Talleyrand Charles - biography, facts from life, photographs, background information. Talleyrand - biography, information, personal life Minister of Foreign Affairs under Napoleon
Charles Maurice was born into a noble family. The parents were absorbed in service at court, and the baby was sent to a wet nurse. One day she left the baby on the chest of drawers, the child fell, and Talleyrand remained lame for the rest of his life. Yu.V. Borisov - Talleyrand, page 10. The boy received his education at the Harcourt College in Paris. Those around him noted his restraint and ability to hide his thoughts. “Caution, that is, the art of showing only part of your life, your thoughts, your feelings, is the first of all qualities,” he later told 100 great diplomats http://www.maugus-hotels.com/97.php . In 1770, young Peri-gore, at the insistence of his parents, entered the Saint-Sulpice seminary. Talleyrand spent four years in the seminary and completed his education at the Sorbonne (1778). At the end of his life, Talleyrand wrote: “My entire youth was devoted to a profession for which I was not born.” Having not yet received the episcopal rank, Talleyrand became the “minister of finance” of the church, taking the post of agent general of the clergy of France under the royal government in 1780, which allowed him to get rich through financial speculation. His expenses - on women, on cards, on expensive clothes, on meetings with friends, on a house and books - grew very quickly. Talleyrand energetically defended the “inalienable rights of the clergy.” In 1785, the assembly of the French clergy heard a report from its agent general. Archbishop of Bordeaux Champion de Cisé highly appreciated Talleyrand's work. For his zealous service to the interests of the church, Talleyrand received a reward of 31 thousand livres from the assembly. Noble origin, upbringing, education, ironic, subtle mind attracted many representatives of the fair sex to Charles Maurice. He took care of his appearance and learned to hide his limp. At the age of 29, Talleyrand met Countess Adelaide de Flahaut. Adelaide lived separately from her husband and was not divorced from him. Her salon was popular in Paris. As a result of this almost family connection, Talleyrand had a son, Charles Joseph (1785). He became a general, Napoleon's aide-de-camp, and then, under Louis Philippe, ambassador. Talleyrand's interest in politics constantly intensified. Parisian salons served as an important source of information for him. He moved in court circles, was familiar with Walter, E. Choiseul, and the future writer Baroness de Stael; He was friends with Mirabeau, visited the Masonic lodge, and met the future English Prime Minister William Pitt, who was vacationing in France. By the age of 34, the Pope confirmed Talleyrand as Bishop of Autun, and after that he was elected as a deputy of the Estates General from the Clergy of Autun. Talleyrand's parliamentary career was swift and brilliant. He held the honorary positions of member of the first and second constitution committees, chairman of the Constituent Assembly and member of its Diplomatic Committee. Talleyrand made a number of important proposals at the meeting and participated in the preparation of documents that were a milestone in the history of the French Revolution.
Talleyrand's popularity especially increased after on June 7, 1790, from the rostrum of the Constituent Assembly, he proposed from now on to celebrate the national holiday of the federation on the day of the storming of the Bastille. During the holiday, the Bishop of Autun celebrated a solemn mass, gathered in the middle of the Champs de Mars. Talleyrand spoke at the Assembly with reports on issues of financial education, etc. Having gone over to the side of the bourgeoisie, he nevertheless! broke with the court, maintained contact with the Duke of Orleans and his entourage. At the beginning of 1791, the king granted Talleyrand's request for resignation from the post of Bishop of Autun. Talleyrand was elected to an administrative and financial post in the Seine department. But even then he was inclined towards diplomatic activities. After the death of the head of the Diplomatic Committee Mirabeau, in April 1791 his place was taken by Talleyrand, the former Bishop of Autun Free information encyclopedia - http://www.wikipedia.ru. He soon passed through the Constituent Assembly a decision to arm 27 ships for the Spanish fleet. It was alleged that for the extension of the Franco-Spanish treaty of 1761, Talleyrand received 100 thousand dollars from the Spanish ambassador Evgeniy Viktorovich Tarle - Talleyrand, Higher School, 1992., p. 12. The powers of the Constituent Assembly expired. Having ceased to be a deputy of the Constituent Assembly and seeing the approach of a new stage of the revolution, which Talleyrand feared because it posed a threat to the aristocracy, he finally decided to devote himself to diplomacy. They suggested that Talleyrand go to London for negotiations. Talleyrand, who had experience working on the Diplomatic Committee of the Constituent Assembly, was ready for his new mission. He analyzed and summarized his first experience in the “Note on the current relations of France with other European states.” In the Note, Talleyrand emphasized that a free people cannot build its relations with other peoples on “ideas and feelings”; he must base "political action on the principles of reason, justice and the common good."
Talleyrand returned to Paris. The first diplomatic mission ended successfully.
Everything contributed to Talleyrand’s success in the diplomatic field - noble manners, brilliant education, the ability to speak beautifully, unsurpassed mastery of intrigue, the ability to win over people Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Prigord - from the information portal http://www.worldhistory.ru. Having taken the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs under the Directory, Talleyrand quickly created an efficiently working apparatus of the department. He took millions in bribes from kings and governments, not for a fundamental change in position, but just for editorial changes to some minor article in the treaty. Talleyrand's influence on the activities of French diplomacy was significant. The minister was a kind of intermediary between the Directory and the generals, who personally negotiated and signed peace or armistice agreements. However, the most important foreign policy issues were dealt with by the members of the Directory themselves. Talleyrand established close relations with General Bonaparte and, after his appointment as minister, hastened to offer the general services and cooperation. They became even closer during the period of preparation and implementation of the coup d'etat of the 18th Fructidor (September 4, 1797). It was a battle with right-wing forces seeking the restoration of the monarchy. Talleyrand did not hesitate to side with the republican majority of the Directory, which opposed the return of the Bourbons, but hated the principles of 1793. Napoleon did not find a common language with the Directory and needed the mediation of “his man,” his help, and timely and truthful information. Talleyrand willingly took on this difficult mission. On the night of October 17-18, 1797, an agreement was signed between France and Austria, which went down in history as the Treaty of Campoformia. For Austria, the conditions were extortionate. But for Bonaparte and Talleyrand the negotiations undoubtedly ended in success. In the eyes of the general public, the young commander was a hero who showed not only military, but also remarkable diplomatic abilities. But the real organizer of the victory in Campoformio, who remained unknown to the public, was the Minister of Foreign Relations of the Directory, who managed to prevent a break in relations with Austria. The beginning of the business cooperation between Bonaparte and Talleyrand was laid. As Minister of the Directory, Talleyrand relied on General Bonaparte and became one of the organizers of the coup on November 9, 1799. He was Napoleon's minister during the period of his ascent and greatest successes and played an important role in the formation of Napoleonic power. But gradually common sense began to tell Talleyrand that France’s struggle for European dominance would not bring him dividends. At the time of Napoleon's abdication, Talleyrand headed the provisional government, and at the Vienna Congress of European Powers (1814-15) he represented France as the minister of Louis XVIII Talleyrand (Biographies of famous contemporaries). "Domestic Notes", vol. 38. p. 67. Having put forward the principle of legitimism (legality), Talleyrand managed to defend not only the pre-war borders of France, despite its defeat, but also to create a secret alliance of France, Austria and England against Russia and Prussia. France was brought out of international isolation. The Congress was the pinnacle of Talleyrand's diplomatic career.
“I told General Bonaparte that the portfolio of the Minister of Foreign Affairs is secret in nature and cannot be open at meetings, that he should alone take on the work on foreign affairs, which should only be led by the head of government...” wrote Talleyrand in “ Memoirs". “It was agreed from the very first day that I would only count with the first consul.” Talleyrand became, as it were, the chief foreign policy adviser to the first consul and carried out his diplomatic assignments. Bonaparte believed that Talleyrand “had much of what is necessary for negotiations: secularism, knowledge of the courts of Europe, subtlety, to say the least, immobility in features, which nothing can spoil, finally, a famous name... I know that he belonged to the revolution only thanks to his dissipation; he is a Jacobin and a deserter from his class in the Constituent Assembly, and his interests are entrusted to us behind him. The Minister never worked for his subordinates. He kept his personal dictionary editing to a minimum. The authorized representatives received instructions from the head of the department, which they then had to formulate and put on paper, adding suitable arguments to them. Talleyrand was a master of negotiations and diplomatic conversation. | distinguished by the ability to choose a topic and arguments, the ability to express one’s point of view in a few words. At the same time, the essence of the problem, if circumstances or his personal goals required, seemed to remain. He knew how to listen carefully to his interlocutor, memorizing data well. “You are the king of conversation in Europe. What secret do you have! Napoleon once asked Talleyrand. He replied: “When you are at war, do you always choose your battlefields?.. And I choose the ground for conversation. I will only agree with what I can say something about.” "I don't answer... In general, I will not allow anyone to ask myself questions, with the exception of you. If they demand answers from me, then it is I who will answer."
His whole life was an endless series of betrayals and betrayals, and these acts were connected with such grandiose historical events, took place on such an open world stage, were always explained (without exception) to such an extent by clearly selfish motives and were accompanied by such immediate material benefits for him personally, that with his great intelligence, Talleyrand never expected that with simple, ordinary and generally accepted, so to speak, hypocrisy, he could actually deceive someone for a long time after committing one or another of his acts. It was important to deceive those interested only during the preparation itself and then during the execution of the case, without which the success of the enterprise would have been unthinkable. And this very success must be so decisive as to guarantee the prince from the revenge of the deceived when they learn about his moves and tricks. As for the so-called “public opinion”, and even more so the “judgment of posterity” and other similar sensitivities, Prince Talleyrand was completely indifferent to them, and, moreover, quite sincerely, there can be no doubt about it.
Prince Talleyrand was called not just a liar, but the “father of lies.” And indeed, no one has ever discovered such art in the conscious perversion of truth, such an ability to maintain a stately, careless, disinterested appearance, a serene calm, characteristic only of the most immaculate, dove-like purity of the soul; no one has achieved such perfection in the use of the figure of silence as This is truly an extraordinary person. Even those observers and critics of his actions who considered him a walking collection of all vices almost never called him a hypocrite. And indeed, this epithet somehow does not suit him: he is too weak and inexpressive Evgeniy Viktorovich Tarle - Talleyrand, Higher School, 1992, p. 17.
It is this feature that directly leads us to consider the question of the position taken by Prince Talleyrand-Périgord, Duke of Benevento and holder of all French and almost all European orders, in the era of those repeated assaults to which, during his life, his native social class was subjected - the nobility - on the part of the revolutionary bourgeoisie in those days.
A deeply cynical person, Talleyrand did not bind himself to any moral prohibitions. Brilliant, charming, witty, he knew how to attract women. Talleyrand was married (by Napoleon's will) to Catherine Grand, from whom he soon separated. For the last 25 years, Talleyrand's wife was his nephew, the young Duchess Dorothea Dino. Talleyrand surrounded himself with exquisite luxury and owned the richest court in Valence. Alien to sentimentality, pragmatic, he gladly recognized himself as a major owner and acted in the interests of his own kind.
Charles Maurice De Talleyrand-Périgord
The Talleyrand family belonged to one of the oldest noble families in France, whose representatives served the Carolingians. The first information about the Talleyrands dates back to the 9th century. The family's coat of arms symbolizes belligerence and rebellion - its shield depicts three golden eagles in blue crowns with open beaks. According to family legend, during the Hundred Years' War the Talleyrands passed from the French to the English, on whose instructions a representative of the Talleyrand family was sent to Paris with the aim of bribing Charles V. He failed to do this, but he left 10 thousand livres, given to him by the British for this purpose. yourself, probably as a reward for trying.
In the 17th century, Henri de Talleyrand, the favorite of King Louis XIII, became a participant in a conspiracy against Cardinal Richelieu and, despite the favor of the French monarch towards him, still lost his head in the fight against the first minister.
In the 18th century, the Talleyrand family was divided into 3 branches, of which the eldest and youngest died out in the next century. The representative of the middle branch, Napoleon-Louis Talleyrand-Périgord, in 1862 also inherited the title of Duke of Sagan from his mother.
The most famous representative of the Talleyrand family in history was Charles Maurice Talleyrand-Périgord. He was born in Paris on the Rue Garencière on February 2, 1754. His father was Daniel Talleyrand, Prince of Chalet, Count of Périgord and Grignol, Marquis of Exedey, Baron de Beauville and de Marey. Having such a significant title, Charles's father did not have an equally significant fortune, although he was considered a fairly wealthy man. When Charles was born, his father was only 20 years old. Charles Talleyrand's mother, Alexandrina Maria Victoria Eleanor Dame-Antigny, was 6 years older than her husband. As a dowry, she brought him only a small annuity of 15 thousand livres a year.
By the standards of that time, the couple were noble, but not rich people. They were completely absorbed in service at court - the count was one of the Dauphin's educators, and his wife performed the duties of a court lady. Charles's parents were constantly traveling between Paris and Versailles, and the upbringing of their son was entrusted to others, which, however, was a common occurrence in France in the 18th century. Therefore, after the christening, the child was taken by the nurse to the Faubourg Saint-Jacques. Already in adulthood, Charles Maurice Talleyrand, speaking about his “joyless childhood”, about the lack of tenderness, love and attention to him from his parents, tried to justify with this the cruelty of his character, passion for money, penchant for idleness and entertainment.
While still a very small child, he injured his leg - left unattended by his nurse, he fell off the chest of drawers. The parents were not informed about this case, and proper treatment was not provided. As a result, his right foot became bent, and Charles Maurice remained lame for the rest of his life.
In addition to Charles, the Talleyrand family had 3 more sons. The eldest of the boys died early, and the other two - Archambault and Boson - were raised in the house. Charles always maintained good relations with them, although he may have envied their “better lot,” but he never showed it.
At the age of four, Charles was sent, accompanied by a governess, to Chalet, to the ancestral castle of the Talleyrand-Périgord family. Charles’s great-grandmother, Marie Françoise de Rochechouart, lived there, who was the granddaughter of the famous statesman of the era of Louis XIV, Colbert. She fell in love with her grandson Charles, and staying in the castle became the boy's best childhood memory. Here he received his primary education, and in September 1760 he was sent to the capital to the College d'Harcourt, the most famous educational institution in Paris. Talleyrand was not one of the best students of the college, but upon graduation, the 14-year-old boy mastered all the traditional skills for a young man. an aristocrat with knowledge. An independent life was beginning ahead and it was time to think about a career.
Due to an injury received in childhood, military service could not be dreamed of, and the parents did not have the means to purchase a lucrative administrative position. There was only one path left - the career of a clergyman. This was not the worst option, and this is exemplified by the activities of Cardinal Richelieu, Giulio Mazarin or Andre Fleury. A bishop's staff or a cardinal's robe could provide much more income than a sword. But Charles did not think about it and did not want to become a priest. The parents did not find out their son’s opinion and desires regarding his career, but simply sent him to his uncle in Reims. Charles happily set off on a new journey, hoping for the best future for himself. But when he was offered to put on a cassock, he was amazed, but resigned himself. Charles learned humility while studying at college, where he also learned to hide his thoughts and feelings well. In 1770 he entered the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice. Later he would write: “My youth was devoted to a profession for which I was not born.”
Despite his aversion to a spiritual career, Talleyrand successfully moved up the hierarchical ladder. At the age of 34, he became the bishop of the Autun diocese, which, in addition to the antique staff, brought him some income. He was soon to become a cardinal. His main character traits were sociability, resourcefulness, complete unprincipledness and callousness of soul. He learned to use everything, including women, to achieve success and resolve career issues. The purple cassock did not particularly interfere with the bishop's fun. But behind the secular leapfrog and cards, for which he was a great hunter, Talleyrand sensitively guessed the coming changes. Unlike many, he understood perfectly well that Richelieu’s age was over and it was too late to take this statesman as an example. In his soul, Talleyrand remained a supporter of the “blue blood” until the end of his days, but for the sake of profit and career it was now necessary to profess other principles.
The Bishop of Autun becomes a member of the Estates General in May 1789 and then joins the National Constituent Assembly. In October, at a meeting of the assembly, he introduced a proposal for the gratuitous transfer of church lands to the treasury - this was a brilliant move by an experienced player, which brought him fame and allowed him to move into the first ranks of leading legislators. Having forced people to talk about himself, and the most opposite speeches addressed to him, since he became an apostate for the clergy and nobility, Talleyrand still chose not to occupy the first roles in this unstable society. He gave reports, drafted documents and notes, worked on several committees, but did not strive to become a “people's leader,” preferring more profitable and less dangerous work. In February 1790 he was elected chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
The revolution moved rapidly further, much further than the limit that Talleyrand thought about. He understood that bloody terror could begin very soon, and he wanted to be away from Paris by the time it began. In January 1792, he had the opportunity to fulfill his first diplomatic assignment - to achieve neutrality from England in the upcoming war between France and European opponents. Talleyrand goes to London. Upon returning to Paris, he witnessed fundamental changes - the fall of the monarchy. He immediately writes a wonderful revolutionary manifesto about the deposition of the king and draws up a note for the English government about the events in France, in which he denigrates the former monarch in every possible way. Remembering that he had a very trusting relationship with Louis XVI, and realizing that this could be dangerous for himself, Talleyrand is preparing to leave Paris, which he successfully did. And very timely, since two of his letters to the deposed monarch were soon discovered, and if Talleyrand had been in France at that time, he would have had the opportunity to personally become acquainted with the revolutionary invention - the guillotine.
Talleyrand remained in London, leading the hard life of an emigrant. There were no funds, and for the French living there - the nobles and clergy - he was a traitor and an apostate. The British were not interested in him as a figure. In January 1794 he was asked to leave England, and Talleyrand went to America. He did not stay here long, being mainly engaged in land speculation. With the establishment of the Directory in France, he had the opportunity to return to Paris. His former mistress Germaine de Stael helped him in this. She came to see Barras, one of the main figures of this period, several times. But it was not only her petitions that helped Talleyrand. The government and Barras himself needed a good diplomat, “a person with the ability for long, winding negotiations, for verbal duels of the most difficult nature.” Charles Maurice Talleyrand was just like that. Barras decided to rely on him as a person with a broad political outlook and, moreover, with a very dubious past, which also had some advantages.
In 1796, after 5 years of emigration, 43-year-old Talleyrand returned to France again. The reception given to him could not be called cordial, but Charles Talleyrand, using his friends, did not tire of reminding himself. Intrigues were constantly woven between the directors, and Barras decided to use the experience of the scandalous Prince Talleyrand, who, according to Barras, belonged to the supporters of the moderates.
In 1797, Talleyrand was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic. On the day of such a joyful event for him, he said to Benjamin Constant: “The place is ours! You need to make a huge fortune out of it, a huge fortune, a huge fortune.” Money, power, power, unlimited opportunities for creating the blessings of life - these were the main things for Talleyrand, and the post of minister provided an opportunity to fulfill these desires.
While serving as minister, Talleyrand inevitably had to collide with another man, whose career was also growing rapidly. His name is Napoleon Bonaparte. And Talleyrand, with his “professional nose,” immediately understood who to bet on. From that time on, their lives were connected for 14 years, 10 of which Talleyrand actively supported Napoleon. These two people, so different from each other, actually had a lot in common. They were united by contempt for people, absolute selfishness, lack of “moral control” and belief in success. By the way, Barras put a lot of work and effort into promoting both of them, but it is these two people who will throw Barras out of power without regret when their time comes.
The new Foreign Minister very soon confirmed his reputation as a clever man. He managed to shock Paris not with bribes, to which everyone in the capital was accustomed and looked at as a common occurrence, but with their size. In two years, Talleyrand received 13.5 million francs, which was too much even for the battered capital. The merits of Talleyrand include the fact that in a short time he was able to establish the smooth functioning of his ministry, and with each new victory of Napoleon it became easier to do this. Talleyrand saw the future ruler in the young Napoleon and tried to support all his endeavors. Thus, he actively supported Napoleon’s project to conquer Egypt, considering it necessary for France to think about colonies. The “Egyptian Expedition” - the joint brainchild of the minister and the general - turned out to be unsuccessful.
In the summer of 1799, Talleyrand resigned. This was also a long-range calculation. The power of the Directory was weakening every day, and why be a minister under a weak ruler when you can, while remaining free, wait for a strong one and be in demand again. The former minister was not mistaken. Six months of intrigue in favor of Napoleon were not wasted. Bonaparte carried out a coup d'etat on the 18th Brumaire 1799, and 9 days later Talleyrand again became Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Talleyrand felt, if not affection, then at least respect for Napoleon. When nothing connects him with the former emperor, he will say: “I loved Napoleon... I enjoyed his glory and its reflections that fell on those who helped him in a noble cause.” In turn, Napoleon spoke of Talleyrand as follows: “This is a man of intrigue, a man of great immorality, but of great intelligence and, of course, the most capable of all the ministers I have had.”
Talleyrand began his activities under Napoleon by convincing director Barras to resign voluntarily, having coped well with this delicate mission. Then, during the years of the Consulate, Talleyrand showed his outstanding abilities when signing the Treaty of Luneville with Austria in 1801, the Treaty of Amiens with England in 1802 and in negotiations with Russia. France's successes at the negotiating table allowed Napoleon to begin military action. Continuous wars ended with the signing of circulars and agreements, which were signed by Talleyrand as Minister of Foreign Relations, albeit under the control of Napoleon.
The Emperor of France provided his minister with huge incomes - official and unofficial. He made Talleyrand great chamberlain, sovereign prince and duke of Benevento, knight of all French and almost all foreign orders. France expanded its borders more and more, and Talleyrand began to think more and more about his future. Just as he had previously accurately guessed the rise of Napoleon, so now he sensed his imminent fall. Back in 1807, at a meeting with the Russian Emperor Alexander I, Talleyrand told him: “Sir, why did you come here? You must save Europe, and you will succeed in this only if you resist Napoleon.” Talleyrand was too sophisticated a politician to know when it was time to leave. He left the post of minister in 1807, but managed to maintain fairly good relations with Napoleon, who gave him the title of grand vice-elector, the title of highness and a salary of 300 thousand francs in gold per year. But Talleyrand had no intention of ending his career. His plans remained unknown for a long time, and Napoleon did not even suspect that his former minister was “digging his grave.” During a meeting with Alexander I, Talleyrand offered him services as a paid informant, and subsequently informed him in encrypted letters about the military and diplomatic situation in France. In one of these messages, he warned the Russian emperor about the impending French invasion of Russia. This once again confirms the fact that for Talleyrand there were no moral criteria for resolving personal issues.
When Napoleon's exorbitant appetites led to his collapse, Talleyrand managed to convince the allies to leave the French throne not for Napoleon's son, which Alexander I was inclined to do, but for the old royal family - the Bourbons. He hoped for their gratitude and actively used his diplomatic skills to defend their interests, although he did not burn with love for them. The Bourbons could not forgive, and never forgave Talleyrand for his betrayal during the years of the revolution, but they understood perfectly well that without him there was nothing to count on. Talleyrand, when defending their positions, used the principle of legitimism, that is, the right of overthrown dynasties to return the thrones they had lost. He chose a compromise for the victorious allies and the family of former French monarchs: leaving unshakable in France everything that was achieved during the time of Napoleon in socio-economic terms, giving the throne of France to the “legitimate monarch” - Louis XVIII. He put this idea into practice, starting with the signing of the peace treaty in Paris and finally approving it at the congress in Vienna. Talleyrand showed the highest abilities, and his activity at the Congress of Vienna became the apotheosis of all his previous diplomatic successes during his long political career. Charles Maurice Talleyrand represented the defeated country and, as the losing side, would have to agree to the terms of the winners. But he managed to play on the contradictions of the allies, imposing his game on them. Each of the victorious countries tried to grab a larger piece of the inheritance of the defeated Bonaparte. With the help of intrigue, and Talleyrand was a master in this area, he managed to drive a wedge between the allies, forcing them to forget about previous agreements during the defeat of Napoleon. He contributed to the fact that a new balance of power began to emerge in Europe - France, England and Austria against Russia and Prussia. And on January 3, 1815, a secret protocol was signed, cementing the new alliance. The protocol was signed by the foreign ministers Talleyrand, Metternich and Castlereagh.
Having gained power with the help of Talleyrand, Louis XVIII wanted to get rid of his foreign minister as quickly as possible. The Restoration period that began in France, during which the most popular people of the country fell victims to the tyranny of the nobility, forced Talleyrand to issue an ultimatum demanding an end to the repressions. The king asked him to resign, and the former minister was removed from active political life for 15 years. But Talleyrand believed that his time would come. In the meantime, he settled in his luxurious castle in Valence or lived in a beautiful palace in Paris and worked on his memoirs. He also secretly sold documents that he had “stolen” from the state archives to his friend Metternich. All this did not prevent Talleyrand from carefully observing what was happening in the country and, to the best of his ability, participating in political activities. For some time, he came into contact with liberal youth and even helped them publish their own newspaper, giving them money for this. Then he becomes close to the younger branch of the Bourbon dynasty - Duke Louis Philippe of Orleans and his sister Adelaide. And again Talleyrand's intuition told him who he should bet on. The July Revolution of 1830 swept away the Bourbon dynasty, and 77-year-old Talleyrand was again in demand. In September he was appointed ambassador to London, and thanks to his presence, the new regime of Louis Philippe was recognized as legitimate in Europe. Talleyrand actually ruled the entire French foreign policy, often not deigning ministers even with correspondence, but directly contacting the king or his sister, having their full support. His last brilliant diplomatic action was the declaration of independence of Belgium, which was extremely beneficial for France.
Talleyrand served as French ambassador in London for four years. Before leaving office, he managed to sign a special convention with England, Portugal and Spain concerning the problems of the Iberian Peninsula. In November 1834, King Louis Philippe accepted Talleyrand's resignation at his personal request.
Charles Maurice Talleyrand died on May 17, 1838, having received absolution from the Pope. He went down in history, on the one hand, as an incomparable bribe-taker, intriguer and traitor, as a person completely devoid of any moral foundations and ethical principles. But on the other hand, he was one of the greatest diplomats, a man gifted with extraordinary insight, able to withstand the vicissitudes of fate. He said about himself: “I want people to continue to argue throughout the centuries about who I was, what I thought and what I wanted.” It looks like his last wish has come true.
“This is a vile, greedy, low intriguer, he needs dirt and needs money. For money he would sell his soul, and he would be right, for he would exchange a dung heap for gold” - this is how Honore Mirabeau spoke about Talleyrand , as you know, he himself was far from moral perfection. Actually, such an assessment accompanied the prince all his life. Only in his old age did he learn something like the gratitude of his descendants, which, however, was of little interest to him.
An entire era is associated with the name of Prince Charles Maurice Talleyrand-Périgord (1753-1838). And not even alone. Royal power, Revolution, Napoleon's Empire, Restoration, July Revolution... And always, except, perhaps, from the very beginning, Talleyrand managed to be in the lead roles. Often he walked on the edge of an abyss, quite consciously exposing his head to blow, but he won, and not Napoleon, Louis, Barras and Danton. They came and went, having done their job, but Talleyrand remained. Because he always knew how to see the winner and, under the mask of greatness and inviolability, guessed the vanquished.
This is how he remained in the eyes of his descendants: an unsurpassed master of diplomacy, intrigue and bribes. A proud, arrogant, mocking aristocrat, gracefully hiding his limp; a cynic to the core and the “father of lies,” who never misses his advantage; a symbol of deceit, betrayal and unscrupulousness.
Charles Maurice Talleyrand came from an old aristocratic family, whose representatives served the Carolingians in the 10th century. An injury suffered in childhood did not allow him to pursue a military career that could improve the financial affairs of an impoverished aristocrat. His parents, who had little interest in him, directed their son along the spiritual path. How Talleyrand hated this damned cassock, which got underfoot and interfered with social entertainment! Even the example of Cardinal Richelieu could not motivate the young abbot to voluntarily reconcile with his position. Striving for a public career, Talleyrand, unlike many nobles, understood perfectly well that the age of Richelieu was over and it was too late to take an example from this great figure in history. The only thing that could console the prince was the staff of Bishop Ottensky, which brought him, in addition to its antique value, some income.
The purple cassock did not particularly interfere with the bishop's fun. However, behind the secular leapfrog and cards, for which the prince was a great hunter, he sensitively guessed the coming changes. A storm was brewing, and it cannot be said that this upset Talleyrand. Bishop Ottensky, for all his indifference to the ideas of freedom, considered some changes in the political system necessary and saw perfectly well the dilapidation of the old monarchy.
The convening of the Estates General spurred the ambition of Talleyrand, who decided not to miss the chance and join the power. Bishop Ottensky became a delegate from the second estate. He quickly realized that the Bourbons were ruining themselves with indecision and stupid actions. Therefore, adhering to moderate positions, he very soon abandoned his orientation towards the king, preferring the government of the Feyants and Girondins. Not being a good speaker, Prince Talleyrand nevertheless managed to attract the attention of the now Constituent Assembly by proposing to transfer church lands to the state. The gratitude of the deputies knew no bounds. The entire dissolute life of the bishop faded into the background when he, as a faithful follower of the poor prophets, called on the church to voluntarily, without ransom, give up its “unnecessary” property. This act was all the more heroic in the eyes of citizens because everyone knew: the diocese was the only source of income for Deputy Talleyrand. The people rejoiced, and the nobles and clergy openly called the prince an apostate for his “selflessness.”
Having forced people to talk about himself, the prince still chose not to take the first roles in this not very stable society. He could not, and did not strive to become a people's leader, preferring more profitable and less dangerous work in various committees. Talleyrand had a presentiment that this revolution would not end well, and with cold mockery he watched the fuss of the “people's leaders”, who in the near future were to personally familiarize themselves with the invention of the revolution - the guillotine.
After August 10, 1792, much changed in the life of the revolutionary prince. The revolution has moved a little further than he would like. The sense of self-preservation took precedence over the prospects of easy income. Talleyrand realized that a bloodbath would soon begin. I had to get out of here. And he, on Danton’s instructions, wrote a lengthy note in which he outlined the principle of the need to destroy the monarchy in France, after which he preferred to quickly find himself on a diplomatic mission in London. How timely! Two and a half months later, his name was added to the lists of emigrants, having discovered two of his letters from Mirabeau, exposing his connection with the monarchy.
Naturally, Talleyrand did not go to make excuses. He remained in England. The situation was very difficult. There is no money, the British are not interested in him, the white emigration sincerely hated the defrocked bishop, who, in the name of personal gain, threw off his mantle and betrayed the interests of the king. If given the opportunity, they would destroy it. The cold and arrogant Prince Talleyrand did not attach much importance to the yapping of this pack of dogs behind his back. True, the emigrant fuss still managed to annoy him - the prince was expelled from England, he was forced to leave for America.
In Philadelphia, where he settled, the boredom of provincial life awaited him, accustomed to social entertainment. American society was obsessed with money - Talleyrand quickly noticed this. Well, if there are no secular salons, you can start a business. Since childhood, Talleyrand dreamed of becoming minister of finance. Now he had the opportunity to test his abilities. Let's say right away: he had little success here. But he began to like the developments in France more and more.
The bloody terror of the Jacobins was over. The new Thermidorian government was much more loyal. And Talleyrand persistently begins to seek the opportunity to return to his homeland. True to his rule of “letting women go first,” he, with the help of beautiful ladies, and first of all Madame de Stael, managed to get the charges against him dropped. In 1796, after five years of wandering, 43-year-old Talleyrand re-entered his native land.
Talleyrand never tired of reminding the new government of himself with petitions and requests through friends. The Directory that came to power at first did not want to hear about the scandalous prince. “Talleyrand despises people so much because he studied himself a lot,” as one of the directors, Carnot, put it. However, another member of the government, Barras, feeling the instability of his position, looked with increasing attention towards Talleyrand. A supporter of the moderates, he could become “an insider” in the intrigues that the directors weaved against each other. And in 1797 Talleyrand was appointed Minister of External Relations of the French Republic. A clever intriguer, Barras did not understand people at all. He dug his own hole, first by helping Bonaparte advance, and then by securing the appointment of Talleyrand to such a post. It is these people who will remove him from power when the time comes.
Talleyrand managed to confirm his flawed reputation as a very dexterous person. Paris is accustomed to the fact that almost all government officials take bribes. But the new Minister of External Relations managed to shock Paris not with the number of bribes, but with their size: 13.5 million francs in two years - this was too much for the battered capital. Talleyrand took everything and for any reason. It seems there is no country left in the world , communicated with France and did not pay her minister. Fortunately, greed was not the only quality of Talleyrand. He was able to organize the work of the ministry. It was all the easier the more victories Bonaparte won. Talleyrand quickly realized that the Directory would not last long. But the young Bonaparte is not the “sword” that Barras was counting on, but a ruler, and one should make friends with him. After the victorious general returns to Paris.
Talleyrand actively supported his project of conquering Egypt, considering it necessary for France to think about colonies. The "Egyptian Expedition", a joint brainchild of the Foreign Minister and Bonaparte, was supposed to mark the beginning of a new era for France. It is not Talleyrand's fault that it failed. While the general was fighting in the hot sands of the Sahara, Talleyrand thought more and more about the fate of the Directory. Constant discord in the government, military failures, unpopularity - all these were disadvantages that threatened to develop into a disaster. When Bonaparte comes to power - and Talleyrand had no doubt that this is exactly what will happen - he is unlikely to need these narrow-minded ministers. And Talleyrand decided to untie himself from the Directory. In the summer of 1799 he unexpectedly resigned.
The former minister was not mistaken. Six months of intrigue in favor of the general were not wasted. On Brumaire 18, 1799, Bonaparte carried out a coup d'état, and nine days later Talleyrand received the portfolio of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Fate connected these people for 14 long years, seven of which the prince honestly served Napoleon. The Emperor turned out to be that rare person for whom Talleyrand felt, if not a feeling of affection, then at least respect. "I loved Napoleon... I enjoyed his fame and its reflections that fell on those who helped him in his noble cause,” Talleyrand would say many years later, when nothing connected him with the Bonapartes. Perhaps he was absolutely here sincere.
It was a sin for Talleyrand to complain about Napoleon. The emperor provided him with huge incomes, official and unofficial (the prince actively took bribes), he made his minister a great chamberlain, a great elector, a sovereign prince and the Duke of Benevento. Talleyrand became a holder of all French orders and almost all foreign ones. Napoleon, of course, despised the moral qualities of the prince, but also valued him very much: “He is a man of intrigue, a man of great immorality, but of great intelligence and, of course, the most capable of all the ministers I have had.” It seems that Napoleon fully understood Talleyrand. But...
1808 Erfurt. Meeting of Russian and French sovereigns. Unexpectedly, the peace of Alexander I was interrupted by the visit of Prince Talleyrand. The astonished Russian emperor listened to the strange words of the French diplomat: “Sir, why did you come here? You must save Europe, and you will succeed in this only if you resist Napoleon.” Maybe Talleyrand has gone crazy? No, that was far from the case. Back in 1807, when it seemed that Napoleon's power had reached its apogee, the prince thought about the future. How long can the emperor's triumph last? Being too sophisticated a politician, Talleyrand once again felt that it was time to leave. And in 1807 he resigned from the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in 1808 he accurately determined the future winner.
The prince, showered with Napoleon's favors, played a complex game against him. Encrypted letters informed Austria and Russia about the military and diplomatic situation of France. The astute emperor had no idea that his “most capable of all ministers” was digging his grave.
The experienced diplomat was not mistaken. Napoleon's growing appetites led him to collapse in 1814. Talleyrand managed to convince the allies to leave the throne not for the son of Napoleon, whom Alexander I initially favored, but for the old royal family - the Bourbons. Hoping for gratitude on their part, the prince did the possible and the impossible, showing miracles of diplomacy. Well, gratitude from the new rulers of France was not slow to follow. Talleyrand again became minister of foreign affairs and even head of government. Now he had to solve a difficult problem. The sovereigns gathered in Vienna for a congress that was supposed to decide the fate of Europe. The Great French Revolution and Emperor Napoleon redrawn the world map too much. The winners dreamed of snatching a bigger piece of the inheritance of the defeated Bonaparte. Talleyrand represented the defeated country. It seemed that the prince could only agree. But Talleyrand would not have been considered the best diplomat in Europe, "if it were so. With the most skillful intrigues, he separated the allies, forcing them to forget about their agreement during the defeat of Napoleon. France, England and Austria united against Russia and Prussia. The Congress of Vienna laid the foundations for Europe's policy on the next 60 years, and Minister Talleyrand played a decisive role in this. It was he, in order to maintain a strong France, who put forward the idea of legitimism (legality), in which all territorial acquisitions since the revolution were declared invalid, and the political system of European countries was to remain at the turn of 1792 France thereby retained its “natural borders”.
Perhaps the monarchs believed that in this way the revolution would be forgotten. But Prince Talleyrand was wiser than them. Unlike the Bourbons, who took seriously the principle of legitimism in domestic politics, Talleyrand, using the example of Napoleon’s “Hundred Days,” saw that it was madness to go back. It was only Louis XVIII who believed that he had regained the rightful throne of his ancestors. The Foreign Minister knew very well that the king was sitting on the throne of Bonaparte. The wave of “White Terror” that unfolded in 1815, when the most popular people fell victim to the tyranny of the brutal nobility, led the Bourbons to death. Talleyrand, relying on his authority, tried to explain to the unreasonable monarch and especially his brother, the future king Charles X, the destructiveness of such a policy. In vain! Despite his aristocratic origins, Talleyrand was so hated by the new government that it did not demand his head from the king. The minister's ultimatum demanding an end to the repression led to his resignation. The “grateful” Bourbons threw Talleyrand out of the political arena for 15 years. The prince was surprised, but not upset. He was confident, despite his 62 years, that his time would come.
Work on “Memoirs” did not leave the prince aside from political life. He closely monitored the situation in the country and looked closely at young politicians. In 1830 the July Revolution broke out. The old fox remained true to himself here too. As the guns roared, he told his secretary: “We are winning.” - “We? Who exactly, prince, wins?” - “Hush, don’t say another word; I’ll tell you tomorrow.” Louis-Philippe d'Orléans won. Talleyrand, 77, was quick to join the new government. Rather, out of interest in a complex matter, he agreed to head the most difficult embassy in London. Even if the free press poured mud on the old diplomat, recalling his past “betrayals,” Talleyrand was unattainable for her. He has already become history. His authority was so high that the prince’s one performance on the side of Louis Philippe was regarded as the stability of the new regime. By his mere presence, Talleyrand forced the reluctant European governments to recognize the new regime in France.
The last brilliant action that the seasoned diplomat managed to carry out was the declaration of independence of Belgium, which was very beneficial for France. It was an amazing success!
Let us not judge Talleyrand as he deserves - this is the right of a historian. Although it is difficult to blame a person for being too smart and perspicacious. Politics was for Talleyrand T"
the art of the possible,” a game of the mind, a way of existence. Yes, he really “sold everyone who bought it.” His principle was always, first of all, personal gain. True, he himself said that France was in first place for him. Who knows. .. Any person involved in politics certainly turns out to be stained with dirt. But Talleyrand was a professional. So let the psychologists decide.
“Has Prince Talleyrand really died? Curious to know why he needed this now?” - joked the sarcastic mocker. This is high praise for a person who knows well what he needs. He was a strange and mysterious person. He himself expressed his last will this way: "I I want them to continue to argue throughout the centuries about who I was, what I thought and what I wanted.” These disputes continue to this day.
TALLEYRAND, CHARLES MAURICE (1754–1838), Prime Minister of France. Born February 2, 1754 in Paris. He studied at the College d'Harcourt in Paris, entered the Seminary of St. Sulpice, where he studied theology in 1770–1773, and at the Sorbonne in 1778 he became a licentiate in theology. In 1779 he was ordained a priest.
The Abbé de Talleyrand became a regular at salons, where his passion for card games and love affairs was not considered incompatible with high clergy. His uncle's patronage helped him be elected in May 1780 as a representative of the French Spiritual Assembly. For the next five years, Talleyrand, together with his colleague Raymond de Boisgelon, Archbishop of Aachen, was responsible for managing the property and finances of the Gallican (French) Church. In 1788 Talleyrand was appointed Bishop of Autun.
Revolution. Even before 1789, Talleyrand was inclined to the positions of the liberal aristocracy, which sought to transform the autocracy of the Bourbons into a limited constitutional monarchy according to the English model. He was a member of the Committee of Thirty. In April 1789, Talleyrand was elected as a deputy from the first estate to the Estates General. He held moderate positions in this body, but soon moved to more radical positions. On June 26, 1789, he belatedly joined the majority of deputies of the first estate on a key issue - regarding joint voting with representatives of the third estate.
Talleyrand made a proposal to cancel the restrictive instructions to the delegates who sought to free themselves from the control of the clergy who elected them. A week later he was elected to the constitutional committee of the National Assembly. Contributed to the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Declared that the management of church lands should be carried out by the state. This statement, "edited" by the Comte de Mirabeau, served as the basis for a decree passed on November 2, 1789, which stated that church lands should become "the property of the nation."
In July 1790, Talleyrand became one of the few French bishops to take the oath of office on the basis of the decree on the new civil status of the clergy. He was elected administrator of the department that included Paris and resigned as Bishop of Autun. Despite this, in 1791 he agreed to hold the consecration ceremony for the newly elected “constitutional” bishops of Camper, Soissons and Paris. As a result, the papal throne considered him the main culprit of the religious schism and excommunicated him in 1792.
In January 1792, with France on the brink of war with Austria, Talleyrand appeared in London as an unofficial mediator in negotiations to keep Britain from joining a coalition against France. In May 1792, the English government confirmed its neutrality, but Talleyrand did not succeed in achieving the Anglo-French alliance, which he sought throughout his life.
In February 1793, England and France found themselves drawn into war, and in 1794 Talleyrand was expelled from England under the terms of the Aliens Act. Talleyrand emigrated to the United States, where he sought his return, and on September 4 he was allowed to return to France. In September 1796, Talleyrand arrived in Paris, and on July 18, 1797, thanks to the influence of his friend Madame de Stael, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
As minister, he entered into secret negotiations with Lord Malmesbury in order to achieve a separate peace with England. Official negotiations were interrupted as a result of the anti-royalist coup of the Directory on September 4, 1797.
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Napoleon's reign. As Foreign Minister, Talleyrand pursued an independent policy towards Italy. He supported Napoleon's dreams of conquest in the East and the plan of the Egyptian expedition. In July 1799, sensing the imminent collapse of the Directory, he left his post, and in November he assisted Bonaparte. After the general’s return from Egypt, he introduced him to Abbot Sieyes and convinced the Count de Barras to renounce his membership in the Directory. After the coup d'état on November 9, Talleyrand received the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
By supporting Bonaparte's desire for supreme power, Talleyrand hoped to put an end to the revolution and wars outside France. It seemed that peace with Austria in 1801 (Luneville) and with England in 1802 (Amiens) provided a solid basis for France's agreement with the two major powers. Talleyrand considered achieving internal stability in all three countries a necessary condition for maintaining diplomatic balance in Europe. There is no doubt about his participation in the arrest and execution of the Duke of Enghien, a prince from the Bourbon dynasty, on trumped-up charges of conspiracy to assassinate the First Consul.
After 1805, Talleyrand became convinced that Napoleon's unbridled ambitions, his dynastic foreign policy, and his ever-increasing megalomania were drawing France into continuous wars. In August 1807, openly opposing the wars with Austria, Prussia and Russia resumed in 1805–1806, he resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Restoration. In 1814, after the Allied invasion of France, Talleyrand contributed to the Bourbon restoration. As foreign minister and representative of Louis XVIII at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), he achieved a diplomatic triumph by challenging the powers of the anti-French wartime alliance of powers. In January 1815 he linked France with a secret alliance with Great Britain and Austria to prevent the complete absorption of Poland by Russia and Saxony by Prussia.
Talleyrand headed the government from July to September 1815. He actively intervened in the course of the July Revolution of 1830, convincing Louis Philippe to accept the crown of France in the event of the overthrow of the senior Bourbon line. In 1830–1834 he was ambassador to Great Britain and contributed to the achievement of the first Entente (the era of “cordial agreement”) between the two countries. In collaboration with the British Foreign Minister Lord Palmerston, he ensured a peaceful solution to the problem of Belgian independence.
Talleyrand-scum
Olel 23.07.2007 06:58:52
whom he betrayed and sold, everyone he served, from Napoleon’s directory to the Bourbons. a traitor, a bribe-taker, a deceiver, and talented, a dog, a diplomat, it was not for nothing that Napoleon valued him so much. Acquisitiveness was the meaning of his life, he wanted to be rich, that’s all, and France had nothing to do with it.
Left - Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord - French Foreign Minister, right - Napoleon Bonaparte
The name of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord is considered synonymous with bribery, unscrupulousness and duplicity. During his career, this man managed to serve as foreign minister under three regimes. He advocated revolutionary ideas, supported Napoleon, and then worked for the restoration of the Bourbons. Talleyrand could have found himself on the scaffold many times, but he always escaped unscathed, and by the end of his life he also received absolution.
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
- Foreign Minister under three different regimes.
The fate of the brilliant diplomat could have turned out completely differently if not for a childhood trauma. The parents wanted little Charles to master military affairs, but they had to forget about this career because the child injured his leg, which left him lame for the rest of his life. Years later he was nicknamed "The Lame Devil".
Charles Talleyrand entered the College d'Harcourt in Paris, and then began to study at the seminary. In 1778 he graduated from the Sorbonne as a licentiate in theology. A year later, Charles Talleyrand became a priest. His clergy did not prevent him from leading an active social life. Thanks to his excellent sense of humor, intelligence and passion for love adventures, Talleyrand was accepted with pleasure in any society. 
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord - political figure of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
In 1788, Talleyrand was elected as a deputy to the Estates General. There the priest proposed to approve a bill according to which church property should be nationalized. The clergy in the Vatican were outraged by such actions of Talleyrand, and in 1791 he was excommunicated for his revolutionary sentiments.
After the overthrow of the monarchy, Talleyrand went to England, then to the USA. When the Directory regime was established in France, Charles Talleyrand returned to the country and, with the help of his friend Madame de Stael, he was appointed to the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs. After a while, when the politician began to understand that revolutionary sentiments were gradually fading away, he bet on Napoleon Bonaparte and helped him become the head of France. 
An 1815 caricature of Talleyrand, "The Man with Six Heads." Such a different Talleyrand under such different regimes.
While in the service of Napoleon, the minister was guided solely by his own interests: he weaved intrigues, conspired, and sold state secrets. Talleyrand's bribery was legendary. The Minister of Foreign Affairs received a lot of money for useful information from the Austrian diplomat Metternich, representatives of the English crown, and the Russian emperor. 
Napoleon Bonaparte. Hood. Paul Delaroche.
Under no circumstances did Charles Talleyrand betray his emotions. Even Napoleon wrote about this in his diary: “Talleyrand’s face is so impenetrable that it is completely impossible to understand him. Lannes and Murat used to joke that if he was talking to you, and at that time someone from behind gave him a kick, then you wouldn’t guess it from his face.”
When the regime of Napoleon Bonaparte was overthrown, Talleyrand managed to become Minister of Foreign Affairs under the next government - under the Bourbons. 
Satire on the capitulation of Paris. Talleyrand, in the form of a fox, is bribed by three officers representing the Allies.
Towards the end of his life, Charles Talleyrand retired to his Valence estate. He established relations with the Pope and received absolution. When news of his death became known, his contemporaries only grinned: “How much did they pay him for this?” 
Valence Castle, which belonged to Talleyrand in the Loire Valley.
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