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Spomenik Napoleonovi Iliriji

Monument for Napoleon's Illyria

Lojze Dolinar
1929

Ljubljana / Spomenik Napoleonovi Iliriji

Description

13 m hight stone pillar with on the north side a portrait of Napoleon and on the south side one of Illyria. On top is a crescent moon with three stars. The choice of the texts was made by the poet Oton Župančič

The monument was created by sculptor Lojze Dolinar, after a design by the architect Jože Plecnik.

It is the only monument to Napoleon in Europe outside France. It was erected because the French occupation recognized the Slovenian language as equal official language, and contributed largely to the nation's awakening of Slovenes - then the Napoleonic Illyrian Provinces (Slovenija-Istra-Dalmacija), which existed from 1809 to 1816. It was erected at the 120th anniversary of the Illyrian Provinces.

Ljubljana - Spomenik Napoleonovi Iliriji
Napoleon
Illyria

Inscription(s)

(palm branch):

sous cette pierre
nous avons depose
tes cendres
soldat sans nom
de l'armee
napoleonienne
pour que tu
reposes
au milieu de nous
toi qui en allant
a la bataille
pour la gloire
de ton empereur
es tombe
pour notre
liberte

(portrait of Illyria)
From the Ode
Ilirija oživljena
by Valentin Vodnik:

na grezie zhelu
korinto stoji
iliria v serzu
evrope leshi
korintu so rekli
helensko oko
iliria perstan
evropini bo

ne vemko kje
si se rodil
ne kod
te je vihar podil
pri nas si pal
za nas si pal
da je naš rod
iz mraka vstal

(portrait of Napoleon)
From the Ode
Ilirija oživljena
by Valentin Vodnik:

napoleon rezhe
iliria vstan
du stopa v slovenze
napoleonov
en sarod poganja
prerojen ves nov

Translations?

Sculptor

Lojze Dolinar (Ljubljana 1893 - Ičići pri Opatiji 1970), Slovenian sculptor (Wikipedia).

Sources & Information

Wikipedia, Trg francoske revolucije.
Zgodovinske dimenzije ilirskih provinc (Ljubljana 1912) (on line).

Location (N 46°2'49" - E 14°30'10")

Item Code: si094; Photograph: 10 September 2016
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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