Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2005 Fear and Domination: Pierre Riel, the Marquis de Beurnonville at the Spanish Court and Napoleon Bonaparte's Spanish Policy, 1802-05 Michael W. Jones Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Fear and Domination: Pierre Riel, the Marquis de Beurnonville at the Spanish Court and Napoleon Bonaparte’s Spanish Policy, 1802-05 By Michael W. Jones A Dissertation submitted to the Department of History in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Degree Awarded: Spring Semester 2005 Copyright 2004 Michael W. Jones All Rights Reserved The members of the Committee approved the dissertation of Michael W. Jones defended on 28 April 2004. ________________________________ Donald D. Horward Professor Directing Dissertation ________________________________ Outside Committee Member Patrick O’Sullivan ________________________________ Jonathan Grant Committee Member ________________________________ James Jones Committee Member ________________________________ Paul Halpern Committee Member The Office of Graduate Studies has verified and approved the above named committee members. ii This dissertation is dedicated to the memory of my father Leonard William Jones and my mother Vianne Ruffino Jones. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Earning a Ph.D. has been the most difficult task of my life. It is an endeavor, which involved numerous professors, students, colleagues, friends and family. When I started at Florida State University in August 1994, I had no comprehension of how difficult it would be for everyone involved. Because of the help and kindness of these dear friends and family, I have finally accomplished my dream. Unquestionably, I must first thank Dr. Donald Horward for his incredible support and mentoring. From the moment I arrived at Florida State, Dr. Horward has guided my education, research and teaching. His infectious enthusiasm captivated students and me. I have labored to emulate his methodology and dedication to students and history. I now understand that I could not have written this dissertation without the support of Dr. Horward. I do not think he and I will ever forget the trials and tribulations of trying to communicate over 2500 miles over a two year period or the whirlwind tour when I returned to Tallahassee to finish. He has worked tirelessly from early in the morning to late at night, even over the Easter holiday. Dr. Horward is a tour de force. After I delivered three chapters to his house late in the afternoon, he would have them ready for me by 11:00 at night. For countless hours he sat with me, meticulously reviewing corrections and offering insightful analysis. I have never witnessed another Professor make such sacrifices for students. What an incredibly wonderful experience! Thank you! iv In addition to Dr. Horward, I would like to thank the other members of my committee who have generously donated their time. Dr. Jonathan Grant’s kind disposition and friendship always soothed over the difficult times during the writing of this dissertation. Dr. Paul Halpern’s intellect and demanding expectations forced me to become a better scholar. Beyond the knowledge I gained in his classroom, Dr. Jim Jones has provided me a model of how to balance rapport with the students and high academic standards. Dr. Patrick O’Sullivan was willing to help me in my hour of need and I will never forget it. I hope to return the favor of these fine scholars by treating my future students in the same manner. Florida State, Dr. Ben Weider, Proctor Jones, the Institute on Napoleon and the French Revolution and the Naval War College helped to make this dissertation possible. Without the economic resources provided by these institutions, Dr. Weider, and Proctor Jones, I could not have obtained a PhD. The Institute granted me a Fellowship during my first year, which defrayed the enormous financial burden of out of state tuition. Thereafter, Florida State provided teaching assistantships, which helped pay for years as a student in the classroom and gave me valuable experience. Dr. Weider’s generous donations made it possible for me to conduct research in Europe. Proctor Jones, a loyal benefactor of the Institute, rented a large apartment in Paris to provide lodging for me and other members of the Institute in 1996. The Naval War College has been a key supporter throughout the research and writing of this dissertation. Professors Tim Jackson and Doug Smith are two of the finest men for whom I have worked v and time after time they gave me the resources to succeed. I will always be grateful. Although funding is a large part of graduate school, there are several important people who helped with my research. First, is the staff in Special Collections. Dr. Lucy Patrick, Garnett Avant, Chad Underwood, Julie Uhland and Burt Altman were always helpful and I thoroughly enjoyed their company during the many hours I spent delving into the vast French Revolution and Napoleon Collection at Strozier Library. I also wish to thank the rest of the Library personel, who have always been consummate professionals. Last, I am thankful to the staffs at the Archives Nationales, Service historique de l’armée de la “Terre”, Château de Vincennes, and the Archives Étrangères a Que d’Orsey in Paris. I would also like to thank my fellow graduate students. These people transformed the history department into a place where acquiring knowledge was more than a job; it was fun. Karen Greene, Donald Stoker, Llewellyn Cook and Hal Blanton deserve special mention. Since I arrived, Hal and Llew have set the bar for academic achievement but more importantly they have been my older brothers. I would also like to mention Kevin and Sonja Darden and Kevin McCrainie. My friends at the Naval War College have simply been a joy to work with. Stan Carpenter and the rest of the War College staff in Newport have been a constant source of friendship. From the moment I met him, Professor Kenneth Hagan, who teases me mercilessly, has been an intellectual role model. Fred and Rose Drake have been my new family in California. Thank you, for your kindness and support! vi My New Orleans friends have enriched me all my life. Intellectually, Allen Bostick has been the most demanding. For countless hours we discussed history and current events. Joseph Lacour inspired me to study the French Revolution and Napoleon. I always admired his intellect and devotion to his children. You are missed. Dante Maraldo has been the most generous friend I have ever had. I have tried to emulate his work ethic and quest for perfection. I deeply cherish these good friends. I would also like to thank Jim Schoen, Susan and Jay Sevan, Steve and Melinda Viles, Monique Maraldo, Shay Bostick, and James and Isabelle Foley. And now my friends can stop asking when are you going to finish the dissertation. Finally, I would like to thank my family. My big brother, Leonard Jones, is someone whom I look up to and love dearly, despite the teasing I took as a child. I would also like to thank Pam, my sister-in-law, for bringing my two nephews, Shane and Brad along with Alexi Jones into the world. My sister Kerri has been one of my biggest fans. I admire her work ethic, unquenchable drive to be a better person and willingness to help others. Michael Blache, my brother-in-law, has brought much laughter and happiness to our family. My mother-in-law, Dianne Barth, once told me to get off the nickel. I hope that I have not disappointed you. My wife, Stephanie, has been the kindest spouse any husband could hope for and I thank her for recognizing the stress I was under and never pressuring me. Stephanie has been a constant source of warmth, devotion and love. I have been blessed with wonderful parents. My mother, Vianne Ruffino Jones, has encouraged me to be a scholar since my earliest memory. She bought me history vii books and listened patiently as I explained, with my childish enthusiasm, everything I learned. Fortunately, she remains patient because nothing has changed. My mother has always challenged me to be a caring and responsible man and she made our small part of the world a place of love and happiness to make this possible. And finally, I would like to thank my father. He wanted me to become a PhD more than anyone. My father has always been a source of guidance, wisdom and security. All my life, he encouraged me to be my own person. I am, thanks to his example. Although he is not here to see it completed, I know he is smiling down from heaven. This dissertation is dedicated to his memory. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures………………………………………………………………………………x Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………xi 1. Bonaparte’s Imperial Ambitions………………………………1 2. Coercive Diplomacy………………………………………………………………19 3. Deterioration of Franco-Spanish Relations…42 4. The Unfolding of an Ultimatum…………………………………70 5. Spain Stalls For Time………………………………………………………79 6. Herman’s Mission……………………………………………………………………101 7. Bonaparte’s Reliance on Fear……………………………………120 8. In the Wake of Bonaparte’s Policy………………………135 9. The British Ultimatum………………………………………………………155 10. March to Trafalgar……………………………………………………………175 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………197 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………268 Bigraphical Sketch………………………………………………………………………217 ix LIST OF FIGURES 1. Beurnonville, General de l’Armée du Nord…………xiv 2. Dumoriez Arrests Beurnonville………………………………………23 3. General Beurnonville………………………………………………………………119 4. Maréchal de Beurnonville……………………………………………………196 x ABSTRACT Napoleon Bonaparte’s foreign policy was perhaps the crucial weakness in the First Empire’s fate. Through strength of arms on the battlefields of Europe, Napoleon was able to subdue and dominate Europe, yet it was this very strength which facilitated a belligerent course with France’s allies.