pride was touched:  then he was capable of bursts of passion which seemed to impose even on his masterful second brother.  Lucien, Louis, and even the youthful Jerome, had the same intractable pride which rose defiant even against Napoleon.  He was determined that his brothers should now take a subordinate rank, while they regarded the dynasty as largely due to their exertions at or after Brumaire, and claimed a proportionate reward.  Napoleon, however, saw that a dynasty could not thus be founded.  As he frankly said to Roederer, a dynasty could only take firm root in France among heirs brought up in a palace:  “I have never looked on my brothers as the natural heirs to power:  I only consider them as men fit to ward off the evils of a minority.”

Joseph deeply resented this conduct.  He was a Prince of the Empire, and a Grand Elector; but he speedily found out that this meant nothing more than occasionally presiding at the Senate, and accordingly indulged in little acts of opposition that enraged the autocrat.  In his desire to get his brother away from Paris, the Emperor had already recommended him to take up the profession of arms; for he could not include him in the succession, and place famous marshals under him if he knew nothing of an army.  Joseph perforce accepted the command of a regiment, and at thirty-six years of age began to learn drill near Boulogne.[312] This piece of burlesque was one day to prove infinitely regrettable.  After the disaster of Vittoria, Napoleon doubtless wished that Joseph had for ever had free play in the tribune of the Senate rather than have dabbled in military affairs.  But in the spring and summer of 1804 the Emperor noted his every word; so that, when he ventured to suggest that Josephine should not be crowned at the coming coronation, Napoleon’s wrath blazed forth.  Why should Joseph speak of his rights and his interests?  Who had won power?  Who deserved to enjoy power?  Power was his (Napoleon’s) mistress, and he dared Joseph to touch her.  The Senate or Council of State might oppose him for ten years, without his becoming a tyrant:  “To make me a tyrant one thing alone is necessary—­a movement of my family."[313]

The family, however, did not move.  As happened with all the brothers except Lucien, Joseph gave way at the critical moment.  After threatening at the Council of State to resign his Grand Electorate and retire to Germany if his wife were compelled to bear Josephine’s train at the coronation, he was informed by the Emperor that either he must conduct himself dutifully as the first subject of the realm, or retire into private life, or oppose—­and be crushed.  The argument was unanswerable, and Joseph yielded.  To save his own and his wife’s feelings, the wording of the official programme was altered:  she was to support Josephine’s mantle, not to bear her train.