Marshal Joachim Murat

Originally intending to become a priest, Murat ran away from a seminary for a girl he fell in love with, or so the rumors said. He ended up making the army his new career as a cavalry soldier. In time he would become the quintessential cavalry officer, doing everything with a dramatic, dashing flourish and designing his own colorful and sometimes gaudy uniforms so he stood out amongst everyone.

Eventually becoming one of the most famous cavalry generals of the time, Murat first rose to prominence by assisting General Napoleon Bonaparte in defending the Directory from a Royalist mob. Murat was sent to retrieve the artillery guns Bonaparte requested, and successfully obtained them and got them back to the general in time to defend the Directory. From then on, his career was tied to Napoleon's, as he became Napoleon's aide-de-camp and friend on the Italian campaign. Napoleon often complained of Murat's need of women, saying that he needed women like he needed food, and Murat's desire to forego planning, but he held Muart's leadership and combat abilities in high enough regard to give him important commands of cavalry.

In Egypt, Murat, always the dashing cavalry officer, galloped up to the Turkish commander's tent at the Battle of Abukir, intent on taking the enemy commander prisoner. Leaping off his horse, he then strode into the commander's tent. Thinking he was about to be killed, the Turkish commander raised a pistol and fired at Murat, hitting him in the mouth. Murat, in a dramatic gesture, spit out the pieces of his flesh that were no longer attached and slashed at the Turkish commander's hand, slicing off two of his fingers and disarming him of the pistol.

As Napoleon attempted his coup d'etat and things did not go as well as planned, some of the members of the Council of 500 began to rough Napoleon up. Murat hurried out of the room and proclaimed an order to his troops, "Grenadiers forward, throw them out!" The grenadiers moved in and chased the deputies out of the room, protecting Napoleon and completing his coup d'etat.

Murat married Napoleon's sister Caroline in 1800, tying him even more to the newly created First Consul. In 1804 when the first marshals were created, Murat was made a marshal. He was often the most senior marshal after Berthier, which would regularly annoy some of the other marshals.

At the beginning of the campaign of 1805, Murat disguised himself and traveled ahead of the army to scout out the terrain and enemy movements.

During the campaign of 1805, Marshals Murat and Lannes bluffed their way into possession of a key Austrian bridge. Loaded with explosives, the Austrians intended to destroy the bridge the moment the French attempted to to take it. Lannes, Murat, Bertrand, Belliard, and a few other officers crossed the bridge, telling the Austrians that an armistice had been signed that gave the French the bridge. Sending Betrand with the Austrians to meet the Austrian commander, Murat and Lannes talked to the Austrians in an attempt to distract them from Oudinot's grenadiers who were sneaking up. One Austrian noticed the approaching grenadiers and lit a match to fire the artillery, but Lannes immediately seized his arm and demanded how he could dare break the armistice without higher authority. Bertrand returned with Austrian General Auersperg, whom Lannes and Murat explained the same story to, and he agreed to not fire upon them. Oudinot's grenadiers finished coming up, cut the fuses to blow the bridge, and with that the bridge was in French hands without a shot being fired.

At Eylau, as Augereau's corps was nearly wiped out, Napoleon ordered Murat and his 10,000 soldiers of the Cavalry Reserve to charge directly at the Russians. What followed was one of the largest cavalry charges of all time, with Murat leading a glorious charge that decimated the Russian center and saved the battle for the French.

After the Emperor made his brother Joseph the King of Spain, he had to give Joseph's former kingdom of Naples to someone, and gave it to Murat. Murat became the King of Naples, most likely due to his marriage to Napoleon's sister.

As the French army invaded Russia, Murat took the opportunity to dazzle his opponents, often riding ahead of the army in his glittering uniform, dazzling Russian cossacks with his appearance, nerve, and swordsmanship. At the Battle of Borodino, as the French struggled to take the notorious redoubt, Murat dismounted and as French soldiers began to retreat before him, he dared them to leave him to the Russians, refusing to retreat.

After Napoleon left the army on the retreat, he left Murat in command. Murat, not entirely pleased with the state of his command, and worried about his kingdom of Naples, shortly thereafter abandoned the army. Prince Eugene assumed command in Murat's absence.

After the disastrous Battle of Leipzig, Murat switched sides and brought Naples onto the side of the Allies, in exchange for his kingdom. Unfortunately for Murat, most of the Allies had no intention of keeping their promise to him, and he soon found himself about to lose his kingdom to their political maneuvering. It seemed the only way to hold onto his kingdom was through military force, but just then Napoleon escaped Elba and reclaimed the throne of France. Suddenly the Allies were interested in pleasing Murat again, though now he would have none of it, and began a campaign against the Austrians. He had some success, until he lost the Battle of Tolentino by being overconfident, thinking the battle was won and leaving too early.

Without an army, Murat disguised himself and escaped to France, intent on offering Napoleon his sword. Upset over Murat's betrayal after Leipzig, Napoleon refused to even see Murat. After the loss of the Battle of Waterloo, Murat realized France was not safe and so snuck into Corsica where the people would be more favorable towards him. The Emperor of Austria offered Murat and his family asylum, but he had had enough of Allied promises, and still held the ambition to regain his crown.

Attempting to regain his crown, Murat landed at the fishing port of Pizzo with about 30 soldiers. A few people proclaimed "Long love King Joachim!" but the majority of people were unimpressed. A mob soon formed, and sensing the tide turning against him, Murat and his companions attempted to make their way back to the boats, but were stopped by the mob. A court was formed to try him and his soldiers, and he argued that none of his soldiers should be tried, for their only crime was being faithful to him. He was soon found guilty and sentenced to death. On the day of his execution, Murat told the firing squad to aim at his heart, and then he gave the command to fire.

Sources:

Chandler, David G. The Campaigns of Napoleon. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1966.

Chandler, David G. Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.

Chrisawn, Margaret. The Emperor's Friend: Marshal Jean Lannes. Westport, Conneticut: Greenwood Press, 2001.

Delderfield, R. F. Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Cooper Square Press, 2002.

Elting, John R. Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee. USA: Da Capo Press, 1997.

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Generaux & Amiraux Francais de la Revolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

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