In Perhaps the First Document Signed by Napoleon As General, He Endorses the “zeal and patriotism” of a Hero of the Siege of Toulon, the Event That Launched His Career

A fascinating, very early document, signed with the rare Corsican spelling of his name, connecting Napoleon with the victory that guaranteed his fame, the Robespierre regime and Reign of Terror

The French Revolution had not only overthrown a monarch, it had pitted Europe against France.  Austria and more distantly England saw a revolutionary France as a transcendental threat.  So as Paris was engaged in a massive upheaval, it faced an ongoing state of hostilities with its neighbors.  This led to a series of executive governments, the most famous of which was the Committee of Public Safety, established in April 1793, after the King had already been beheaded.  In July of that year, Maximilien Robespierre was elected to the Committee; and so under his leadership began the Reign of Terror, so named because terror was in fact a policy instrument recognized by the state as an extension of the Revolution, which must be maintained at all costs.  This control extended everywhere; they controlled the police and the army, and their agents went nationwide to do Robespierre’s bidding.  

Among the gravest threats to the new government under Robespierre was the royalist sentiment in the South along the coast, which just so happened to be within reach of the British Royal Navy.  Here, in open defiance of the Republicans, royalists hoisted the “flour de lys” flag in the fall of 1793 in the city of Toulon.  By that time, French troops were already on their way to that city where they would confront 13,000 men from the combined forces of England, Spain, Naples and Piedmont. The French generals were in control of their troops, but Robespierre also sent to this key battleground his brother, Augustin, and Antoine Saliceti, a Corsican like Napoleon, and like him close to the French cause.  These two were to report on the loyalties of generals, the extent of success, and to advise Paris in all matters. They had final say in the South, and in reality controlled life and death. 

At the time when the siege of Toulon began, the Chief of Artillery was wounded, and since Toulon would require a strong bombardment, this deficit had to be filled.  Napoleon Buonaparte (as he spelled his name then) had until then mainly been involved in provincial battles in his native Corsica.  He was a relative unknown in France, and had no high title, although he had studied in the military academy there and was in service to the national army.  His family had in fact fled Corsica because of its allegiance to France.  In what may go down as one of the great coincidences in history, he happened to be in the area as the French gathered for the assault on Toulon and was given the command of artillery by Augustin Robespierre and Saliceti, whom he knew from Corsica.  This seemingly insignificant event at the time would make his career and changed the history of Western Europe.  

Napoleon performed with great skill and Toulon was taken, a significant defeat to the royalists and to England.  Buonaparte was credited with French success.  Where soldiers who failed Paris were guillotined, those who won were feted and promoted.  Augustin reported back to his brother Maximilien Robespierre that Napoleon was an exceptional commander.  The elder brother decided that he would be named brigadier general in December 1793; but the effectiveness of this provisional appointment was delayed when local Jacobins objected to an action Napoleon had taken. He received his general's commission on February 16, 1794, but did not actually report to assume his general's position until April 1, 1794. Toulon had made Napoleon, and in April 1794, he took on the full fruits of the victory and in doing so, wore the colors of the Jacobins and the Robespierre brothers.  The world did not know it yet, but Napoleon’s promotion in 1794 would doom Europe to another two decades of conflict and conquest.  And Toulon was the spark.  

Just as the Jacobins had rewarded Napoleon, so did the French seek to reward others for the great victory at Toulon.  Napoleon, who played a key role in that victory, was now responsible by virtue of his new title for enacting the rules set forth by the representatives of the Jacobins, Robespierre and Saliceti, as to who should die by guillotine and who should advance. 

Document signed, April 2, 1794, his first full day as general, on behalf of the government and representatives. “In the name of the People; The representatives of the people to the Army of Italy, deputized by the National Convention.  Citizen Carrier, Captain of the 4th Regiment of Artillery, who has given proof of his zeal and patriotism in the siege of Toulon, and in the other actions taken place with the Army of Italy, shall be promoted to Battalion Chief in the arming of the artillery and will fulfill the functions of Adjustant General in equipping the Army of Italy.  

“13 Germinal of the 2nd year of the Republic (April 2, 1794). [signed secretarially by Augustin Robespierre and Saliceti]. Certified as conforming to the original by the Brigade General and Chef de l’Etat of the Artillery of the Army of Italy [signed authentically by Dujard].

“I have received the original of the piece of which the present is a copy in order to send to the Commission. Brigade General, Chief of Artillery of the Army of Italy, Buonaparte.”

"The Letters and Documents of Napoleon" show no letters or documents of Napoleon signed on April 1, and just one on April 2. This unpublished and previously unknown signed edict of April 2 is therefore either his first or second known signature as general. 

This document is signed in the most uncommon form of his signature, “Buonaparte,” a form he soon gave up because of his desire to appear more French. His family was Italian nobility that had settled in Corsica at a time when the island was in both spheres of influence. 

This allegiance to the Jacobins and Robespierre almost killed Napoleon. In July 1794, just a few months after this document was signed, the Jacobins were overthrown and Reign of Terror ended. Its instigators, including both Robespierres, and many of their allies, were executed. Napoleon was detained and surely feared the same fate. But he was released when insufficient evidence was produced.  The rest is history.