拿破崙的將軍們 part3

Terror Belli, Decus Pachis Terror in War, Ornament in Peace The words inscribed on every French Marshal's baton In France, the title of Marshal or Maréchal goes back at least to the 13th century It represents the highest possible position of military authority Authority symbolized by a Marshal's baton The title was abolished during the French Revolution as incompatible with the egalitarian spirit of the age But in 1804, Napoleon founded a new empire and restored the ancient rank This is Epic History TV's guide to Napoleon's Marshals All 26 have been ranked according to our own evaluation of their achievements as Marshals with expert guidance from Lieutenant-Colonel Rémy Porte former Chief Historian of the French Army So far, we've met Marshals Perignon, Brune, Sérurier, Kellerman, Grouchy, Moncey, Pognatowski, Jourdan, Bernadotte, Augereau, Lefebvre, Mortier, and Marmont First, a big thanks to our video sponsor, Blinkist Blinkist is here to help solve a big problem for many of us So many books, so little time So Blinkist has distilled more than 3,000 works of non-fiction into Blinks 15-minute summaries of a book's key ideas that you can read or listen to like a podcast, on your computer or mobile app So you can be learning while also doing other things like cooking dinner while getting the big thoughts from Andrew Roberts' Napoleon the Great or learning from the lives of the Stoics while going for a run There are all these non-fiction topics to choose from So if you're starting a business, working on personal relationships, learning new skills, or just want to learn more about the world, there are many great options Our particular recommendation is Stephen Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature a work full of interesting ideas to support his argument that violence is in long-term historical decline The first 100 Epic History TV viewers to visit blinkist.com slash epichistory tv can get unlimited access for one week and 25% off if you opt for full membership This seven-day trial is completely free and you can cancel at any time Thanks again to Blinkist for sponsoring this video 13. Marshal Saint-Cyr Gouvion Saint-Cyr was a gifted student who ran away from a miserable childhood to become an artist A passionate Republican, he embraced the French Revolution and later volunteered for military service Though proud and aloof by nature his Republican politics and sharp intellect ensured he was elected captain of his company His skill at drawing enemy positions then got him noticed by General Cousteau who gave him a job on his staff During these turbulent early years of the Revolution Coustine was one of several generals who was punished for defeat with a trip to the guillotine Saint-Cyr's instinctive grasp of warfare brilliant planning and tactics won him promotion from volunteer to General of Division in two years An even more remarkable achievement as he'd had no formal military training But his cold, analytical approach meant that he was always a respected leader rather than loved After five years' service with the Army of the Rhine he was sent to Italy At the disastrous Battle of Novi he commanded the French right wing but skilfully extricated his troops from the debacle The next year he was back on the Rhine and won a brilliant victory over the Austrians at Bibrach But a bitter dispute with his commander, General Moreau encouraged rumours that Saint-Cyr was impossible to work with Saint-Cyr believed soldiers should not meddle in politics and did not support Napoleon's seizure of power in 1799 Nor did he show much enthusiasm for Napoleon's decision to crown himself emperor five years later His political views cost him dearly Saint-Cyr was sidelined for several years while less able generals were made marshals In 1805 he commanded French forces in central Italy But when he was made subordinate to Marshal Messena a man who he personally detested he returned to Paris even when Napoleon threatened to have him shot for desertion In 1808 Saint-Cyr was given command of a corps for the invasion of Spain but his failure to take Girona meant he was relieved of command Leaving in a fury before his replacement Marshal Augereau had arrived he was nearly court-marshaled again for desertion Saint-Cyr's military talent, however, was not in doubt In 1812 he was recalled for the Russia campaign with command of 6th Bavarian Corps His role was to support Marshal Oudinot in guarding the northern flank of the French salient When Wittgenstein's Russians attacked at Polotsk Oudinot was wounded and Saint-Cyr took over command turning probable defeat into a brilliant victory For this achievement Napoleon awarded Saint-Cyr his marshal's baton But two months later at a second battle of Polotsk Saint-Cyr was attacked by a larger Russian army seriously wounded in the foot and forced to pull back His injury meant he missed the worst horrors of the Russian retreat But he contracted typhus early in 1813 and was sick for many months Saint-Cyr returned to the Grande Armée in August taking command of 14th Corps and the defence of Dresden Incredibly, this was the first and only time that he worked directly alongside the Emperor and both soon learned new respect for each other's abilities Saint-Cyr's skilled defence of Dresden set the stage for Napoleon's great victory there later that month But Saint-Cyr was incredulous when Napoleon later ordered him to remain in Dresden while other forces concentrated for the decisive Battle of Leipzig 60 miles to the west Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig meant that Saint-Cyr and other garrisons in the east were cut off and had to surrender that autumn Saint-Cyr took no part in the Hundred Days determined to keep out of France's political disputes Under the restored monarchy he served as Minister of War and tried, but failed, to save Marshal Ney from the death penalty He also struggled to enact military reforms in the face of Royalist opposition eventually resigning in disgust and retiring to his country estate Marshal Saint-Cyr remains one of the great what-ifs of the Napoleonic Wars an extremely able commander sidelined for his politics who might well have proved one of Napoleon's very best Marshals 12. Marshal Oudinot Nicolas Oudinot ran away to join the army, aged 17 But his father dragged him home three years later to help run the family business When the revolution began he volunteered for the National Guard and was promoted to Major In the wars that followed he served with the Army of the Rhine always in the thick of the fighting rapidly promoted and frequently wounded a habit for which he became celebrated In 1799 he was promoted to General of Division and sent to Switzerland to serve as General Masséna's new Chief of Staff a role he performed to perfection Serving with General Brune in Italy he led a cavalry charge against an Austrian battery at the Battle of Monsimbano sabring gunners and capturing one cannon himself a feat for which Napoleon awarded him a Sword of Honour In 1805 the newly-crowned Emperor Napoleon gave Oudinot command of an elite Grenadier Division formed from the tallest, strongest soldiers in the army In December that year at the Battle of Austerlitz Oudinot insisted on leading the division in person despite having been shot in the thigh two weeks earlier His Grenadiers were kept in reserve for most of the battle but saw heavy fighting in the latter stages as Napoleon completed the destruction of the Allied left wing At the Siege of Danzig in 1807 General Oudinot's division had the unusual distinction of capturing an enemy warship a British sloop that had run aground trying to resupply the city A month later at Friedland Oudinot and his Grenadiers were under Marshal Lannes' command and played a crucial role holding up the Russian army until Napoleon arrived to deal a decisive blow During the 1809 war with Austria Oudinot was wounded once more at the Battle of Aspern When Marshal Lannes died of his wounds Napoleon chose Oudinot to succeed him as commander of Second Corps He led his new corps with such success at Wagram six weeks later that Napoleon attributed victory to Masséna and Oudinot A week later he became one of three new Marshals one for France, one for the army, one for friendship Oudinot, the army's choice Fearless and much-loved a man whose courage inspired all around him He later received an additional reward the title Duke of Reggio In 1812 Marshal Oudinot led Second Corps into Russia but was wounded again at Polotsk and handed over command to General Saint-Cyr Ten weeks later he was back with his corps marching south to join up with Napoleon's army on its retreat from Moscow Oudinot's men were shocked when they saw their old comrades from the main column They looked more like fugitives than soldiers of the Grande Armée Since Oudinot's Second Corps was in better shape than most it formed the vanguard for the desperate crossing of the Berezina River But the next day, in bitter fighting to hold the bridgehead against the Russians Oudinot was shot from his saddle He was carried back to a cottage with a serious gunshot wound But then he and his party became surrounded by Cossacks Oudinot asked for his pistols and from his bed, aiming through an opening opposite began firing at the Cossacks They were rescued by friendly troops, just in time Oudinot was back with the Grande Armée in Germany in 1813 In August, Napoleon ordered him to lead an advance on Berlin But he was defeated by Bernadotte's Army of the North at Großbeeren He then retreated in the wrong direction causing Napoleon to remark It's truly difficult to have less brains than the Duke of Reggio In Oudinot's defence, he'd probably been given an impossible task Insufficient men to take on a strong opponent Bad weather, terrible roads, and he himself unwell possibly not yet recovered from his ordeal in Russia Napoleon put Oudinot back where he was most effective leading troops in combat under his close supervision At Leipzig, he commanded two divisions of the Young Guard engaged in heavy fighting on the Southern Front for two days Oudinot continued to serve the Emperor courageously and loyally as a corps commander in the final campaign of 1814 But in April, he was one of several Marshals to confront Napoleon with the reality of his position and force his abdication When Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 Oudinot refused to break his new oath to the monarchy but declared neutrality, telling Napoleon 'Since I shall not serve you, sire, I shall serve no one' He continued to hold senior commands under the Bourbons By one estimate, Oudinot was wounded 36 times in his military career, more than any other Marshal Here are just 20 that we found details for A fellow officer who bathed with him at a spa after the war saw the scars on his body and observed he was little more than a colander Ironically, Oudinot was also one of the longest-lived Marshals dying aged 80 while serving as Governor of Les Invalides 11. Marshal Victor Claude Victor Perrin was an experienced soldier by the time of the French Revolution a sergeant with 8 years' service in the Grenoble Artillery Regiment The Revolutionary Wars brought the opportunity for rapid promotion and by 1793, he was commanding an infantry battalion at the Siege of Toulon He led a daring night assault on British defences alongside the army's artillery chief, a young Major Bonaparte Both men were wounded, but the attack was a success and both were quickly promoted to Brigadier General Victor served under General Bonaparte in Italy and turned out to be a brilliant brigade commander In 1800, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Marengo where his command of the left wing won particular praise from Napoleon But Victor did not hide his disapproval of Napoleon's quest for political power and as a result, received relatively minor roles under the new regime In 1802, he was earmarked to lead an expedition to recover the French territory of Louisiana But it was called off when Napoleon decided instead to sell Louisiana to the United States Victor and Marshal Lannes were close friends from their days serving together in Italy In 1806, Lannes persuaded Napoleon to let him have Victor as his new Chief of Staff for Fifth Corps Napoleon agreed, and in October, Victor served as Lannes' deputy at the Battle of Jena Napoleon's earlier misgivings about Victor were now forgotten And that winter, he was given command of the newly formed Tenth Corps But within weeks, he was captured by a Prussian patrol and had to be exchanged for a captured Prussian officer General von Blücher His big break came in 1807 stepping in for the wounded Marshal Bernadotte to command First Corps at Friedland where he successfully led a major attack as the Emperor looked on Promotion to Marshal, and the title Duke of Bellumo swiftly followed In 1808, Marshal Victor and First Corps took part in the invasion of Spain where he'd be posted for the next three years Victor's record in Spain was better than most But like others, he seemed more interested in personal glory and rewards than in cooperating with fellow commanders In 1809 at Medellín he inflicted a crushing defeat on General Cuesta's Spanish army Four months later, his bold night attack on the British at Talavera came tantalisingly close to success He was furious the next day when King Joseph and Marshal Jourdan refused to support fresh attacks and instead ordered a cautious withdrawal The next year, Victor besieged the Spanish port of Cadiz It proved a lengthy, futile operation devoid of glory and saw his troops defeated by an Allied sortie at the Battle of Barrosa In 1812, Victor was recalled from Spain for the invasion of Russia His Ninth Corps was held in reserve for most of the campaign though his troops were kept busy defending depots and convoys from Cossack raids That autumn, his corps attempted to cover the main army's retreat from Moscow The greatest crisis of the retreat came at the Berezina River As the remnants of the Grande Armée began crossing over two improvised bridges Victor's Ninth Corps was ordered to form the rearguard Though heavily outnumbered Victor skilfully handled his French and German troops holding the Russians at bay as the army made its escape He then marched his surviving troops over the bridges in good order a courageous performance in desperate circumstances In Germany in 1813, Victor commanded Second Corps and led the attack in Napoleon's last great victory at Dresden His corps was in heavy fighting again at Leipzig two months later Victor continued to serve at the Emperor's side in the defence of France in 1814 By now, like many comrades he must have been close to physical and psychological exhaustion Regardless, during the Battle of Montereau Napoleon let fly at him for failing to get his troops into position and blamed him for the Allies' escape Victor was relieved of command but angry and humiliated at what he considered his unfair dismissal he told the Emperor Marshal Victor has not forgotten his old trade I will shoulder a musket and take my place in the guard Moved by this response, Napoleon relented and gave Victor command of a corps of young guard Two weeks later, he was badly wounded at the Battle of Creon and took no further part in the war A month later, Napoleon abdicated and Victor switched his loyalty to the Bourbon monarchy with surprising zeal He led an investigation into former comrades who'd supported Napoleon during the Hundred Days and was one of only two active Marshals to vote for the death penalty for Marshal Ney a decision he later claimed to regret Victor later served as Minister of War but retired from public life in 1830 following the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy 10. Marshal Murat Joachim Murat, the son of an innkeeper was destined for a career in the church but dropped out of college and joined a cavalry regiment instead To his immense frustration, he saw little action in the early years of the Revolutionary Wars being stuck with staff and training roles But in 1795, while stationed in Paris with the 21st Chasseurs, fate intervened A young general, Napoleon Bonaparte had been put in charge of the defence of the National Convention With a mob poised to storm the building he ordered Captain Murat to bring him cannons which he did, racing the guns through the city streets allowing Napoleon to mow down the mob with a famous whiff of grapeshot Napoleon was hailed as the saviour of the government and rewarded with command of the Army of Italy Murat was promoted colonel and went with him as his new aide-de-camp He soon made a name for himself as a bold and brilliant leader of cavalry While his six-foot height, curly locks and love of women ensured fame as France's foremost beau sabreur In 1798, Murat joinedNapoleon's expedition to Egypt At the Battle of Aboukir his flanking charge broke the enemy and Murat personally tookthe Ottoman commander-prisoner despite being shot in the jaw a wound which, to his immense relief did not ruin his looks Back in Paris, Napoleon launched his coup d'état to seize political power When he got a hostile reception from the Council of 500 it was Murat who saved the day leading troops in to clear the chamber shouting, 'Citizens, you have been dissolved!' before adding something a bit more coarse His place at the future Emperor's side was further assured when he married Napoleon's youngest sister, Caroline, in 1800. Later that year, he commanded the French cavalry reserve at Marengo and helped Napoleon to win a decisive victory over the Austrians. When Napoleon established his empire in 1804, Murat became a Marshal, second in seniority only to Berthier. He'd later also receive the title Prince of the Empire, and the rank of Grand Admiral. In the 1805 campaign, he commanded Napoleon's cavalry reserve, his excellent reconnaissance and diversions proving crucial in the encirclement of General Mack's Austrian army at Ulm. Three weeks later, Murat and Marshal Lannes, who normally couldn't stand each other, together bluffed an Austrian commander into surrendering a vital bridge, by persuading him that an armistice had been signed when it hadn't. It was a bold stunt, but overall Napoleon was not impressed by Murat's pursuit of the enemy. 'I cannot approve your manner of march. You go on like a stunned fool, taking not the least notice of my orders.' Yet in battle, Murat remained a brilliant and inspiring leader, as demonstrated at Austerlitz, and the next year at Jena, where he led the decisive charge, wielding only his riding crop. The next year at Eylau, with the Russians poised to break through his centre, Napoleon ordered Murat to lead a mass cavalry charge straight at the enemy. Murat's men succeeded and saved the army from disaster, though at a terrible price, in men and horses. Napoleon had rewarded Murat in 1806 by making him Sovereign Prince of the Grand Duchy of Berg. In 1808 he sent Murat to Spain to act as his representative. Spain was still a French ally, but in May, Napoleon's heavy-handed meddling in Spanish affairs triggered a ferocious backlash. Madrid rose up against the French garrison, and Murat's troops fought back with brutal force, killing around 200, executing 300 more. When Napoleon deposed Spain's Bourbon monarchy, Murat hoped he'd be made the new King of Spain. But that title went to Napoleon's brother, Joseph. Murat instead received the throne of Naples. If it felt like second prize, it wasn't bad going for an innkeeper's son, college dropout, and ex-cavalry trooper. Napoleon expected Murat to merely represent his interests in Naples, but Murat had other ideas. He reformed the Neapolitan army, equipping it with splendid new uniforms, and turned a blind eye to smuggling, which undermined Napoleon's economic war against Britain, the so-called Continental System. Relations between Murat and the Emperor became strained. But when Napoleon began planning to invade Russia in 1812, only Murat would do to lead his cavalry. Their differences were put to one side. Murat took command of four cavalry corps, and became Napoleon's second-in-command. During the advance into Russia, Murat's cavalry faced a difficult and frustrating task – trying to locate the enemy in a vast landscape. Horses died in their thousands from poor fodder and exhaustion. And they faced a dangerous and wily opponent in Russia's Cossacks. Murat,always riding with the advance guard, was so fearless and conspicuous in his extravagant uniforms, that the Cossacks came to admire him, calling out, 'Hoorah, Murat!' whenever they saw him, and hoped to capture him alive if possible. Murat was among those who tried to persuade Napoleon to halt the advance at Smolensk, but was ignored. At the great clash between the French and Russian armies at Borodino, Murat was at his best, directing a series of attacks on the Russian earthworks, always where the action was hottest, inspiring all with his courage. Murat remained with the army during the retreat from Moscow, though his magnificent cavalry had virtually ceased to exist. One eyewitness noted that throughout the ordeal, he never neglected his appearance. Even at the Berezina he looked splendid, in an open-necked shirt, velvet cloak, a white feather in his cap. When Napoleon left the army to return to Paris, he gave command to Marshal Murat. But Murat, now primarily concerned with hanging on to his kingdom, left the army a month later, and returned to Naples, where he opened secret negotiations with the Coalition. He offered to join the war against Napoleon, if the other powers would let him keep his crown. But he received only a lukewarm response. So in 1813, when Napoleon asked Murat to join him in Germany, to fight for their thrones together, he answered the call. Murat had become increasingly difficult to work with, oversensitive about his royal status, prone to tantrums, but in battle, as fearless as ever. At Dresden, his charge through rain and mud shattered the Austrian left wing, and paved the way for victory. But then at Liebert-Wolkwitz, he showed his limitations when not under Napoleon's direct command, getting drawn into a major and unnecessary cavalry battle with Coalition forces, and twice nearly being captured himself. Two days later, at the Battle of Leipzig, he led another of history's great cavalry charges, coming close to breaking the enemy centre, and even capturing the Allied monarchs. But it was not to be. The Battle of the Nations ended in a disastrous defeat. As Napoleon retreated to the French frontier, Murat informed the Emperor that he was leaving for Naples, promising to raise fresh troops. Murat and Napoleon would never meet again. Three months later, the King of Naples had cut a deal with the Coalition, and switched sides. So long as it was possible for me to believe that the Emperor Napoleon was fighting to bring peace and glory to France, I fought loyally at his side, Murat declared. But now I know that the Emperor's sole desire is war. However, Murat's commitment to the Sixth Coalition was distinctly half-hearted. His army marched against Eugène's forces in northern Italy, but had done no actual fighting before news arrived of Napoleon's abdication. Murat then began to suspect what had been obvious to Napoleon, at least. The Coalition was not going to honour its promise, and Murat would be next to lose his throne. So in 1815, encouraged by news of Napoleon's return from exile, Murat marched north against the Austrians, proclaiming a war for Italian freedom and independence. Just seven weeks later, his campaign ended in defeat at the Battle of Tolentino. With the British and Austrians closing in, Murat became a hunted fugitive. He sailed to France, but Napoleon had not forgiven his betrayal, and refused to see him. After Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, he fled to Corsica, gathered a small band of volunteers, and returned to Italy, in a hopelessly doomed attempt to start a revolution, and reclaim his throne. Chased by a mob and arrested on the beach, Murat was sentenced to death by the restored Bourbon monarchy of Naples. He met his end with his usual courage, telling the firing squad, 'If you wish to spare me, aim at the heart.' Then gave the order to fire himself. Murat is rightly remembered as one of the great battlefield cavalry commanders of history. Inspirational, fearless, with brilliant tactical instinct. But outside of combat, he was, in Napoleon's estimation, a very poor general. He always waged war without maps. Worse, when the conflict turned against France, he allowed self-interest and vanity to prevail over loyalty to the Emperor. As Napoleon's chief of staff, Marshal Berthier, once told him, 'You're only a king by the grace of Napoleon and French blood. It's black ingratitude that's blinding you.' Censure. Oudinot. Victor. Murat. 17 down, 9 to go. Join us for part four, when we'll continue the countdown. Coming soon. Thanks again to our video sponsor Blinkist. And don't forget the first 100 people to use the link in our video description will get a free 7-day trial with no obligation and 25% off full membership. Thank you most of all to our Patreon supporters for making Epic History TV possible. Visit our Patreon page to find out how you can support the channel, get ad-free early access, and help to choose future topics. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for extra epic history content and regular updates.