DESCRIPTION:
The day of Napoleon's coronation, (2 December, 1804)
Napoleon then took Josephine's crown, made as if to place it upon his own head and then crowned the empress kneeling before him.
The imperial couple thus crowned sat down to wait for the formation of the procession which was to accompany them from the low thrones to the grand throne. The procession comprised: the pope, princes, Grands dignitaires, Grands officiers, princesses, ladies in waiting, pages, heralds and bailiffs bearing the honours of Napoleon and Charlemagne
Napoleon sat down upon the great throne. The pope blessed him and pronounced the words from the Rheims rite: "Que Dieu vous affermisse sur ce trône..." ('May God strengthen you upon this throne...) and kissed the emperor upon the cheek.
The pope then turned towards the congregation and said in a loud voice Vivat Imperator in aeternum ; the choirs then sang the Vivat by the Abbé Roze.