- Title: Hundreds of fans recreate Napoleon's army, with a transatlantic twist
- Date: 24th September 2017
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (OCTOBER 1, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF JAIL CONTROLLED BY HAMAS SECURITY VARIOUS OF SECURITY OFFICERS AT SCENE PEOPLE AND SECURITY OFFICERS SURROUNDING FREED FATAH MEN FREED FATAH MAN HUGGING AND KISSING PEOPLE FREED FATAH MAN KISSING SECURITY OFFICERS FREED FATAH MAN WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FREED FATAH MAN RELEASED FROM HAMAS JAIL, TAHE
- Embargoed: 8th October 2017 16:43
- Keywords: Napolean France army history
- Location: RUEIL-MALMAISON, FRANCE
- City: RUEIL-MALMAISON, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0036ZYIIJ1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Nothing in the camp of hundreds of French imperial soldiers massed outside Paris on Sunday (September 24) betrayed their 21st century origins, nothing except of course the American twang to Napoleon's accent.
Mark Schneider was born in Virginia in the United States 200 years after his hero and has since become one of the world's top Napoleon impersonators.
But from the battlefields of Waterloo and Austerlitz he's now returned to the more peaceful surroundings of Rueil-Malmaison - a leafy suburb of Paris once home to Napoleon's wife Josephine - for a biannual parade to celebrate the 210th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tilsit with the Russians.
"It's a celebration for peace, for the empress, for me, for the great army, for France and for Europe," Napoleon said.
Though some have raised eyebrows that such an iconic French figure might be played by an American, Schneider says the reception is mainly positive and that with a French mother he has always felt a connection to France.
In any case organisers say he is adored by the troops.
Historian David Chanteranne said 2,000 people from at least 16 countries took part in the parade, with everything from the menu to the uniforms scrutinised for historical accuracy.
"There's a theatricality but the idea is to recreate exactly the way the soldier saluted, the way Napoleon behaved with his 'etat major', the way the women of the court dressed, their dresses, so we are completely immersed. It's not theatre, it's like being on the stage itself.," he said.
Most of the participants, including Schneider, said their 19th century army careers were inspired by a childhood passion for history and toy soldiers.
"We all enjoy it. And why? Well because from the little soldier, we have become soldiers," Rene Hagege, a captain from Fontainebleau, said.
The parade inspired envious looks from the hundreds of children in the crowd. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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