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Why did Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand resign from Napoleonâs government in 1807?
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Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, prince de Bénévent
French diplomat Talleyrand, portrait by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1817.
Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand resigned from his position as minister in August 1807 because he had become increasingly alarmed by Napoleon's insatiable ambition. Talleyrand clearly recognized that the Emperor's relentless pursuit of power would inevitably lead to disaster for France. Napoleon accepted this resignation with pleasure, as Talleyrandâs influence had already begun to diminish after 1805.1