Iradj Amini

Napoléon et la Perse

Préface

de Jean Tulard

de l'Institut

Fondation Napoléon

Don't miss  "Napoléon and Persia". This latest book by Iradj Amini  was published by the Napoléon Foundation in Paris. Two hundred years ago, and to be exact, in 1796 the French Directory had decided to renew Franco-Persian relations, interrupted since the Regency.

Bonaparte saw in these relations a possible extension to his Egyptian expedition against the English and their Indian possessions. Napoléon He had great ambitions in the Orient and decided to sign a treaty with Persia and from 1807 on, General Gardane endeavored to consolidate this agreement.

But in addition to Great Britain, Napoléon went head to head against Russia whose desire was to appropriate once and for all Georgia, a Persian possession. The intricate game of Anglo-Russian and Franco-Russian alliances put the French representative in Persia in a very difficult position. Napoléon, deeply absorbed by his European schemes, slowly abandoned his Oriental dreams. From 1809 on, England became master of the terrain despite some diminutive French attempts without effects.

These were years of complex diplomacy rendered even more difficult due to distances. The author analyzed these years, digging in the best available archives, thanks to his perfect knowledge of Persian, English and French. In an highly fluid and elegant style he managed to produceus a rigorous exposé. The dangerous existingconditions, the unique personalities of the protagonists, the formidable subtility of the Persians make of this international political affair a matchless novel.

***

Editions de la Fondation Napoléon, 82 Rue de Monceau , Paris 75008 - France    ISBN 2-909552-04-07

On the book cover is a painting of a reception given by The Persian Ambassador, Mirza Mohhamad Reza, on April 7, 1807 in honor of Napoléon at the Castle of Osterode, Eastern Prussia, where the battle of Eylau had occured.. The painting is by François Mulard. (SN)

BACK TO IRADJ KHAN