Station: [1] Coronation of Napoleon

December 2nd, 1804.

Since midnight, salvos of artillery have been repeated from hour to hour to announce the coronation of Napoleon I, named Emperor of the French on May 18th by decree of the senate.

At six o'clock the bells of Notre Dame begin to ring.

8.45 a.m. It is freezing cold weather in Paris. "Sky overcast, north wind, fog, temperature -three degrees." A crowd of more than 400 instrumentalists and singers is placed on both sides of the large alley in Notre Dame. They will play for almost the entire ceremony.

11.00a.m. The procession is huge: 25 coaches, 152 horses, six cavalry regiments as an escort. There is talk of a total of 25,000 spectators, including 15,000 inside Notre Dame. The Emperor must take the rue Saint-Honoré and Rue du Roule, cross the Pont Neuf, along the Quai des Goldsmiths to reach the front of Notre Dame.

11.55 a.m. The carriage of Napoleon and Josephine finally arrives at Notre Dame. The future Emperor and his wife are welcomed by Cardinal de Belloy. Napoleon wears a long ermine robe, weighing 80 pounds (40 kg), and a laurel wreath.

12.45 p.m. Napoleon and Josephine are entering Notre Dame, to the sound of the triumphant March composed by Le Sueur.

1.00 p.m. The ceremony starts with a mass written by Paisiello.

2.20 p.m. Napoleon moves to the altar, takes the imperial crown and puts it on his
head.
The model of the coach you see in the showcase is a product of the oldest French manufacturer of lead figurines, CBG Mignot, who still manufactures soldiers and vehicles, cast in the old molds. Everything is assembled by welding and fine painted by hand.
Drivers and pages bear the imperial livery green and gold, as all personnel of the imperial household.