The Polymathic Legacy of Alexandre de Laborde
An in-depth exploration of a French antiquary, politician, and writer whose life mirrored the tumultuous transformations of 18th and 19th-century Europe.
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Who Was Laborde?
A Figure of French Enlightenment
Comte Louis-Joseph-Alexandre de Laborde (1773–1842) was a distinguished French antiquary, liberal politician, and prolific writer. His career spanned the dramatic shifts of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Empire, and the Bourbon Restoration, making him a unique lens through which to view this pivotal era in European history.
Academic and Political Acumen
Laborde was recognized for his intellectual contributions, becoming a member of the prestigious Académie des Sciences morales et politiques in 1832, where he was noted for his work in political economy. His insights and writings often reflected a keen understanding of both historical heritage and contemporary societal structures.
A Prolific Author
Beyond his political and academic roles, Laborde was a dedicated author, producing extensive works on travel, art, and archaeology. His publications, particularly those detailing Spain and Austria, were not merely descriptive but also infused with the burgeoning spirit of Romanticism, offering a rich, picturesque view of Europe.
Early Life & Revolution
Family Background and Early Exile
Born in Paris, Alexandre de Laborde was the fourth son of Jean-Joseph de Laborde, a renowned banker and slave trader who tragically met his end by guillotine during the tumultuous Reign of Terror. At the onset of the French Revolution, young Laborde was sent to Vienna by his father, a move that would profoundly shape his early military career.
Austrian Military Service
In Vienna, at the tender age of seventeen, Laborde joined the Austrian army, receiving an officer's commission on December 10, 1789, through the personal intervention of Emperor Joseph II. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a captain in a light cavalry regiment by October 1791. He actively participated in campaigns against the Revolutionary French forces along the frontiers of the Austrian Netherlands and Luxembourg, where he earned distinction for his compassionate treatment of captured and wounded compatriots.
Return to France and Financial Legacy
After a period of extensive travel through Germany, Holland, and Italy, Laborde was able to secure his removal from the list of proscribed émigrés following the Treaty of Campoformio in 1797, facilitating his return to France. Under the patronage of Talleyrand, he entered the French foreign office. Notably, Laborde and his sister later received a substantial payout for their father's slaves in Haiti, an amount equivalent to approximately $1.7 million in 2022, highlighting a complex aspect of his family's financial history.
Napoleonic Era
Diplomatic Engagements and Imperial Disfavor
In 1800, Laborde served as an attaché in Lucien Bonaparte's embassy in Madrid, which culminated in the Treaty of Aranjuez in March 1801. However, his relationship with Napoleon soured when Lucien married Alexandrine Jacob de Bleschamp, Laborde's former mistress. This liaison, deemed unsuitable for imperial dynastic aspirations, led to a prolonged period of strained relations with Napoleon, who suspected Laborde of complicity.
Grand Literary Expeditions
During this period of enforced leisure, Laborde channeled his energies into ambitious literary projects. He assembled a team of artists and writers, including his friend Chateaubriand, to produce two monumental works on Spain: the five-volume *Itinéraire descriptif de l'Espagne* (1809) and the lavish four-volume *Voyage pittoresque et historique en Espagne* (1807–1818), featuring some nine hundred engravings. While these works were meticulously crafted and influential, they proved to be a significant financial drain, appearing just as the Peninsular Campaigns disrupted markets.
Imperial Service and Urban Development
To alleviate his financial burdens, Laborde re-entered Napoleonic administration. He was appointed auditeur to the Conseil d'État and served as a knowledgeable aide to the Emperor in Madrid. His wife became a dame d'honneur to Empress Joséphine, and Laborde himself was made a chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1809 and a comte de l'Empire in 1810. His command of German and Austrian experience led him to serve as secretary of the delegation that sought the hand of Archduchess Marie Louise for Napoleon. Later, as Maître des requêtes and head of bridges and highways for the Seine (1812), he proposed innovative urban improvements such as public baths, stone sidewalks, and fire stations, many of which were realized posthumously.
Champion of French Heritage
Laborde initiated a groundbreaking project to compile a comprehensive inventory of France's archaeological heritage. Although official apathy during both the Empire and the Restoration rendered his initial efforts fruitless, this pioneering initiative established a crucial precedent, directly influencing the later appointment of Prosper Mérimée as inspector-general of historical monuments in 1834. This foresight underscores Laborde's enduring commitment to cultural preservation.
Restoration & Later Career
Transition and Royal Appointments
During the tumultuous period of the Hundred Days, Laborde remained in England, choosing not to rally to Napoleon. With the Bourbon Restoration, Louis XVIII appointed him colonel d'état-major and chevalier of the Order of Saint-Louis. It was at this juncture that he reassumed the title of Marquis de Laborde, a title previously held by his eldest son and his descendants, reflecting a return to pre-Revolutionary aristocratic norms.
Parliamentary Service and International Travel
In 1816, Laborde was inducted into the Académie des inscriptions et belles-lettres, further solidifying his academic standing. From 1818 to 1824, he served in the National Assembly, notably opposing the reinstallation of Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne during the Battle of Trocadero in 1823. This political stance afforded him the opportunity for an extensive four-year tour of Italy, Greece, Turkey, Palestine, and Egypt, undertaken in the company of his son, Léon de Laborde, enriching his antiquarian pursuits.
Role in the July Monarchy
Laborde was a staunch supporter of Louis Philippe I during the July Revolution of 1830, serving as a general in the Garde Nationale and as an aide-de-camp to the new king, who subsequently dispatched him as ambassador to Spain. He continued his political career as a Deputy for the Seine from 1831 to 1837, and later for Seine-et-Oise in 1837, demonstrating his consistent engagement in French public life.
Financial Decline and Demise
Despite his illustrious career and inherited wealth, Laborde's lavish lifestyle and extensive publishing ventures ultimately led to financial strain. By the time of his death in Paris in 1842, he had expended the majority of his inherited fortune, leaving behind a legacy rich in intellectual and cultural contributions but diminished in material wealth. His life, therefore, serves as a poignant illustration of the intersection of personal ambition, public service, and the economic realities of a changing France.
Literary & Scholarly Contributions
A Diverse Oeuvre
Alexandre de Laborde's publications reflect the breadth of his intellectual curiosity, spanning antiquarian studies, travelogues, political treatises, and even musical theory. His works were instrumental in shaping European perceptions of picturesque Spain and other regions, often imbued with the interpretive lens of Romanticism.
The Impact of his Spanish Works
His topographical itinerary, *Itinéraire descriptif de l’Espagne*, proved to be an unexpectedly valuable resource during Napoleon's invasion of Spain, demonstrating the practical utility of his detailed scholarly work. The *Voyage pittoresque et historique en Espagne*, with its hundreds of engravings, was particularly influential in disseminating a realistic yet romanticized view of Spain across Europe.
Cultural Contributions and Royal Connections
Laborde was a prominent figure in the high society of the Empire, maintaining an intimate relationship with Queen Hortense. He is even speculated to have ghostwritten several romances that appeared under her name, including popular pieces like *Le Bon Chevalier*, *En soupirant j'ai vu naître l'aurore*, and the all but official hymn of the Second Empire, "Partant pour la Syrie." This highlights his deep involvement in the cultural and artistic currents of his time.
Personal Life & Legacy
Descendants and Influence
Alexandre de Laborde was the father of two notable children: Valentine de Laborde and Léon de Laborde. His son, Léon, followed in his footsteps as an antiquary and diplomat, often accompanying his father on his extensive travels and contributing to the family's intellectual legacy. The Laborde family thus maintained a significant presence in French intellectual and social circles across generations.
Enduring Impact on Heritage
While his personal finances dwindled by the end of his life, Alexandre de Laborde's contributions to French culture and administration were profound. His pioneering efforts to catalog France's archaeological heritage laid the groundwork for future national preservation initiatives, demonstrating a foresight that extended far beyond his immediate political and literary endeavors. His life serves as a testament to the enduring power of intellectual curiosity and public service, even amidst personal financial challenges.
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References
References
- Laborde was made a Count of the Empire under Napoleon but at the Bourbon Restoration assumed the title of marquis de Laborde purchased by his father.
- The Académie des Sciences morales et politiques is one of five learned societies that make up the Institut de France.
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