Introduction: Gender, War and Politics: Transatlantic Perspectives on the Wars of Revolution and Liberation, 1775–1830

Abstract

In 1801 an unknown Parisian artist produced the engraving on the front cover of this volume, which he entitled ‘Rien ne manque plus à sa gloire’ (Nothing more is lacking for his glory). It shows Napoleon Bonaparte as a military leader and sword-bearer standing on top of the globe with the inscription ‘General Peace’. He is receiving an olive branch from a young and beautiful female figure representing Peace. Another allegorical female, Abundance, is pouring a cornucopia of goods, a horn of plenty, upon the world below. The engraving represents a moment of hope. In 1801 Bonaparte was still First Consul of the French Republic. Austria had signed the Treaty of Lunéville, Naples had made peace with France, and Britain and the Ottoman Empire had both signed preliminary peace treaties with the French Republic. There was—at least from a French perspective—good reason to expect that the worldwide wars would be over, and peace and prosperity established under Napoleonic rule. Yet the engraving also suggests a divided gender order, one in which the warlike conqueror, successful on the field of battle reserved for men, has secured the world for the calm pursuits of peace, prosperity and private life represented by a woman.