First International Napoleonic
Society Congress Held in Italy

21-26 June, 1997

The first Congress sponsored by the International Napoleonic Society was held in Alessandria, Italy, 21-26 June, 1997. INS President Ben Weider was the official host and sponsor of the Congress, which was co-hosted by the Commune of Alessandria, the Province of Alessandria, the North-West Military Region, and the Regional Government of the Piedmonte. Numerous historical societies and businesses participated, including such well-known companies as Michelin and Borsalino. The cooperation of the military district made it possible to hold the Congress in the Cittadella of Alessandria. This was the first civilian event ever held in the citadel.

More than forty scholars from Russia, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, Israel, and North America presented papers on a wide range of Napoleonic topics.

The Congress was organized and coordinated by INS Executive Vice-President J. David Markham, with the critical assistance of Vittorio Scotti Douglas (a scholar from Milan) and Giulio Massobrio (Director of the library, archives, and museum in Alessandria). One of the features of the Congress was the world premier performance of music originally composed for a visit by Napoleon. That visit was canceled, and the music believed lost. In addition to hearing it for the first time, participants were given a compact disc of the entire concert.

The Congress included a tour of the Museo del Risorgimento in Milan, the town of Lodi where General Bonaparte attempted to trap the retreating Austrians in 1796, and the museum and battlefield at Marengo, site of Napoleon's famous victory during the second Italian campaign in 1800. David Chandler's participation in the Congress underscored his continued recovery from a stroke suffered in 1994, as he presented an analysis of the battle of Marengo and joined in numerous discussion sessions.

Another highlight was the presentation of the Marengo Medal of the regional government to Ben Weider, David Chandler, and David Markham by Count Calvi di Bergòlo, presented with full military honors on the grounds of his hereditary Renaissance Castello di Piovera. The medal recognizes the special efforts made to bring knowledge of the region to the world.

The proceedings of the INS Congress will be published and made available to both INS and Napoleonic Alliance members within the next year. The International Napoleonic Society plans to hold regular congresses in the future. Plans currently call for congresses in Israel in 1999 and the United Kingdom in 2000. For further information on the activities of the International Napoleonic Society, contact David Markham, 458 Sea Lavender Terrace, Wellington, FL 33414-3942 USA; telephone 561-798-8351; e-mail: markham@flinet.com

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