Schulmeister, l’espion de l’empereur (Schulmeister, the Emperor's Spy) is a French historical adventure television series consisting of 13 episodes (1971–1974), inspired by the real life of Charles Louis Schulmeister, a famous spy in the service of Napoleon I. It alternates between historical facts and fiction, offering a fictionalized portrait of a cunning spy, loyal to Napoleon, and always ready to turn a situation to his advantage.
Created by Jean-Claude Camredon, Jean-Pierre Decourt
Savary, aide-de-camp to the First Consul, prepares for his boss's visit to Strasbourg. The police arrest Joliet, a courier for the émigrés, who confesses the purpose of his mission: to make contact in the city with a certain “schoolmaster.” The problem is that there are 150 Schulmeisters (schoolmasters) in Strasbourg. One of them is a suspect because he is a former smuggler. The courier Joliet recognizes him in order to save the real one, but he proclaims himself a Bonapartist and offers to find the real culprits himself. Savary agrees and organizes a fake escape. With Hammel, one of his friends, Schulmeister infiltrates the heart of the conspiracy and recognizes the man giving the orders: his own cousin, Neubacher, the real “schoolmaster.”
Episode 2E2 · 52 min
Schulmeister's first official mission: to find a valuable agent in England whose life is believed to be in danger and bring her back to France: the Countess of Fréville. Schulmeister's wife, Suzel, is less than enthusiastic and finds that her husband, who had always been a quiet man, is embarking on a very strange undertaking. In fact, the adventure gets off to a bad start. Instead of kidnapping the real countess, Schulmeister is duped and brings back to Paris a certain Arabella, known as “Petit Matelot,” a French woman who has gone over to the service of the émigrés. The real countess is taken to the Tower of London and sentenced to death. Unmasked, Arabella flees, and Fouché, who is fighting against Savary's parallel police force, scores a point. Arabella has infiltrated the empress's laundresses at La Malmaison and is sending messages to her leaders. How can they be intercepted? It is Schulmeister's wife who one day has the idea of taking a closer look at Arabella's embroidery...
Episode 3E3 · 55 min
Schulmeister, accompanied by General Savary, meets his friend Hammel to carry out a mission with the French armies occupying Austria. An uprising is feared, supported by a secret society known as the “Tugenbund.” Schulmeister infiltrates the conspirators and attends one of their meetings, while Hammel impersonates him among the Austrians. The noble families of Westphalia also wish to drive out the French. The Tugenbund plans an attack on the imperial commissioner, but Schulmeister manages to thwart it while gaining the trust of the society’s members. Betrayed, he is arrested by Westphalian officers, who reveal a plan to unite with the Tugenbund to overthrow King Jérôme, Napoleon’s brother. The plot fails, and the situation in Westphalia calms down.
Episode 4E4 · 55 min
Schulmeister and his friend Hammel travel to Holland to rebuild the support network for King Louis, Napoleon’s brother, who is threatened by the English counter‑espionage services. He meets General Monnet and King Louis himself, but the latter refuses to commit the Dutch army to bloody battles. Using the king’s signature, he drafts a forged message ordering the troops to repel the English landing. After the victory, he receives King Louis’s pardon.
Episode 5E5 · 55 min
Led by the Count of Beaumont and supported by England, an uprising against Emperor Napoleon is being prepared in Normandy. Weapons are hidden throughout the province, buried beneath clusters of white lilies. Schulmeister and his friend Hammel are tasked with uncovering them and thwarting the plot.
Episode 6E6 · 55 min
Paris awakens in a climate of unease: a lightning‑fast rumor announces Napoleon’s death. Seizing the chaos, General Malet launches a daring coup, armed with forged decrees and an icy composure. As the authorities waver, Schulmeister catches the scent of deception and plunges into a tense pursuit, where every clue could tip the Empire into ruin. In this night of confusion, he must unmask the conspirators before the fraud becomes irreversible.
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