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<h3>Napoleon has harsh words about Murat: <em>In combat, he was a “Caesar” but outside, almost a woman. Murat had a great courage but very few brains. </em>This portrait, collected during the exile of Napoleon on Saint-Helena, sums up quite harshly the dashing cavalry officer, son of innkeepers from South of France whose talents on horseback brought him to the ranks of Marshall, Grand-Duc of Berg and eventually… King of Naples. Probably the greatest “rags to riches” story among the generals of the Empire.</h3>
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<p>Born in 1767, Joachim Murat is the 11th children of a couple of innkeepers in the department of Lot. He is destined to enter the orders and is sent to study religion. However, he is far too agitated and has quite a temper. In 1787, he flees and enrols into a cavalry regiment, from which he is eventually dismissed for insubordination two years later.</p>
<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db05d5d352.jpg" width="331" height="460"/></p>
<p> [Murat in his cavalry uniform regiment in 1789]</p>
<p>Back with his parents in his hometown, he settles himself up in a shop, selling groceries, until the Revolution. First, he joins the reunions and councils which spring everywhere. Then, in 1791, he enters the cavalry again and helps to crush the royalist insurrection of 13 Vendémiaire in 1795, alongside Bonaparte, who immediately takes this young and dashing hot head in his staff for the coming campaign in Italy.</p>
<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db05ed8849.jpg" width="220" height="284"/></p>
<p> [Murat as a General of the French republic, c.1800]</p>
<p>At the battles of <strong>Roveredo</strong>, <strong>Bassano</strong>, <strong>Dego </strong>and <strong>Mondovi</strong>, the cavalry of Murat keeps turning the head of the Austrians. Also, he meets there the sister of Bonaparte, but his commander-in-chief, aware of his reputation, makes his best to dash the hopes of the lovers (Murat is 30 and Caroline 15, it must be said!). However, he has proved himself so indispensable that Bonaparte takes him to Egypt with the expedition, and… even takes him back when the game is up, which is a kind of privilege and the evidence that he is now part of the inner circle.</p>
<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db05f9f2ee.jpg" width="758" height="461"/></p>
<p> [Murat in his pomp, at the battle of Abukir, 1799, by Antoine-Jean Gros]</p>
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<p>Back in France, it’s him who will enter the room of the <strong>Council </strong>and declares the dissolution of the Directoire, during the <strong>coup of 18 Brumaire</strong>. Now, Bonaparte has no choice but to relinquish the hand of his sister, whom he marries in January 1800. Then follows the second campaign of Italy where his cavalry charge at Marengo win the day. He is later in charge of the troops in Italy and will win the hearts of the Italian through his friendliness. Back in France in 1803, he becomes governor of Paris, and as soon as the Consulate turns into an Empire, he is showered with honours: <strong>Marshall, Great-cross of the Legion of Honour, Senator</strong>… He buys and lives in the <a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palais_de_l%27%C3%89lys%C3%A9e"><strong>Palais de l’Elysée</strong></a> (which is nowadays the house of the French Presidents!). </p>
<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db06021685.jpg" width="418" height="600"/></p>
<p>However, the best is yet to come: in <strong>1805</strong>, when the War of the 3rd Coalition starts, he is at the forefront of the army with his cavalry, rushing through Southern Germany, running circles around dazzed Austrian troops who surrender <em>en masse</em>, and eventually is even able to oust the Austrian Emperor out of Vienna, which is taken. At Austerlitz, eventually, he is in charge of the left flank during the great battle.</p>
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<p>As a reward for his services, at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_of_Pressburg_(1805)"><strong>Treaty of Presbourg</strong></a> in December 1805, Murat is named <strong>Grand-Duc of Berg and Cleves</strong> and immediately starts his “reign” over the little principality. This reign will last less than a year, because already he has to come back on the saddle and fight the Prussians in 1806: <strong>after Iena and Auerstaedt, his men take Erfurt, Lubeck and Stettin</strong>, capturing scores of prisoners and ammunitions. And then, comes the Russians, who have arrived too late to save the king of Prussia, but are adamant on defeating Napoleon. It’s winter and the conditions are atrocious, but once again Murat is at the forefront of the attacks. At the battle of <strong>Eylau</strong>, a legendary cavalry charge of 10.000 to 12.000 riders eventually stop the Russians infantery in their track and save the Grande Armée.</p>
<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db05ebe3b5.jpg" width="800" height="535"/></p>
<p> [Murat at the head of his men, in full charge]</p>
<p>Murat’s name is on the lips of all of Europe: he is not only famous in the French camps, but his skills and honours have crossed the frontiers. Even the Cossacks have heard of him and consider him as a legend. When he enters Varsovia, the Polish people hope to make him their king. Napoleon, him, is aware of his talent but also highly exasperated by his lush and garrulous uniforms and his constant need to show off like a peacock.</p>
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<p> <img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db0610b4c8.jpg" width="298" height="476"/></p>
<p>At the beginning of 1808, Murat is entrusted with the French troops in Spain. The troops are officially there to protect the rear-guard of the Portuguese expedition of <strong>Junot</strong>, but Napoleon has secrets plans, so secrets that even Murat is not aware of them. So, when the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdications_of_Bayonne"><strong>Abdication of Bayonne </strong></a>is known in Madrid and the king is deposed, the population rebels and Murat has no choice but to crush mercilessly the fanaticals citizens. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos_de_Mayo_Uprising">It’s the Dos and Tres de Mayo </a>and the beginning of the <a href="http://downfallofnapoleonbm.weebly.com/the-spanish-ulcer.html">long Spanish ulcer</a>. As a reward for his trouble, Murat kind of hope to be nominated as this <strong>new King of Spain</strong>, but he is fairly disappointed when it’s Napoleon’s brother (Joseph) who gets the honour. </p>
<p><img src="https://i.imgsafe.org/db1c3c6347.jpg" width="1472" height="1080"/></p>
<p> [Spanish people shot by French soldiers - painting by Goya]</p>
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<p>Instead, Napoleon proposes to Murat to choose between the crown of Portugal and the one of Naples. </p>
<h1><strong>It will be Naples.</strong></h1>
<pre><code><strong>To be continued...</strong></code></pre>
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