Show Notes
The magnificent banquet honoring General Bagration was held in Moscow on March 3, 1806 at the English Club, a great marble hall with a series of smaller saloons. This celebration is remembered for its fervor amidst defeat.
A source Tolstoy used for this was the first-hand account by the English writer & diplomat, Robert Ker Porter, who ironically notes that by 1806, there were not three English members of this social club. Tolstoy has all the rooms humming with conversation, like bees swarming in Spring.
Many guests were elderly and respected personages who could be found at their usual places. A smaller set were younger, some returning from Austerlitz. This is symbolized by Denísov, Rostov and Dolokhov— the latter who is said to be having an affair with Pierre’s wife. The faces of youth expressed “We honor and respect you, our elders, but remember, the future belongs to us.”
Pierre was surrounded by subservience to his wealth. He now belonged to a class he quickly grew contemptuous of. He was no longer that vibrant clumsy character when he had little to his name. He was fashionably dressed but appeared sullen. At his wife’s insistence, he let his hair grow and abandoned his spectacles.
Many of the historic figures at the event rationalized the loss at Austerlitz. The night was filled with a passion for revival with much of the zeal directed toward Bagration. It was the most animated Porter ever recalled seeing aristocrats of Europe get.
Count Rostov is presented as having the honor of hosting this event and he enthusiastically greets all who attend. His son was accompanied by Dolokhov, whose acquaintance Nicholas had come to value.
When Bagration arrived, bells rang, servants rushed around and the better part of the 300 guests crowded to witness the arrival. Bagration was described as short and with a dark complexion, indicative of the warm climates he had served in. His face was perfectly Georgian and expressed an affability and sweetness. He was dressed in a green uniform covered with various awards.
Bagration had the honor of entering the dining area first and walked reticently. He would look more comfortable in a field under fire. He was soon escorted by Count Rostov, who appealed for the guests to make way. Ilya carried a large silver tray, on top of which lied written verses that were read aloud and continued through the dinner announcement.
The sentiment expressed was: You Bring Glory to Alexandr’s Reign; You are a Dreaded Foe, which Napoleon has Learned So Well; You carry the Wisdom and Tactics of Caesar; You are a Rhipheus (hero of Troy); But are in essence, a Good and Kind-Hearted Man.
The guests grew hungry and found their seats, which corresponded to their rank and importance. The Count with a few choice peers sat facing Bagration. Ilyá presented his son to Bagration and was filled with joy when the two chatted. Nicholas, Denísov and Dolokhov sat almost at the middle of the table. Facing them were Pierre and Prince Nesvitski,
Every selection at dinner was splendid. Between the courses was a stream of toasts. At one point, the Host shouted, “To the health of our Sovereign, the Emperor!” The band immediately struck up a traditional patriotic song, which led all to rise and shout “Hurrah!”
Young Rostov’s ecstatic voice could be heard above the rest during his own toast to Alexandr. He emptied his glass at one gulp he thrashed it on the floor. Many followed the example and it was the job of the footmen to clean up the mess. Various officers were then toasted and the glasses continued to shatter.
As I have been stressing, Bagration was embraced as National Hero and redeemer. However, Bagration did have his own embarrassments, which Tolstoy knew of and some scholars believe the author addresses indirectly. Notably, Bagration was shamed by his wife, the alluring Ekaterina, who carried the nickname, le Bel Ange Nu, the Beautiful Naked Angel, for her revealing and often translucent attire. They separate
More from War & Peace Podnotes, A Study Guide
As War & Peace delves into to fiction to a much greater degree than the previous section, exploring the Rostov family dynamic throughout 1806, there is a great deal that historically transpired which Tolstoy does not bring you through. In this stretch, Bonaparte was a continental Behemoth, who sets his sights on Prussia, then an industrial power with a highly organized military. The centers that made up the Prussian Kingdom were: Berlin, Potsdam, Königsberg and Danzig. You should recall that based on the battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon replaced the Habsburg Family as the principal authority in Central Europe. Austria never again reached such heights of power. Over the next 70 years Austria would lose influence over the dozens of German states while Prussia gained in this regard. It was Prussia, under Otto Von Bismarck, who in 1871 established the nation we know as Germany. In the start of 1806, France remained in a state of war against Russia, England and even Sweden. It was a busy and productive year for "the man of destiny." In February, Napoleon sent General André Messéna to Naples to overthrow the Bourbon King, Ferdinand IV, and install his brother, Joseph. Messéna was successful though fighting continued for months. In the Summer, Napoleon consolidated control of Holland and placed a crown on another brother, Louis. By mid-July, Napoleon created the Confederation of the Rhine of mostly southern German states, where he compelled alliances. The expanded territory gave the French 60,000 more troops. Napoleon was reshaping Central Europe to assure French influence and limit that of Austria, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain. Napoleon’s desire was to marginalize Britain economically after the Brtis won control of the seas at the Battle of Trafalgar, which preceded Austerlitz by a month. Just off the Southwest coast of France, the French Navy was decimated. The English controlled the water, but Napoleon was dominant on land and wanted to implement the Continental Commerce System. He had success in spreading French administrative, legal and social reforms—including the Napoleonic Code. When possible and practical, he moved to end the remnants of feudalism. The Code abolished a plethora feudal privileges, dismantled manorial courts and freed some peasants, granting basic civil rights and a semblance of equality before the law. To continue to foster his ambitions, Napoleon set his sights on Prussia, which included former Polish territory. Poland was a former Kingdom cut up (partitioned) by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, where many Polish nobles committed allegiance to the Czar or King of Prussia. While the Czar worked with much of the nobility of Poland, the peasants filled the ranks and endured. Czar Alexander was 27 in 1806. Despite the historic loss at Austerlitz, Alexander, would rule for nearly two more decades. He was fortunate that his population was forgiving. Alexander did not enter into serious peace negotiations nor publicly concede the loss. Many among the Russian nobility blamed the result on the Austrians. There are memoirs from Phillip Vigel, then a 20 year-old Russian diplomat, who detailed his observations of the mood in Moscow and Petersburg. The Muscovites were more vocal in castigating the Czar. Some would even laud Napoleon. There, Bonaparte earned nickname befitting a Russian Conqueror, Napoleoskha. In Petersburg, the population shared the humiliation. They would explain the result as a turn of luck. Vigel expressed that Petersburg society felt the desire to get themselves off the floor and prove themselves. He sensed a general optimism of youth. He also notes how the English desired Russia as allies against the French and Czar was their lifeline from French domination. Consequently, Russia spent the summer of 1806 preparing for a new war -- reorganizing and refilling their ranks. General Kutuzov fades into obscurity for a time. Just prior to Austerlitz, in the Fall of 1805, Alexander made a notable a
We now get taken from March of 1806, through the warmer months and then to the end of the year. Quite the fast-forward!
We have reached the pivotal chapter involving the death of the Little Princess and birth of the Andrei’s son.
We move further into March of 1806 and return to Bald Hills, the estate of Andrei’s father. Despite letters and official inquiries, Andrei’s body had not been found nor was he on the list of prisoners.
This episode examines some likely influences in Tolstoy’s writing of the Duel between Pierre & Dolokhov.