The Knight Errant, Written and Composed by the Queen of Holland - Beauharnais, Hortense de 1783-1837; Scott, Walter 1771-1832 Sir (New York Riley, 1820)
Loose sheet containing a strophic song for voice and piano: "The Knight Errant" or originally "Partant pour la Syrie" (Departing for Syria) was composed by Hortense de Beauharnais; the text was written by Alexandre de Laborde in or about 1807. The song was inspired by Napoleon's Egypt campaign. It represents a chivalric composition of the aspirations of a crusader knight in a style typical for the First French Empire. Hortense indicated in her Memoires that she wrote the music when she lived at Malmaison. During its popularity in the nineteenth century the song was arranged for numerous instruments by various composers.
The poem by Labarde was originally titled "Le beau Dunois", telling the story of the handsome crusader Dunois. Prior to his departure to Syria he prays to the Virgin Mary that he will love the most beautiful woman and that he himself may be the bravest.
Hortense de Beauharnais (1783-1837) was the daughter of Joséphine de Beauharnais, who married Napoleon, and mother of Napoleon III. She was Queen of Holland due to her (short) marriage (1806-1810) with Napoleon's brother Louis Napoléon (1778-1846).
Keywords: Bonaparte, Napoleon -- 1769-1821; 19th Century (1801-1900); Song; Piano; Military history; France