Napoleonic Historical Society Conference
At the end of September, the Napoleonic Historical Society held its annual conference in Williamsburg, Virginia. Imagine a weekend discussing Napoleon Bonaparte with other enthusiasts (and critics)! In addition to social events, there were interesting presentations on cultural and military topics, ranging from women in Napoleonic art to guerrilla warfare in the Peninsula War. The location also provided easy access for tours of Yorktown’s Revolutionary War battlefield.
Equally important, Williamsburg is home to our favorite Napoleon Bonaparte reenactor, Mark Schneider (seen above).
Mark’s day job is presenting the Marquis de Lafayette in historic Williamsburg. He’s also recognized as one of the foremost Napoleon reenactors in the world.
During his (in-character) presentation to the conference, he spoke of his admiration for Napoleon’s accomplishments as well as his balanced view of the Emperor’s failures. In his roles as both Lafayette and Napoleon Bonaparte, Mark sees himself not as an actor, but as an educator who brings history to life. He does such a good job at interpreting Napoleon that sometimes it’s difficult to see where Mark’s personal charm ends and Napoleon’s begins.
I encourage anyone who’s interested in the Napoleonic period to join the Napoleonic Historical Society and to participate on the NHS Facebook page. Membership in the society is only $30 a year ($15 for Students). Benefits include newsletters with excellent articles about Napoleonic sites and events, literature and research, and other topics, plus an invitation to the conference (at additional cost).
Best of all, it’s an opportunity to debate your Napoleonic views in a collegial setting with experts and amateurs alike. Don’t let the photos frightened you off—there’s no need to dress in period costume. And anyone can join the discussions on the Facebook group for free.
Pardon my pitch for the NHS. I confess I’m on the Board of Directors. But much more than that, I truly value the camaraderie and shared experiences I’ve gained from my membership. If you’re interested in Napoleon, please join us!