Biographies

“If Bessières is a marshal, then everyone can be one.” Such were Marmont‘s words. Napoleon was perhaps fairer to him when, on St Helena he wrote “Bessières had a cold sort of bravery, and was calm admist the fighting. He had very good eyes, and was very experienced at cavalry manouvres, best suited to commanding […]

(1771-1841), diplomat Bignon was born on 3 February, 1771 in La Mailleraye, a small commune in the Seine-Inférieure department. After serving in the armies of the Revolution, he approached Talleyrand for a diplomatic post, couching his request in verse (!) and giving his opinion on the ideal qualities of a good diplomat. Finding preferment, he […]

Fact file Born in Redon, in 1750, died in Paris on 31 July, 1825 Up to 1789, a lawyer at the Parlement de Paris 1790, elected Judge of the fourth arrondissement in Paris In September 1791, Bigot de Préameneu was appointed one of the Députés de Paris in the first legislature May 1792, elected President […]

Generalfeldmarschall Gebhard Leb(e)recht Fürst Blücher von Wahlstadt (Wahlstatt) (1742-1819) The most successful and famous Prussian Army field commander of the period, Blücher was perhaps the most single-mindedly aggressive general employed by any belligerent. An uncomplicated, energic and outspoken leader, oblivious to personal danger, he has a place in German popular culture comparable with that of […]

Born in Ajaccio (Corsica) on 15 November 1784 and died in Massy, Essone (France), 24 June 1860, Jerome was rear-admiral (19 September 1806), French Prince (24 September 1806), general of division (14 March 1807), king of Westphalia (8 July 1807 – 2 June 1813), made prince of Montfort by king Frederick I of Wurtemberg (31 […]

Born in Ajaccio, 7 January, 1768, he was the eldest son of Charles Bonaparte and Letizia Ramolino. Initially destined for the Law, Joseph was forced by the exile of the Bonapartes from Corsica, after the rift with Paoli, to return to Provence. In 1794 he married Marie-Julie Clary (1771-1845), the daughter of a rich Marseilles […]

Jean Boudet was born in 1769 and was a dragoon in the Ancien Régime Penthièvre regiment by 1785. However, in 1788, he was relieved from duty following a desertion plot that he did not reveal. He returned to the army in 1792 and became lieutenant in the 7e bataillon des volontaires de la Gironde. He […]

‘Il s'est perdu dans mon esprit à cause de sa conduite avec le roi de Suède dans les affaires de Stralsund. Un maréchal de France valait un roi de Suède! Je rends justice au maréchal Brune, il a bien fait en hollande; la bataille Alkemaar…

Born in Wolfenbüttel, Germany, Karl Wilhelm was duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1780 until his death and ruled over the Wolfenbüttel subdivision of the duchy. Until Valmy and Jena, Karl was considered a master of the warfare of the period. He was also a cultured and benevolent despot in the model of Frederick the Great. He […]

General der Infanterie Friedrich Wilhelm Graf Bülow von Dennewitz (1755-1816)