08-22-2004, 06:13 PM
<b>Napoleon and his Marshalls</b>
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1...5527328-3229230
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At a time when military commanders in Europe were royal princes and dukes, Napoleon's marshals were often the sons of peasants or clerks. And they were usually half the age of their opponents - whom they thrashed soundly with almost monotonous regularity<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What a book! And what colorful characters! Here are only a few from the book:
Marshall Murat, son of an innkeeper. He was regarded as the greatest cavalry officer in the world and became a Grand-Duke from his military exploits (and also because he had married Napoleonâs sister). He became a Marshall at age 37.
Marshall Augereau, son of working mason. Regarded as the best swordsman in France he had the manners and tongue of a thick-headed buffoon. Napoleon had a low opinion of his strategic abilities but he was considered the best tactician in the French Army. He became a Marshall at age 47.
Marshall Massena, son of a tanner. In military ability he was the best, next only to Napoleon, and he saved France by defeating three armies from his base in Switzerland. His other pursuits were money and womenâ¦he amassed 40 million francs by smuggling and looting and successfully chased pretty women until his deathbed! He became a Marshall at age 48.
Marshall Ney, son of a barrel-cooper. The red-headed Franco-German was obsessed by the idea of glory, honor, and sacredness of the battlefieldâ¦ideas which were rudely interrupted by Napoleonâs method of not merely defeating but destroying the enemy in a single campaign. He became a Marshall at age 35.
Marshall Soult, son of a lawyer. As great a looter as Massena, he was not wanting in ability. Soult led the French to victory at Austerlitz and wished all his life to be recognized for that effort; unfortunately Austerlitz was regarded as something of a personal triumph by Napoleon himself. He became a Marshall at age 35 and went on to become a Marshall-General of France.
Marshall Bernadotte, son of a lawyer. He was Napoleonâs most hated Marshall, having begun his career by marrying Desiree Clary, who had at that time rejected Napoleonâs advances! Bernadotte was exceptionally kind to enemy civilians all through his career and was elected to by one such groupâ¦the Swedesâ¦to be their King! He fought against his own country in the Waterloo campaign. He became a Marshall at age 41.
Marshall Davout, son of an officer. The only Marshall with an aristocratic background, he was considered to be as good as Massena in military warfare. But in personal conduct he was honest and ruthlessly efficientâ¦and he was totally in love with his wife. He became devoted to Napoleon after the Egypt campaign and remained loyal to the very end. Davout became a Marshall at age 34.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1...5527328-3229230
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->At a time when military commanders in Europe were royal princes and dukes, Napoleon's marshals were often the sons of peasants or clerks. And they were usually half the age of their opponents - whom they thrashed soundly with almost monotonous regularity<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What a book! And what colorful characters! Here are only a few from the book:
Marshall Murat, son of an innkeeper. He was regarded as the greatest cavalry officer in the world and became a Grand-Duke from his military exploits (and also because he had married Napoleonâs sister). He became a Marshall at age 37.
Marshall Augereau, son of working mason. Regarded as the best swordsman in France he had the manners and tongue of a thick-headed buffoon. Napoleon had a low opinion of his strategic abilities but he was considered the best tactician in the French Army. He became a Marshall at age 47.
Marshall Massena, son of a tanner. In military ability he was the best, next only to Napoleon, and he saved France by defeating three armies from his base in Switzerland. His other pursuits were money and womenâ¦he amassed 40 million francs by smuggling and looting and successfully chased pretty women until his deathbed! He became a Marshall at age 48.
Marshall Ney, son of a barrel-cooper. The red-headed Franco-German was obsessed by the idea of glory, honor, and sacredness of the battlefieldâ¦ideas which were rudely interrupted by Napoleonâs method of not merely defeating but destroying the enemy in a single campaign. He became a Marshall at age 35.
Marshall Soult, son of a lawyer. As great a looter as Massena, he was not wanting in ability. Soult led the French to victory at Austerlitz and wished all his life to be recognized for that effort; unfortunately Austerlitz was regarded as something of a personal triumph by Napoleon himself. He became a Marshall at age 35 and went on to become a Marshall-General of France.
Marshall Bernadotte, son of a lawyer. He was Napoleonâs most hated Marshall, having begun his career by marrying Desiree Clary, who had at that time rejected Napoleonâs advances! Bernadotte was exceptionally kind to enemy civilians all through his career and was elected to by one such groupâ¦the Swedesâ¦to be their King! He fought against his own country in the Waterloo campaign. He became a Marshall at age 41.
Marshall Davout, son of an officer. The only Marshall with an aristocratic background, he was considered to be as good as Massena in military warfare. But in personal conduct he was honest and ruthlessly efficientâ¦and he was totally in love with his wife. He became devoted to Napoleon after the Egypt campaign and remained loyal to the very end. Davout became a Marshall at age 34.