On December 1st, 1804, in the capital city of the French Empire, Paris, the streets were abuzz with anticipation. Crowds of Parisians had gathered along the thoroughfares, each one clutching a small French flag as they eagerly awaited the grand procession of the Grand Armée, a formidable force that had played a pivotal role in the recent War of the Third Coalition.
The weather that day was far from accommodating; a biting chill hung in the air, and a somber gray sky threatened rain. Despite the discomfort of the cold, the Parisians remained undeterred, their collective enthusiasm serving as a stark contrast to the wintry conditions. They huddled in small groups, their breath forming visible plumes in the frigid air, but their spirits were anything but frosty.
