Final answer:
On December 2, 1804, Napoleon's self-crowning as Emperor of France marked a historic occasion filled with ceremony and pomp at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He emphasized his power by taking the crown from the Pope and placing it on his own head, in the presence of a distinguished audience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Description of Napoleon's Coronation Day
The day Napoleon was crowned Emperor of France was a monumental affair that painted a scene of grandeur and authority. On December 2, 1804, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, a significant ceremony took place where Napoleon seized the opportunity to establish his undisputed leadership. The event was structured to symbolize a new era following the instability of the Revolution and Napoleon's assertion of power through his earlier coup d'état. Crowning himself, Napoleon symbolically followed the traditions of the ancient French monarchy by mimicking the crown of Charlemagne, while also consolidating his image as a powerful military leader and emperor.
In front of a distinguished audience that included Pope Pius VII, the self-crowning act emphasized his ascendancy and autonomy; he deliberately took the crown from the Pope and placed it on his own head, indicating that he owed his throne to no one but himself. The coronation also included the crowning of his wife Josephine, which further enhanced the imperial imagery of the day. Paintings like those by Jacques-Louis David have immortalized this event, depicting the grandeur and ceremony of the coronation, and the large crowd at Notre Dame that day witnessed a historic moment that would leave a lasting impact on France and Europe.