“A whiff of grapeshot… could have saved the king”

“A whiff of grapeshot… could have saved the king”

Today, we’re going to take a very brief look at this famous quote, and see how it can give us insight into the period from which its from. I like examining quotes like this, as they can give you important context as to what the people from a specific period were thinking.

This is part of a larger series where we look at historic quotes and try to find their meaning and how they fit into history as a whole.

This quote is often attributed, although it was never actually said by him, to Napoleon during his actions on October 5, 1795. On this date, a mob of tens of thousands of royalist protesters rose up in Paris with the intention of overthrowing the National Convention.

Napoleon had other plans. He positioned his cannons and fired on a crowd of protesters. This cut through the protestors like butter, and hundreds died instantly. Shortly after, the protestors dispersed, and the government was saved.

This was a key moment in French history and showed that an organized military could quell mob rule. It is also one of the early moments signifying Napoleon’s rise to power. At the time, he was an out-of-favor general, but his actions here helped move him back into good standing and ultimately helped propel him to emperor.

The second piece, “could have saved the king”, muses on the lack of action taken by Louis XVI. The reigning monarch at the time, Louis XVI, tried to avoid bloodshed and forbade firing on the protestors. This lack of action is cited by many, including Napoleon himself, as a key reason the monarchy fell during the revolution.

Had Louis XVI been more ruthless the French Revolution may have turned out differently, or perhaps been delayed. It’s impossible to tell, but it is an interesting “what if” scenario. The quote muses on this, and suggests that had Louis been more willing to use force he could have preserved his power and ultimately his life.

The quote itself was likely never actually said by Napoleon, but was instead coined by the historian Thomas Carlyle writing six years after Napoleon’s death[^1]. Nonetheless, it still illustrates Napoleon’s ideals and character. It also provides us with a quick summary that gives insight into what was going on during the French Revolution.

[^1]: https://jonathangifford.com/napoleons-whiff-of-grapeshot/