Napoleon had little affection for the Catholic Church, but, as Michael Broers points out, he “realised how central to French culture Catholicism remained”, so in 1800 he instructed his minions to negotiate a Concordat with the representatives of Pius VII. A deal was struck in the following year. The theory was that this would help to pacify the nation and win over the moderate Right. In practice, says Broers, “few of [Napoleon’s] reforming initiatives failed so comprehensively”. An explanation is not hard to locate. Napoleon had no intention of allowing the Church genuine influence. All bishops would still have to be appointed, there was to be no return of lands and properties seized after the Revolution and religious festivals were to be kept to a minimum. A