After the battle of Jena, Napoleon took up his quarters at Weimar; the
royal family of Prussia having fled on the approach of the conqueror.
The Duchess, however, did not abandon her capital, though her lord and
master was at the head of 25,000 men in the Prussian army. She retired
with her attendants into one wing of the palace, and prepared the best
apartment for the reception of the French Emperor. On his arrival she
placed herself at the head of the principal staircase to receive him;
when on seeing her, he abruptly demanded, “_Qui êtes vous Madame?_” to
which she replied, “_Je suis la Duchesse de Weimar._” “Then I pity you,”
said Napoleon, “for your husband has lost his duchy.” He paid her no
further attention but retired to his apartment.
In the morning, the Duchess was informed that the city had been
pillaged, and was still in confusion. She sent one of her chamberlains
to inquire after the health of the Emperor and demand an audience.
Napoleon was pleased, and expressed a wish that she should breakfast
with him. Scarcely had the Duchess arrived, when, according to his usual
custom, he began to question her respecting her husband, and enquired
why he was foolish enough to make war upon him; to which she replied,
that Napoleon would have despised him if he had acted otherwise. “Why?”
asked Napoleon. “My husband,” said the Duchess, “has been thirty years
in the service of Prussia. He could not quit the King’s service with
honor at the moment when the latter had to contend against an enemy so
powerful as your majesty.”
[Illustration: THE DUCHESS OF WEIMAR AND NAPOLEON.]