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Origin and history

The commemorative column of Montmirail, raised under the Second Empire between 1864 and 1866, celebrates the victory of the Napoleonic troops against the Russo-Prussians in the Battle of Montmirail (11 Feb. 1814) and the Six Days campaign. Initiated by architect Morsaline, it was commissioned by Napoleon III, who imposed a Corinthian style rather than a pyramid. The sommital golden eagle, the work of the Count of Nieuwerkerke, symbolizes the Empire. Funded by subscription and grants, it was inaugurated on February 11, 1867, the anniversary of the battle.

The 18-metre-high monument stands on the exact site where Napoleon I led his troops in 1814. His pedestal bears the dates of the battles of February 1814 (Champaubert, Vauchamps, Montmirail, Chateau-Thierry) and a stanza of Victor Hugo. Built of Euville and Savonnières stone, the column underwent three restorations (1914, 1958, 2013-2014), notably to repair the eagle damaged by a bullet. It has been listed as historical monuments since 2012 (Marne) and 2014 (Aisne).

The column also marks a departmental boundary between the Marne (Montmirail) and the Aisne (Dhuys-et-Morin-en-Brie), highlighting its territorial anchor. Its location, close to Route D933, makes it a visible landmark of the Six Days countryside. The subscriptions for its financing reveal a differentiated local commitment: the Aisne participated actively, while the Marne, having already financed the column of Champaubert, was abstint.

The inauguration of 1867, presided over by Nieuwerkerke, brought together a large crowd, illustrating the attachment to Napoleonic memory under the Second Empire. The total cost (15,000 francs) was covered by the emperor (4,000 F), private donations (general, common) and subsidies. The column, by its style and inscriptions, embodies both a military tribute and a political symbol of imperial continuity between Napoleon I and Napoleon III.

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