Joachim Murat

Under the Old Mode

It is the last of the eleven children of a Aubergiste, Pierre Murat Jordy, and of his wife Jeanne Loubière. Initially intended for the ecclesiastical state, one thus finds it among the seminarists of Cahors, then at the Lazariste S of Toulouse. It prepares with the sacerdotal noviciate and carries the Petit collet there. His/her comrades of the Country house call it the Murat abbot. The Joachim young person likes the pleasures, it makes debts and, fearing the paternal ire, it enlists the February 23rd 1787 in the hunters of the Ardennes (Champagne future, then 12 {{E}}), unit of cavalry which recruits daring men.

Informed, it is distinguished quickly. It is however returned for insubordination in 1789 and turns over in its native area, in his father.

Career under the Revolution

Murat benefits from its return in the Quercy to attend and take part the meetings of the local clubs. It is thus elected to represent the department of the Lot to the Fête of the Federation the July 14th 1790 with Paris.

It reinstates the army in January 1791 and is named in the constitutional Garde of the King one year later, just like Bessières. Fervent supporter of the novel ideas, and in particular of Marat (of which it takes some time the name), it resigns at the end of a few days, estimating that the Guard is only one den of royalists. The report/ratio which it transmits to its department is used as proof to justify the dismissal of the guard.

It thus turns over in its 12th regiment of hunters and, ambitious and talented, he becomes major of the 21 {{E}} hunters at the summer 1793. Like Bonaparte, it is worried after the fall of Robespierre but, like Bonaparte, it is distinguished during repression of the royalist insurrection of the 13 vendémiaire. New the General of the Armed with Italy in fact its aide-de-camp

With the Combat of Roveredo (September 4th 1796), it is charged by Bonaparte with continuing the enemy who, while fleeing, seeks to join. To the head of a squadron of hunters of the 10 {{E}} regiment whose each rider takes along a infantryman in croup, it passes the Adige to ford. This unexpected attack sows confusion in the enemy rows. With the Battle of Bassano, delivered the 22 of the same month, it order a body of cavalry whose brilliant loads against the squares of the infantry austro-Sardinian contribute strongly to the success of the day.

It emphasizes its talents of rider at Dego and Mondovi and is made general. It is wounded in front of the seat of Mantoue.

The March 13rd 1797 it carries out with its cavalry the passage of the Tagliamento, feat of arms which disconcerts all the plans of the Charles archduke and who forces the Austria to sign the preliminaries of a peace treaty.

In Egypt, it deploys the greatest value with the catch of Alexandria and the Bataille of the Pyramids. It is charged to fight against the plunderers in the new organization which Bonaparte gives to its conquest.

When Bonaparte makes the seat of Saint-Jean-in Acre, the inferiority of French artillery decides the general-in-chief to try the attack. Murat is presented to charge the first, which Bonaparte refuses to him initially, but Murat so pressing that it is ended up accepting.

He plays a crucial role at the second battles of Aboukir where he captures the unfavourable chief of army after having wiped a shot in the throat, which should have been to him fatal if he had not shouted by drawing aside the jaws sufficiently. What is worth to him to be named Major general

This battle is the last delivered by Bonaparte in Egypt, which recalled in France by the serious events which occur there, brings back from Egypt only seven people to the number of which Murat is.

The Consulate

It takes an active part in the Coup d'etat of the 18 Brumaire. It is him which enters to the head of 60 pomegranates the room of the Five hundreds and pronounces the dissolution of the Conseil.

Ordering consular guard after this day, on January 18th 1800, it marries Caroline Bonaparte. He moves with the Tuileries and thus forms incontestably part of the close entourage of the new Master of France.

Murat orders the cavalry of the reserve army which order Napoleon Bonaparte. With the Battle Marengo, the June 14th 1800 it has, according to Louis-Alexandre Berthier, “ its clothes sifted of balls ”.

After the countryside, it receives a saber of honor and order a camp stationed with Beauvais, intended to defend the Batavie and the Belgium in the event of English unloading. Then it orders the body of observation of the Midi. It for this reason takes part in the continuation of the engagements in Italy at the winter 1800 - 1801.

Murat thus signs the armistice between the France and the Royaume of Naples and orders with its troops not to force the Neapolitan people, order which the Napolitains will remember. July 27th 1801, it is named general-in-chief of the troops stationed in République cisalpine.

It returns to France in August 1803 and is named in the place of Junot, in disgrace, ordering the first military division of Paris, and governor of Paris, it directs 60.000 men. Person in charge of the safety of the government, it is in constant relationship with Bonaparte. Charged, by its function, to name the military commission which must judge the duke of Enghien (condemned by advance), it is courageously opposed to it.

The Empire

The conspiracy Cadoudal - Pichegru and the execution of the duke of Enghien precipitates the transformation of the consular mode into a monarchical mode. May 18th 1804, a Sénatus-consulte entrusts the “ government of the Republic to an Emperor ” in the person of Napoleon i. Murat is covered with honors: it is made Maréchal of Empire the following day. February 1st 1805, he becomes Lord High Admiral and the 2, large eagle (large cross) of the Légion of honor. In March, it settles with the Elys3ee palace. Family member imperial, it carries the title of Prince.

Murat orders once again the cavalry and the avant-garde of the Large army to the autumn 1805.

It carries the first blows to the Austria and obtains the first successes. After being itself seized the outlets of the Black Forest, it inserts and disperses a strong Austrian division, takes its artillery, its flags to him and makes 4.000 prisoners. A few days later, it forces the general Werneck to capitulate. Nothing resists its frightening cavalry

When the Russians enter in war, Murat attacks one at once their divisions, with which it removes five parts of gun and 500 men. Continuing the enemy, it again attacks it on the heights of Amstetten and makes him test a new loss of: 1800 men.

Entering Vienna with the head of its cavalry, it misses surprising the emperor of Austria in the abbey of Melk. It continues the enemy out of Vienna, sabers the rear-guard with Hollabrünn, but too generous, an armistice grants to him that Napoleon blames highly.

Essential to the French progression of the troops, the Austrians trapped the bridges on the the Danube. Murat, accompanied by the marshal Lannes, succeeds in persuading them that an armistice was signed. The Austrians withdraw themselves, leaving the main French of the bridges.

To repair its fault, it takes to the Russians, with Guntersdorf: 1800 men and 12 parts of gun.

It covers glory with the Bataille of Austerlitz where it orders the left wing of the French Army. The Traité of Presbourg signed the December 27th 1805 reorganizes the Germany and Joachim Murat becomes large-duke of Berg and Clèves. It leaves to settle with Düsseldorf, capital of its State.

However the war between the Prussia and the France bursts with the autumn 1806. The countryside of Prussia tears off Murat to the care of its sovereignty. It finds its command with the head of the cavalry. Always to the avant-garde the Saale crosses, it destroys two regiments which dispute the passage to him, fights as a lion with Bataille of Iéna and manages to capture the essence of the enemy army, still forces the important place of Erfurth to capitulate, badgers with an untiring heat the remains with the Prussian army, and makes a whole brigade captive in the suburb of Prentzlaw.

A capitulation delivers 64 pieces of artillery, 45 flags, 6 regiments of cavalry, 1.600 men of infantry and the prince to him de Hohenlohe which orders them. Attacked in Lubeck, Blücher goes to Murat with the troops and the material which he had believed to save by an unworthy subterfuge.

During this time, one of divisions of Murat, ordered by the general Lasalle made capitulate the garrison which defends Stettin, one of the strongest places of the Prussia.

This countryside is completed on its words: “Lord, the combat ceases fault of combatants”. The war however continues against the Russian which run to the help of the Prussians to the barks. Murat the attack, the hunting of Warsaw where it makes a triumphal entry the November 28th 1806.

With the Battle of Eylau, in 1807, it is still Murat which forces the enemy with the retirement, after having inserted its infantry: most of Russian artillery falls to the capacity from the large duke from Berg. It launches the greatest load of cavalry of the history while carrying out of 10 to: 12000 riders on the Russian center to prevent this one from dividing the French Army in two.

It remains only little of time with Düsseldorf after the Paix of Tilsit which increases its duchy substantially, leaving management to its Minister for Finance Jean Agar, count Mosbourg.

With the beginning of the year 1808, it is named lieutenant-general of the Empereur and receives the command of: 50000 men who compose the Armée with Spain. Murat must occupy Madrid and await the orders of Napoleon. It quickly realizes that the presence of the French is badly lived by the Spanish population.

That-cise revolts in March and the king Charles IV abdicates in favor of his son Ferdinand. With Bayonne, Napoleon force the father to reconsider his abdication. Made indignant, the population of Madrid raises on May 2nd ( Dos of mayo ).

The insurrection violently is repressed by Murat the following day. It is the beginning of the Guerre of Spanish independence. Charles IV abdicates in favor of Napoleon who, to the greatest despair of Murat, entrusts to the throne to his brother Joseph the king of Naples. Murat must choose between the crown of the Portugal and that of Naples.

Joachim Ier, king de Naples

The arrival in Naples

The 1808, Joachim Murat becomes king of Naples. It must give up the Grand Duchy of Berg, all its French properties like their luxurious furniture and its pay of marshal, of which it preserves however the stick, and does not accommodate the news with greatest enthusiasm. It is charmed quickly in front of warm welcome which the Neapolitan ones hold for him. They like this already legendary rider, its taste of the plume and of blazing. They also probably remember with recognition its proclamation 1801.

On its arrival, Murat finds a framework institutional rather near to those of the kingdoms of Italy and Spain. The constitution envisaged by Joseph has among the creation of a Council of State and of a Parlement composed of five rooms: clergy, nobility, owners, scientists, tradesmen. But neither Joseph, nor Murat will convene it. Within the government, Murat privileges the Italians with the French, which increases its popularity.

Reforms

Immediately, it attempts to continue the reforms started by his Joseph brother-in-law, to start with the completion of the abolition of the Féodalité. The Code Napoleon is very slightly adapted but the essential ideas are adopted. The navy and the army are reorganized. It also regulates the problem of the Calabrian armed robbery. However, because of the budget deficit, which in spite of an improvement, will not be reabsorbed under the reign of Murat, the majority of its reforms have only one limited range.

The reconquest of the kingdom

When the French troops invade the kingdom of Naples to drive out Ferdinand IV and his wife Marie-Caroline, the sister of Marie-Antoinette, the latter took refuge in Sicily, protected by a British fleet , whose detachment seized the island of Capri. The island, old den of the emperor Tibère, is a true fortress defended by the British general Hudson Lowe, the future governor of Sainte-Hélène and its 2000 men. The catch of Capri has, for Murat, two objectives. First of all, it is a question of releasing part of its territory and of thus ensuring the safety of the maritime trade between the north of the kingdom and the south. The other objective is symbolic system: to show on its subjects which he is their single sovereign and who the Bourbon S of Naples truly “ceased reigning”.

Difficult relations with Napoleon

If they are brothers-in-law, the two men hardly appreciate themselves. Napoleon mistakes Murat: contempt of the officer resulting from the most prestigious schools for the soldier left the row? contempt of the strategist for the sabror? or does Napoleon envy the bravery of his marshal who transcends the troops? Probably a little all that. He would have preferred the general Moreau to marry Caroline but wanting to make his sister happy, he had privileged the love with the reason. And since its accession with the throne of Naples, humiliations on behalf of Napoleon follow one another. The decree which gives him the crown of precise Naples although that is done in favor of the Caroline queen. The tone of the dispatches of Napoleon is increasingly dry and upsetting, the bad faith is increasingly frequent there. All that the king does is criticized and lowered by the emperor. Threats of dismissals appear in the correspondence. Napoleon reminds to him unceasingly that if he is king, it is because he decided it. Did Napoleon forget that if he is emperor, it is partly thanks to Murat, who was decisive with the 13 vendémiaire, with Aboukir, the 18 brumaire or Eylau? Napoleon knows that intrigues of Talleyrand and Fouché envisaged to replace it by Murat if it would arrive to him misfortune. The same moment, the king of Naples opposes the marriage of Napoleon with Marie-Louise of Austria, small-niece of Marie-Antoinette but especially grand-daughter of Marie-Caroline. Murat wishes more and more to act like an independent king and not like a prefect. Moreover, Naples enormously suffers from the continental Blocus. It then approaches the Carbonari which court it to unify the Italy. But Caroline always knew to moderate the heats of like other.

Last combat for Napoleon

To force the Russia to apply the provisions of the decree of Berlin, Napoleon prepares a new campaign. All Europe is in war, France and its allies on the one hand, the the United Kingdom and Russia on the other hand. Napoleon calls obviously upon Murat to lead the cavalry and the avant-garde of the army. This one goes with eagerness near the emperor to prove his attachment to him: the reception of Napoleon is icy. With the head of the cavalry, it tries to fix the Russians for the battle but the Russian general Barclay de Tolly conceals himself continuously, practitioner the tactics of the burned ground. Once again, the loads of Murat are decisive with the Bataille of Moskowa on September 7th 1812. With the retirement, badgered by the cold and the riders Cossacks, the cavalry melts. December 5th, Napoleon leaves the army and the command entrusts some to Murat. It must lead it to Vilnius where it will be able to be reformed. To Vilnius, the lieutenant-general of the emperor realizes that it cannot hold the position. He makes evacuate the army towards the Poland. Arrived at Posen on January 16th 1813, it leaves in its turn the army and names Eugene de Beauharnais commander-in-chief.

It regains in all haste Naples where it enters in relation to the Autrichiens which left the Alliance Fran1caise. This bringing together was undoubtedly facilitated by the connections of Caroline with Metternich and the Austrian ambassador in Naples. A bringing together is also carried out with the United Kingdom. A military convention is ready to be signed. But Murat tergiversates.

In same time, the international situation developed. Napoleon gained an important victory with the Bataille of Bautzen. He is with the current of the contacts of the king with his enemies but he needs his talents of rider, talents which it missed during the first outing in the country. Murat arrives in August 1813 at Dresden and crushes the Austrian left wing there August 26th and 27th. It makes wonders with its cavalry during the autumn. After the defeat of Leipzig, on October 19th 1813, Murat leaves last once the army without it being possible to say which is truly its frame of mind.

A first Risorgimento

When it reaches Milan, the king of Naples is attacked by the Carbonari. It is necessary to unify the Italy where it will be found under the yoke of the Austria. The November 8th, it affirms with the Austrian ambassador that it chooses the camp of the Allies. In exchange, he asks his maintenance Naples. In parallel, he affirms his attachment with Napoleon. However, the January 8th 1814, a treaty of alliance between the Austria and Naples is signed. It is what is called the “treason of Murat”.

It starts a triumphal walk with its army through Italy. Everywhere, it is acclaimed. After a scuffle with the troops of the viceroy of Italy Eugene de Beauharnais, it seems taken remorse and thinks of changing Napoleon camp is let convince and promised the division of Italy with the Po like border, Murat receiving the south. But the abdication of Napoleon with Fontainebleau changes gives it and it is doubled by the Austrians and the Britanniques and must finally return to Naples in May 1814.

Murat is confirmed king de Naples by the Congrès of Vienna. Contacts are tied however with Napoleon exiled with the isle of Elba. Informed forthcoming departure of Napoleon for France, Murat is re-examined king d' Italie. When he learns the unloading from the emperor in France, he declares the war with the Austria whereas Napoleon did not arrive yet at the Tuileries. In fact, it places Napoleon in a delicate situation. The March 30th 1815, it launches a proclamation to Rimini calling the Italians to the insurrection. The same scenes of joys of the previous year are repeated in all the peninsula. It is severely beaten by the Austrians with Tolentino the May 2nd and sees its dream flying away. 19, he flees Naples and reaches Cannes the 25.

End

The deposed king wanders in Provence, hoping that Napoleon calls it with the army. Napoleon refuses (he will regret it with Sainte-Hélène). With the advertisement of the defeat of Waterloo, he flees in Corsica. Quickly surrounded by nearly 1000 partisans, Murat begins to dream of a reconquest of Naples.

A forwarding is assembled to haste. Started from Ajaccio, the September 28th 1815, it arrives on October 8th in front of the small Calabrian port of the Pizzo. Believer to raise the enthusiasm of the population, Murat and his partisans unload. Crowd is hostile. Calabria was touched hard by the repression of the armed robbery under the reign of Joachim.

It is captured and locked up in the small castle of the port. He writes several letters, in particular with his family. The October 13rd, king Ferdinand takes a decree by which “ it will be granted to condemned only half an hour to receive the helps of the religion ”.

Thus, the lawsuit was played in advance. It is courageous during its execution.

Descent

Of his wife Caroline Bonaparte, Murat had 4 children:

Achilles (°1801 +1847) 2nd Prince Murat, married in 1826 Catherine Dudley (small niece of Washington) without posterity
Laetizia (°1802 +1859) married in 1823 the marquis Guido-Taddeo Pepoli
Lucien (°1803 +1878) 3rd Prince Murat, married in 1831 Caroline Fraser (5 children will be born from this union). From him current Prince Joachim Murat 8th Prince Murat born in 1944 kills.
Louise (°1805 +1889), married the count Giulo Rasponi

The rider

Like the majority of the marshals of Napoleon, Joachim Murat does not have the military engineering of the emperor. But, equipped with a powerful charisma, he is an excellent born leader and a riding brilliance. Its men recognize in him the chief who will guide them with the victory. The Cossacks, riders of the Russian army, dedicated a true admiration to him. Soldier of avant-garde, it can fix the enemy and continue it after his defeat. He thus makes 15.000 prisoners in five days after the catch of Ulm in 1805, and destroys the proud Prussian army after the double victory of Iéna and Auerstaedt. Sabror, it leads his squadrons to the attack of the enemy troops to the courses of the most insane loads, gaining successes as incredible as decisive. Thus, it crushes the Turkish army with Aboukir, it avoids the defeat with Eylau by taking the head of 80 squadrons which it makes charge on the Russian troops, and orders the decisive load with the Bataille of Moskowa.

It is however often carried by its enthusiasm, which is worth a reputation of go-ahead type to him and thoughtless. To the Battle of Heilsberg, in 1807, it is only thrown with 9000 riders and some infantrymen against 80.000 well cut off Russians. That also makes of it a bad general-in-chief who exhausts his cavalry with the continuation of the Russians who conceal themselves, at the beginning of the countryside of Russia.

Murat is also famous for its more extravagant behaviors all the ones than the others which were worth to him the nickname of “king Franconi”, of the name of a rider circus known in all the Europe of the beginning of the 19th century. This mania translates its vanity, its will to be distinguished from the other French generals. It is in easily recognizable fact on the tables evoking the First Empire (and was really immediately identified in crowd and on the battle fields of the time), in particular by the systematic port of enormous white plumes on its hats.

The Griois general left in his memories a portrait of Murat which summarizes the character.

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