The setting for the opening of Chapter Four.
Napoleon and Jean Coignart are marching alongside the River Spree in southern Germany. The battle of Bautzen will be waged the next day, while the Battle of Lutzen was fought 3 weeks earlier.
Napoleon’s thoughts concerning Joseph, “Stupidity is not usually a hindrance to a political career. But now, now it would be impossible for Joseph to maneuver in a more incompetent manner,” are quotations from his life in general. The statements were not aimed at Joseph in particular, and were not said at the same time.
