Napoleon Allows the Jews to Resume
their Religious Practices
1806
Must Know
This picture from 1806 was made by designer and engraver François Louis Cousha in a Neoclassical style. We see Napoleon Bonaparte, then ruler of the French army, granting Jews freedom. Napoleon stands in his royal clothing in front of his throne giving a hand to a Jewish woman holding the tablets of stone. Next to her burns the menorah in front of the Ark of the Covenant – a symbol for the destruction of the Temple. On the left hand side an important Jewish figure is looking upon the event, identified as representing the Speaker of the Sanhedrin of Paris, the first Chief Rabbi of France. The Sanhedrin of Paris was established by Napoleon Bonaparte and was a gathering of France’s Rabbis.
Napoleon can be seen holding a proclamation of rights or letter of rights, a citizenship certificate that granted the Jews equal rights. This comes after a time of monarchy rule in France where feudalism caused Jews to be treated differently based on their religion. The special 1806 decree liberated Jews from some of their inequalities.
The picture is part of a page with text and is currently kept at the National Library of France. A copy of the page can be found in the Museum of Jewish Art and History in Paris.
More Info
Unlike the monarchy, Napoleon Bonaparte and his conquests spread modernist ideas of equality and the rule of law across Europe. Various laws emancipating Jews in Europe were set in stone by Napoleon and Jews in France were invited to become French citizens. Additionally, states that were under rule of the French army such as Italy and other parts of Europe adopted the same reforms of equality, establishing wide recognition of Jewish people and communities at the time.
Roman Catholicism was the established state religion in France and was closely tied to the monarchy that preceded Napoleon’s rule – establishing both religious and political authority at the time. Napoleon was one of the only state leaders who gave Jews recognition and equality at the time. To name a few achievements, he abolished the special taxes on Jews in Germany and requested a special assembly of Jewish leaders and rabbis to discuss issues of anti-semitism in 1806. Napoleon’s Sanhedrin of Paris was established to give Jews civil rights and unity in exchange for their support for Napoleon’s Empire.
In support of the Jewish people, Napoleon also published a proclamation to the Jews of Africa and Asia allowing them to become French citizens. It is believed these proclamations were a form of propaganda with the intention of gaining the Jews’ support in those regions.
