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Napoleon’s Cinematic Adventure: Historical Inaccuracies and the Cannabis Connection
In Ridley Scott’s latest cinematographic endeavor, a historical film that delves into the life of the renowned French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte, a multitude of historical inaccuracies are deliberately interwoven to enhance the narrative’s allure. These inaccuracies are particularly evident in a scene where Joaquin Phoenix, portraying Napoleon, commands his troops to target the majestic pyramids of Egypt with their cannons. This scene, a complete fabrication and far from any established historical fact, reflects Scott’s penchant for sensationalism, a trait also visible in his previous works such as the acclaimed “Gladiator,” which also starred Phoenix.
The film’s portrayal of Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, however, only scratches the surface of the real historical complexity of this period. When the French imperial army, under Napoleon’s command, invaded Egypt in 1798, their objectives were twofold: disrupting the vital trade routes between India and England, and establishing a French dominion in the Middle East. What the film omits is that one of the significant challenges faced by the French during this campaign was not from the Egyptian populace but stemmed from a widespread affinity for hashish among both the locals and the French soldiers. This affinity led Napoleon to eventually impose a ban on the substance, an action that set a precedent for Western Europe’s subsequent policies toward cannabis.
Contrary to enforcing French customs and traditions upon Egyptian society, Napoleon’s administration displayed a remarkable willingness to assimilate into the local culture. The French contingent, which included not just military personnel but also scholars and scientists, embarked on initiatives to establish libraries and research centers, demonstrating their profound interest in the cultural heritage and scientific advancements of the Islamic world. Deprived of their customary French wines and liquors, the French soldiers soon discovered hashish and began frequenting the local establishments where it was readily available.
The common belief that Napoleon banned hashish due to its debilitating effects on his soldiers’ combat readiness is a misconception, much like the fictional scenes in Ridley Scott’s film. The prohibition of hashish did not materialize until the conclusion of the Egyptian campaign. Furthermore, it was not Napoleon himself but one of his generals who implemented the ban. The primary objective of this prohibition was not to shield the French populace from the alleged deleterious effects of the substance but to exert control over the regions of Egypt and Syria by fostering discord among their inhabitants.
Ryan Stoa, in his article “A Brief Global History of the War on Cannabis,” published by The MIT Press Reader, elucidates that hashish, associated with Sufi mysticism, was viewed disdainfully by the Sunni elite in Egypt. The general appointed by Napoleon to govern Egypt, Jacques-François Menou, recognized the hashish ban as an opportune moment to achieve dual objectives. Alongside addressing what was perceived as a public health issue, Menou, who was married into the Sunni elite, also aimed to garner respect from his in-laws through this mandate.
The decree issued by Menou in 1800 is often regarded as the first comprehensive substance prohibition law in the modern era. Its stringent measures included the outright prohibition of the cultivation, sale, and consumption of cannabis. The mandate explicitly forbade the Egyptian populace from either smoking cannabis or incorporating it into their beverages, citing the substance’s propensity to induce delirium and resultant erratic behavior. This edict serves as a pivotal moment in the history of substance legislation, marking the beginning of a global approach toward the regulation of cannabis and its derivatives.
Cannabis and Hemp in the Time of Napoleon Bonaparte: Challenges and Complexities
The edict issued by Napoleon’s administration in an attempt to curb the use of hashish in Egypt epitomizes the broader challenges and complexities inherent in implementing such sweeping reforms. Ryan Stoa’s detailed analysis reveals that despite these stringent measures, the cultivation, trade, and consumption of hashish persisted across Egypt. This practice, deeply entrenched in the region’s history and possibly dating back to as early as 3000 BC, according to archaeological evidence, proved resilient against the French prohibition efforts. The French soldiers, far from successfully enforcing this ban, inadvertently became conduits for introducing hashish to Western Europe. This phenomenon mirrored the later historical instance of American veterans returning from Vietnam, who similarly brought awareness of the substance to a broader Western audience.
In France, particularly in the cultural heart of Paris, the Romantic movement, a collective of progressive writers and artists, openly defied the government’s stance against cannabis. This intellectual cohort, known as the Club des Hachichins or the “Hash-Eaters’ Club” in English, embraced cannabis as a symbol of their rejection of the Enlightenment’s rigid rationalism, favoring instead a philosophy grounded in emotion and spirituality. Their celebration of hashish underscored the growing rift between the government’s prohibitive policies and the evolving social and cultural attitudes of the time.
Meanwhile, the city of Cairo, undeterred by French governmental pressures, flourished as a major hub for the hashish trade. Its market, rivaled only by Istanbul in Turkey, thrived well into the late 19th century. However, increasing prohibitions, penalties, and crackdowns eventually forced the industry’s key players to relocate. They migrated along North Africa’s coast, ultimately establishing a new base in Morocco, where their operations persist to this day.
The influence of cannabis during the Napoleonic Wars was not limited to hashish alone; hemp played a crucial role as well. Hemp, a versatile derivative of the cannabis plant, was vital in producing various military essentials such as bags, ropes, sails, and other materials crucial for warfare. This importance was highlighted in the trade dynamics between England and Russia, the leading hemp producers in Europe. Napoleon’s strategic concerns about this trade formed a significant part of his military planning, particularly during his campaign against Russia.
In a bid to weaken the British and Russian alliance, Napoleon, through the Peace Treaty of Tilsit signed in 1807, demanded that Czar Alexander I of Russia halt all trade relations with Great Britain. This demand was strategically aimed at disrupting the supply of hemp, thereby weakening the military capabilities of Napoleon’s adversaries. The cessation of the hemp trade with Britain would potentially have debilitated the Russian army, offering Napoleon a greater likelihood of victory in his campaign toward Moscow.
This aspect of the Napoleonic Wars underscores the multifaceted nature of military strategy and the profound impact of seemingly unrelated commodities like hemp on historical events. The intertwined narratives of hashish and hemp during this era reflect the complex interplay of cultural, economic, and political factors in shaping historical outcomes. Napoleon’s efforts to regulate both the recreational and industrial uses of cannabis derivatives demonstrate the broader challenges of governance and control in a rapidly changing world.
