Napoleon and the Carniolan Horses

Abstract

In the time of the French occupation from 1809 to 1813, a large part of Slovenia was incorporated into the Illyrian Provinces. This was a special state formation in which predominantly French law was in effect. The institutions in the Illyrian Provinces were under the jurisdiction of the decrees of the French ministries. The capital of the Provinces was Ljubljana, where a Governor General was appointed, who controlled the Provincial administration and judicial system and also saw to military affairs. The Illyrian Provinces comprised six civilian provinces and one military province, headed by intendants. The borders of the provinces were similar to the old borders of the lands (Lander), which the Napoleonic Empire also kept at the lower administrative unit level, i.e. in the districts. The Gorenjska region was a part of the District of Ljubljana, the Dolenjska a part of the District of Novo Mesto, and the Notranjska a part of the District of Postojna. In the beginning of 1813 another district, which had its headquarters in Kranj, was established. The districts were led by sub-delegates. The French Empire also had lower administrative units, the so-called mairies (municipalities). In the time of the Napoleonic wars the Illyrian Provinces shared the destiny of all the other French provinces - they were swept up in the struggles of war, and represented a potential for the supply of the army. The author takes as a case-study the »recruiting«, i.e. confiscation of horses in the Gorenj.ska region, in order to illustrate the impact that the demands of the French occupying forces had on the lives of the local population.