Facsimile of the Surrender Note sent by Napoleon III. to King Wilhelm I. of Prussia at Sedan, 1st September 1870
This is a facsimile of the note sent by Emperor Napoleon III. to King Wilhelm I. of Prussia at Sedan on 1st September 1870. It is a significant document in that it confirmed the end of the French Second Empire, and paved the way for the new German Second Reich. With the French first-line army surrounded at Metz and the second-line army with the Emperor capitulating at Sedan it also marked the moment at which the war between the German States and the French Government of Napoleon III. ended and the war against the new French Republic and the "People in Arms" began. The facsimile is followed by an account of the background to the note and the text in French, German and English.
(Please note that I do not know the precise measurements of the original notepaper.)
Background
On 1st September 1870 the French Army of Chalons was surrounded at Sedan, a small fortress on the Meuse River. Towards 4 o`clock in the afternoon with elements of the Bavarian 5. Jäger-Bataillon approaching the Torcy Gate, Napoleon III. ordered the white flag to be raised. The German High Command did not know that Napoleon was present with the French Army until they sent an emissary into Sedan in response to the white flag. Subsequently Napoleon sent King Wilhelm the note. Negotiations opened in the late evening at Donchery, with Count von Bismarck and General von Moltke on the German side, and the French Army Commander General de Wimpffen (Marshal MacMahon had been wounded) and General de Castelnau (who was representing Napoleon`s interests) on the French side.
(Note: Monsieur mon frere was a greeting used by one monarch when addressing another.)
French Text
Monsieur mon frére
N`ayant pas pu mourir au milieu de mes troupes, il ne me reste qu`a remettre mon épée entre les mains de Votre Majesté.
Je suis de Votre Majesté le bon frère.
Napoleon
German Text
Monsieur mon frere
Nachdem es mir nicht vergönnt war, in der Mitte meiner Truppen zu sterben, bleibt mir nichts übrig, als meinen Degen in die Hände Euer Majestät zu legen.
Ich bin der gute Bruder Ihrer Majestät.
Napoleon
English Text
Monsieur mon frere
Since I could not die in the midst of my troops, I can only put my sword in Your Majesty`s hands.
I am Your Majesty`s good brother.
Napoleon
Website "The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71"
©Martin Tomczak 2002