Dr Henry Laurans will deliver a lecture in English at Sultan Qaboos's Grand Mosque, on Sunday 30th of March 2008 at 8:00 p.m in the Conference Hall, on ' Bonaparte and Islam'. This conference will recount Napoleon's version of Islam and the influence of the Islamic policy ideology on his different conquests. A simultaneous translation in Arabic will be proposed.

Henry Laurens is a French historian ( Not Nico :D ) who wrote a lot about the Arabc-Muslim world. A Ph.D graduate in history and Arab literature from National Institute of Languages and Oriental Civilizations'INALCO' ( Paris ). He teaches at the 'College de France', Paris where he is holding the chair of contemporary history of the Arab world.


Reminder: The entrance is free to all public, however a proper outfit is required including a veil cover the head for the women.

"I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Quran which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness." - Napoleon Bonaparte as Quoted in Christian Cherfils 'Bonaparte et Islam,' Pedone Ed., Paris, France, 1914, pp. 105, 125.

However, I think his quotes on Islam that he said during his experience and rule in Egypt were just a mere propaganda to extend his power and influence and to get the people close to him, albeit he was influenced by the Sharia laws to implement it on his empire. I really don't know if he really liked Islam, or did he really change his name to Ali Napoleon to become a Muslim or to achieve his agendas.

+Salam

^^

I think it's probably a mixture of the two.

He admired what he saw as the strength and totalism of Islam, but for it's political aspects, not the specifically religious ones.

And he thought it might be useful to him.

But there is no sign that at the end of his life, he began thinking of becoming a Muslim or anything like that, so far as I have heard...

Once his imperial plans crumbled, his interest in Islam disappeared too.

This sounds like an intresting lecture .. I will try to come inshallah

I think he was eccentric and might be bipolar disordered in his views. He did not believe in the divinity of the Christ. Then believed that the existence of One god is undoubtful, but religions were men made. Then later, he admired Jesus' empire of love. maybe The man historically was misquoted for political reasons. However, according to the sources, I can only see an eccentric bipolar person with bright and dark past of unpeaceful moments and never-ending wars.

+Salam

I read somewhere he pretended to be Muslim just to enter Egypt and confuse the Egyptians. Can't recall how true that is.

Sadly, I can't attend the lecture...Exams :(