Description
Napoleon is known worldwide; Talleyrand is not. The latter was the great supporter of Napoleon for years as his foreign minister. Then, he became his enemy and his nemesis. Talleyrand tried to stop Napoleon’s warring ways and committed “treason” against the Emperor. Talleyrand is of particular interest to us today because, after his many years of supporting Napoleon on the world stage, he turned against Napoleon’s empire-building. Talleyrand fought for an integrated Europe, one in which all the countries would work together as a union and support the larger entity while recognizing the diversity and cultural identities of all the members of the whole.
“Love of glory can only create a great hero; contempt of glory creates a great man.”
Napoleon was a great hero; Talleyrand was a great man.
