Bonaparte at the Bridge of Arcole, Antoine-Jean Gros, 1801
Louis de Büren
When Bonaparte's carriage approached Lausanne it was met with great joy by the populace. Even though he arrived late in the evening, people came out to great him with flowers and adulation. Louis came down to pay Bonaparte his respects and compliment him for his victories in Italy. Bonaparte acknowledged him and they spoke for a moment. Given the account, either the conversation was cordial or Bonaparte was dismissive.
Napoleon wanted to keep moving but his carriage was blocked by his admirers. As Napoleon and Louis spoke the crowd shouted "Long live the French Republic!", "Long live its invincible general", "Down with Tyrants" and "Down with the Bears". The last statement was a not so veiled attack on Bern.
A year later in 1798, Vaud would have its revolution and Louis would be asked to leave Lausanne. Louis would also command troops against Bonaparte's forces in a vain effort to stave off the French attack on Bern. Bern would fall to the French, and with it the life of status that Louis once knew.
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