When he heard that Napoleon's remains were coming back to France, Marshall Moncey, one of the last Empire marshalls still alive, and dying from old age and weakness, begged his doctor to stuff him woth enough drugs to honour his Emperor one last time. When the coffin passed, he was here, in his regalia, saluting the man he had served and still revered. When it was lowered at the Invalides, he was one of the few who got to dip a bay tree branch in Holy Water and spray it over the coffin. When all was said and done, the only thing he said was: "Now the last thing I have to do is go home and die". True to his word, he passed quickly afterwards. And that was only one of many. All over Paris, hundreds of men had donned their old uniform to salute THE Emperor, the one they would still follow if he rose again.

About the song, it was written in 1817 "To the veteran who begged for his bread" It's sad cause it's about a man who conquered the world but the only thing he got, at the end, is beg for bread or money. It was illegal (and concidered a crime) in France at this time. After the occupation of France (1815-1817), they change the law so the veterans were allowed to beg in the street. The only "gift" or reward they gave to them. (Sorry if it's not clear, english is not my native language)

This is such a sad, nostalgic but calming song... I love it.

When everything is over and you remember that once you conquered Moscow, saw the pyramids and the holy land, defeated mighty Prussia in 2 battles the same day and Belgium, the Nertherlands, northern Italy and west germany were french adminstrative divisions. Yes you can feel, a bit... nostalgic.

just noticed with every verse, the map of napoleonic france grows bigger then reverts to its state at the first verse as the kingdom of france

"Do you remember that on the pyramids, each of us dared to engrave his name" Damn this line hit hard in my French heart

For those who are wondering, it was "Te Souviens Tu" (1817) that inspired "Ich Bin Soldat" (1870): the former is a nostalgic song about the Napoleonic wars, which is why it was used by the latter to make it a anti war song. It is quite common to find for each song its "anti-song" on the same tune in response. The special thing about this one is that I love both versions! Side note about hte context, the 1815-1848 period was a time of misery in France where the country suffered the return of the king, poverty, occupation and indeminities to be paid to the coalised. The veterans had no pensions and the bonapartists and republicans were forbidden to work in public institutions (including the army). Begging was forbidden in France, but given the importance of the phenomenon it was allowed for the veterans.

« Kids make fun of France, adults respect it »

I really love how the tune is the same as to the german anti-war song "ich bin soldat"

It's so sad yet soothing in a way, I absolutely love it! Much love, my French brethren, from little Belgium!

Never forget. 6 Coalitions to beat a single country. 6 coalitions to beat brave French soldiers. 6 Coalitions, made of 18 countries to beat ONE country !

This song moved me to tears, I'm from Turin in Italy and we too were part of that great dream that was the empire of Napoleon. Time might have passed but the deeds and the idea to bring to the world glory, freedom and greatness are immortal . Viva l'imperatore!

As Pierre begged for a piece of bread, the aristocrats laughed, A man approached him, not giving him bread but extending his hand: "Jean?" Said Pierre in a happy but calm voice, Jean responded: "Get up Caporal", as Pierre got up, he looked behind Jean, seeing his old comrades, and fading images of officers and fallen comrades, seeing his eyes filling with tears of joy, another man with his old uniform approached Pierre and gave him a French eagle: "We need our old flag bearer back, don't forget Austerlitz, Salamanca and Waterloo my friend", the veterans happily marched and joked around the city, gathering their old comrades where they went, and some say, and the end of the march, at the sound of a company drum and fife, they sang this song together, Pierre always remembered to his dying days.. his last words being "I will see you all in heaven.. Vive l'Empereur".

0:04 - Kingdom of France, pre-revolution 0:47 - First French Republic, 1795 1:29 - First French Empire, post-invasion of Russia, 1807 2:11 - First French Empire, 1812 2:52 - First French Empire, Hundred-Days campaign, 1815 3:35 - Kingdom of France, defeat of Napoleon, 1815 I thought it was interesting that it started with the Bourbons and ended with the Bourbons..

As an American thank you France for helping us achieve freedom and I respect napoleons and all your people

Love From Lebanon. Vive la France ! 🇫🇷❤️🇱🇧

The French have amazing songs, just like the language :)

I feel nothing but RESPECT.. 🇬🇪 🫡

If the Napoleonic Wars had a credits song this would be it

Ce chant vous fouette le sang! Imaginez juste avoir participez aux campagnes de la Révolution, d'Egypte, d'Italie, d'Autriche, de Prusse, d'Espagne, de Russie et de France! D'avoir servi pour sa patrie, L'Empereur et son peuple et au final se retrouver a mendier pour avoir a mangez... Quel tristesse... Honneur et Gloire a ces immortels qui ont forger notre Pays et notre Histoire! Vive La France! Vive l'Empereur!

Love for France from Italy 🇮🇹❤️🇨🇵 Vive l'Empereur!

This makes me sad and nostalgic for a period that ended over 200 years ago and for a country that is not my own. Respect from your old ally the USA

What a nostalgic feeling for the Napoleonic veterans. This in short describes the victories of the Napoleonic armies. This is a tribute to them and their leader. Napoleon would have felt so proud on listening this.

Je ne connaissais pas cette chanson et je suis content de l'avoir découverte.

don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened...

"Only one man was alive back then in Europe; the remaining of the beings was trying to fill its lungs from the air he had breathed. Each year, France gave to this man the gift of 300 000 young men; and him, taking with a smile this new fiber torn from the heart of humanity, he twisted it between his hands, and made it a new string to his bow; then he placed on this bow one of these arrows that travelled trough the world, and went to fall in a little valley of a desert island, under a weeping willow. Never were there so many sleepless nights as in the time of this man; never was there seen leaning over the ramparts of the cities such a crowd of desolate mothers; never was there such silence around those who spoke of death. And yet never was there so much joy, so much life, so many hearts; never were there suns so pure as those which dried up all that blood. They said that God made them for this man, and they called them his Austerlitz suns. But he did them well himself with his always thundering cannons, which only left clouds after his battles. It was the air of that spotless sky, where so much glory shone, where so much steel shone, that children breathed then. They knew very well that they were destined for hecatombs; but they believed Murat to be invulnerable, and the Emperor had been seen to pass over a bridge where so many bullets were hissing that it was uncertain whether he might die." -Musset, The Confession of a child of the century, 1836 « Un seul homme était en vie alors en Europe ; le reste des êtres tâchait de se remplir les poumons de l'air qu'il avait respiré. Chaque année, La France faisait présent à cet homme de trois cent mille jeunes gens ; et lui, prenant avec un sourire cette fibre nouvelle arrachée au cœur de l'humanité, il la tordait entre ses mains, et en faisait une corde neuve à son arc ; puis il posait sur cet arc une de ces flèches qui traversèrent le monde, et s'en furent tomber dans une petite vallée d'une île déserte, sous un saule pleureur. Jamais il n'y eut tant de nuits sans sommeil que du temps de cet homme ; jamais on ne vit se pencher sur les remparts des villes un tel peuple de mères désolées ; jamais il n'y eut un tel silence autour de ceux qui parlaient de mort. Et pourtant jamais il n'y eut tant de joie, tant de vie, tant de cœurs ; jamais il n'y eut de soleils si purs que ceux qui séchèrent tout ce sang. On disait que Dieu les faisait pour cet homme, et on les appelait ses soleils d'Austerlitz. Mais il les faisait bien lui-même avec ses canons toujours tonnants, et qui ne laissaient de nuages qu'aux lendemains de ses batailles. C'était l'air de ce ciel sans tache, où brillait tant de gloire, où resplendissait tant d'acier, que les enfants respiraient alors. Ils savaient bien qu'ils étaient destinés aux hécatombes ; mais ils croyaient Murat invulnérable, et on avait vu passer l'Empereur sur un pont où sifflaient tant de balles, qu'on ne savait s'il pouvait mourir. » -Musset, La Confession d'un enfant du siècle, 1836

" Te souviens tu que sur les pyramides, chacun de nous osa graver son nom" Les larmes aux yeux. Vive la France éternelle

I really like that the different voices had a verse of their own, like they were other soldiers with distinct memories.

My man has been beating the Austrians My man has defeated the Austrians and Russians combined My man died in the Russian snow My man was overstretched and now has to defend my man died in St Helena My man has been defeated by the British My man had beaten 4 coalitions My man had cemented his place in history My man has been to the Bastille My man was the ruler of Europe once. and so on. Reply if you would like to add more on what I got Edit: when you make a popular comment on a video and see all the comments, and the video having passed its glory days, you feel a bit of nostalgia

ENFIN ! Ça faisait longtemps que je l'attendais. Quand j'écoute cette musique j'en pleure de l'eau bénite !

Napoleon was alive when this music was written, but he was exiled in the isolated island of "Saint Helena" .

Love France from France 🇨🇵❤🇨🇵

Mes amis, si vous saviez combien mon pays vous remercie de toujours aider la cause de l'indépendance de notre pays. Beaucoup d'amour de la Roumanie 🇷🇴❤️🇫🇷

Vive l'empereur et la gloire éternelle qu'il donna à la France

Te souviens-tu, disait un capitaine Au vétéran qui mendiait son pain, Te souviens-tu qu'autrefois dans la plaine, Tu détournas un sabre de mon sein ? Sous les drapeaux d'une mère chérie, Tous deux jadis nous avons combattu ; Je m'en souviens, car je te dois la vie : Mais, toi, soldat, dis-moi, t'en souviens-tu ? Te souviens-tu de ces jours trop rapides, Où le Français acquit tant de renom ! Te souviens-tu que sur les pyramides, Chacun de nous osa graver son nom ? Malgré les vents, malgré la terre et l'onde, On vit flotter, après l'avoir vaincu, Nos étendard sur le berceau du monde : Dis-moi, soldat, dis-moi, t'en souviens-tu ? Te souviens-tu que les preux d'Italie Ont vainement combattu contre nous ? Te souviens-tu que les preux d'Ibérie Devant nos chefs ont plié les genoux ? Te souviens-tu qu'aux champs de l'Allemagne Nos bataillons, arrivant impromptu, En quatre jours ont fait une campagne : Dis-moi, soldat, dis-moi, t'en souviens-tu ? Te souviens-tu de ces plaines glacées Que les Français, abordaient en vainqueur, Et sur leurs fronts les neiges amassées Glacer leurs corps sans refroidir leurs cœurs ? Souvent alors, au milieu des alarmes, Nos pleurs coulaient, mais notre œil abattu Brillait encore lorsqu'on volait aux armes Dis-moi, soldat, dis-moi, t'en souviens-tu? Te souviens- tu qu'un jour notre patrie Vivante encore descendit au cercueil, Et que l'on vit, dans Lutèce flétrie, Les étrangers marcher avec orgueil ? Garde en ton cœur ce jour pour le maudire, Garde en ton cœur ces voix qui se sont tues, Qu'un chef jamais n'ait besoin de te dire : Dis-moi, soldat, dis-moi, t'en souviens-tu ? Te souviens-tu ?... Mais ici ma voix tremble, Car je n'ai plus de noble souvenir ; Bientôt, l'ami, nous pleurerons ensemble, En attendant un meilleur avenir. Mais si la mort, planant sur nos chaumière, Me rappelait le repos qui m'est dû, Tu fermeras doucement ma paupière, En me disant Soldat,

Le grand Napoléon qui a conquis et dominer l'Europe.Vive l'empereur !Vive l'empire !Vive la France !

This is most sorrowful soldier song I ever heard. Napoleon was great commander and his grand armee were amazing. I respect Napoleon and who worked for him until last days of Napoleon. Vive La France!!!

C'Est seulement grâce à Napoléon si l'Italie existe merci les français pour avoir nous donné nôtre pays vive la France éternelle vive l'empereur🇮🇹❤️🇫🇷

Love France from Russia 🇷🇺❤🇫🇷

Dont cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

Oh france such amazing history 🇺🇸❤🇫🇷

I’m American and this song helped me respect France so much more considering their trials and tribulations. Every time they were knocked down, they got back up.

"Theres nothing we can do."

Oh France, you still on my heart.

God, I love France 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿❤️🇫🇷

i feel some connection with napoleon because i’m such a big fan of him and what he did, rest in peace L’Empereur

One of my ancestors fought on the side of Napoleon, and i am proud, that he did.

I love how the map evolves as the song Goes, Before Gradually returning to it's original Boundaries

My man was born on the 15th août of 1769 My man learned in France without any friends and being bullied My man kicked *ss of British in Toulon My man goes to Italy and defeat Austrian at Arcole My man goes to Egypt and found the famous Pierre of rosette My man became 1st consul in 1799 My man goes back to Italy to kick *ss of Austrian My man crowned himself emperor of the French in 1804 My man defeated the Russia and Austrian at Austerlitz in 1805 My man resisted to 4th coalition My man abdicated in 1814 but he came back My man got defeat at Waterloo in 1815 by the British and Prussian My man got exiled at sainte helena My man died on the 5th may of 1821 My man come back in paris on the 15th of December of 1840 My man maybe died but he is still in the heart of french history and mine.. My man is a hero who will never be forgotten and what he did too Vive l'empereur vive la France 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥 🟦🟦🟦🟦⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🟥🟥🟥🟥

The most beautiful language in the world, and it’s not even close. 🇫🇷

I felt this… still relevant all these years later.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away"

Brings me to tears, 十美！

Que Dieu me prenne la vie et le donne a la France si il le faut. Y’a t’il plus grand honneur de donner ca vie pour ce merveilleux pays.🇫🇷

As a Mauritian I’m so appreciated of our ancestors’ music. 🇲🇺❤️🇫🇷

It's so calming. It's my favorite song

"The ideas that underpin our modern world-meritocracy, equality before the law, property rights, religious toleration, modern secular education, sound finances, and so on-were championed, consolidated, codified and geographically extended by Napoleon. To them he added a rational and efficient local administration, an end to rural banditry, the encouragement of science and the arts, the abolition of feudalism and the greatest codification of laws since the fall of the Roman Empire. " -Andrew Roberts, British historian.

I love how the image of France changes size for every historical period for every chant

Gloire, honneur et fidélité à la France

this song is so relaxing , peaceful and beautiful . i love that song so much.

This song makes me nostalgic about an era I didn't live through in a country I don't live in for a war I didn't fight. Simply moving.

🇨🇵✝️🇧🇪 le Liégeois ce rappel de ce passé commun!

In many ways it is a sweet song, nostalgic like all that is sweet in life. From a very young age I was taught to admire and love french history. I respectfully bow to the memory of the soldiers who defended the glory of France throughout Europe. Long live the France of always.

Beautiful song Greetings from Hungary

None of us fought during the Napoleonic Wars but this gives me nostalgia

I'd just like to point out as a french that you may see we talk about the brave of italy of iberia, a privilege not given to other nations. Fratelli latini, hermanos latinos, frères latins

Awesome, Ingen. Very nice song you have found here, it will probably go to my playlist

I love how every line of this song has a historical meaning.

L italie, l Allemagne, la Pologne et les Etats unis sont les enfants de notre empereur. Celebrons cet héros ❤🇲🇫

This song is so wonderful it brought me to tears bravo bravo

For nearly two years I sang this to my daughter to put her to sleep. This and "La Strasbourgeoise" were the only songs that would have her fall asleep 🙏🏻

It literally made me almost crying. I can empathically feel for it on "To the veteran who begged for his bread".

the greatest music for the greatest ruler of all time rest in piece

The map of Napoleon Europe is so Beautiful

Magnifique ! 🇨🇵

My man has been in the land of pharous My man made the italian peninsula his own My man made the spaniards knee in front of him My man walked his horse through the gates of Brandenburg My man made Europe his own My man froze in Russia My man saw his dream collapse My man left a nation in mourning May my man he rest in peace

This song feel like the end of a journey. The ending credits of the Napoleonic Wars.

I love this song. Thank you

Француз тілі әдемі, 🇰🇿❤️🇨🇵

The background chorus sounds like some ambient track to Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment, an old RPG like that, cool chant. And awesome somber lyrics

Damn, makes me feel sad and patriotic even though I have no ties to Fance whatsoever

A wonderful song … perfect to the world to respect it . From India to France 🇫🇷 ❤❤

"Ich Bin Soldat" melody)

C'était vraiment une belle chanson par ces mots et son ritme

Vive la France n’oubliez pas peu importe votre pays soyez Nationalistes et ne laisser aucun étranger vous coloniser soyez fort, soyez grands, soyez fière de vos racines, votre histoire, votre culture, votre identité. Battez vous pour défendre votre pays afin d’honorer la mémoire de vos ancêtres, la terre est notre chair et notre identité est notre sang. 🇫🇷🐓🪓

-Napoleon what shall do? -There is nothing we can do

Respect from Turkiye 🇹🇷🤝🇨🇵

Красивая песня)

Even tho i have no french ancestry, dna or germany dna for that matter, i felt something in my heart, like the fall of napoleon changed the course of my future somehow and this song hit me right in the heart, i love you napoleon ❤

I wasn't expecting it to have such a familiar tune

I finally get where the melody of the song "Ich bin Soldat" comes from

De loin la meilleure version disponible sur KZfaq.

Gloire à l'Empereur et l'Empire Français 🙏🏻✝️🇲🇫☦️🙏🏻 🇲🇫🇪🇦🇮🇹🇧🇪🇱🇺🇨🇭🇩🇪🇵🇱🇸🇮 🇭🇷🇧🇻

this really hit home with , the rise in napoleon interest , I just watch Waterloo and this song should have closed the movie .

As a Hellene I always respected brave countries, especially France for taking Berlin under 3 weeks. 🗿🇫🇷 🤝🏻 🇬🇷🗿

Imaginez ces soldats. La plupart étaient des paysans opprimés pendant des siècles qui, soudainement, sont devenus le conquereurs du monde grâce à son Empereur. Napoléon était l'âme du monde, comme a dit Hegel.

This gives me good feelings of nostalgia of something which I never lived. Like an elder telling me about when he was young.

I'm algerian, and though you might expect me to hate France and its history, I actually really like it and respect it, I still hate the colonial stuff but it's been 60 years since that ended, so I think our people should move on at this point I hope both countries find peace one day 🇩🇿💚🇫🇷

I love the evolving maps

This heartbreakingly beautiful song captures the Eternal Glory of France 🇫🇷 and the Emperor of the French! Vive La France 🇫🇷!