocabulary of the Empire in full.
Visitors' questions
Where is Caulaincourt's grave?
In Division 29, chemin des Chèvres, second row: a restored marble tomb, ringed by an iron railing, with a tall column topped by an urn. The Division is also that of Marshal Ney and the Dragon's Tomb.
Marshal NeyWhat was Caulaincourt to Napoleon?
His confidant. Master of the Horse, Duke of Vicenza, ambassador to Russia from 1807 to 1811, he advised against the war, came back from the retreat alone with the Emperor, and then, as Minister of Foreign Relations, carried the act of abdication of 1814.
Joachim MuratHow good are Caulaincourt's memoirs?
Very: the thirteen days in a carriage between Vilna and Paris, in December 1812, make him the closest witness to Napoleon in defeat. Published long after his death, they remain a major source on the end of the reign.
Gaspard GourgaudIs there a mistake on Caulaincourt's grave?
There is. The inscription has him “décédé le 19 février 1825” when he died on 19 February 1827: the day is right, the year is two years out. Père-Lachaise has a dozen or so carving errors of this kind.
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