The Villa Floridiana is a monumental house located amid a large park in the Vomero quarter in Naples , southern Italy . It overlooks the western Neapolitan suburbs of Chiaia and Mergellina .
81-550: Construction of a villa at the site was begun by Cristoforo Saliceti and his heirs; Cristoforo had been minister of police for the government of Joachim Murat . In 1817, they were forced to sell to Ferdinand I , the Bourbon king of the Two Sicilies , who used it to house Lucia Migliaccio di Partanna, duchess of Floridia, whom Ferdinand had married morganatically in 1814. She resided here till her death in 1826. Between 1817 and 1819
162-671: A 40-day supply. Extensive magazines were strategically set up in towns and cities across Poland and East Prussia, while the Vistula river valley was developed into a vital supply base in 1811–1812. Intendant / Quartermaster General Dumas organized five supply lines from the Rhine to the Vistula, establishing administrative headquarters in three arrondissements in French-controlled Germany and Poland. This logistical preparation served as
243-549: A Marshal of the Empire on 18 May 1804, and granted him the title of "First Horseman of Europe". He was made Prince of the Empire and Admiral of the Empire in 1805, despite having very little knowledge about naval warfare. He fought in various battles, during 1805–1807, including those of Ulm , Austerlitz , Jena and Eylau , where he led a famous cavalry charge against the Russians. After several territorial concessions made by Prussia ,
324-671: A bad supply situation worse. Some 50,000 stragglers and deserters became a lawless mob warring with the local peasantry in all-out guerrilla war , which further hindered supplies reaching the Grande Armée. Central to the problem were the expanding distances to supply magazines and the fact that no supply wagon could keep up with a forced marched infantry column. A Lieutenant Mertens—a Württemberger serving with Ney's III Corps—reported in his diary that oppressive heat followed by cold nights and rain left them with dead horses and camping in swamp-like conditions with dysentery and fever raging through
405-534: A clause that transferred Western Galicia from Austria and annexing it to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw . This move was seen unfavorably by Russia, perceiving the territory's annexation as a potential threat for a French invasion point. Russia's foreign Minister Nikolay Rumyantsev advocated for a closer alliance with France in response. In an attempt to secure greater cooperation from Russia, Napoleon initially pursued an alliance by proposing marriage to Anna Pavlovna ,
486-565: A coup" of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), when he first assumed political power. Murat married Caroline Bonaparte , with whom he shared the same birthday, in a civil ceremony on 20 January 1800 at Mortefontaine and in a religious ceremony on 4 January 1802 in Paris, thus becoming a son-in-law of Letizia Ramolino as well as brother-in-law to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Bonaparte , Lucien Bonaparte , Elisa Bonaparte , Louis Bonaparte , Pauline Bonaparte and Jérôme Bonaparte . Napoleon made Murat
567-636: A direct aftermath of the French Revolution . Napoleon, rising to power in 1799 and assuming autocratic rule over France, orchestrated numerous military campaigns that led to the establishment of the first French empire . Starting in 1803, the Napoleonic Wars served as a testament to Napoleon's military prowess. He secured victories in the War of the Third Coalition (1803–1806, leading to the dissolution of
648-613: A focal point in military history , recognized as among the most devastating military endeavors globally . In a span of fewer than six months, the campaign exacted a staggering toll, claiming the lives of nearly a million soldiers and civilians. On 24 June 1812 and subsequent days, the initial wave of the multinational Grande Armée crossed the Neman River, marking the entry from the Duchy of Warsaw into Russia. Employing extensive forced marches, Napoleon rapidly advanced his army of nearly half
729-644: A last-ditch attempt to recover his throne, but was soon taken prisoner by King Ferdinand IV of Naples . He was tried for treason and sentenced to death by firing squad in Pizzo . Murat was born on 25 March 1767 in La Bastide-Fortunière (later renamed Labastide-Murat after him), in Guyenne (the present-day French department of Lot ). His father was Pierre Murat-Jordy (1721 – 27 July 1799), an affluent yeoman , innkeeper , postmaster and churchwarden . His mother
810-404: A million individuals through Western Russia , encompassing present-day Belarus , in a bid to dismantle the disparate Russian forces led by Barclay de Tolly and Pyotr Bagration totaling approximately 180,000–220,000 soldiers at that juncture. Despite losing half of his men within six weeks due to extreme weather conditions, diseases and scarcity of provisions, Napoleon emerged victorious in
891-490: A peace proposal that never materialized. Due to favorable weather conditions, Napoleon delayed his retreat and, hoping to secure supplies, began a different route westward than the one the army had devastated on the way there. However, after losing the Battle of Maloyaroslavets , he was compelled to retrace his initial path. As early November arrived, snowfall and frost complicated the retreat. Shortages of food and winter attire for
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#1732902862347972-509: A pivotal role in the Coup of 18 Brumaire (1799), which brought Napoleon to political power. In 1800 he married Caroline Bonaparte , thus becoming a brother-in-law to Napoleon. Murat was named a Marshal of the Empire on the proclamation of the French Empire. He took part in various battles including those of Ulm , Austerlitz , Jena and Eylau , where he led a famous massed cavalry charge against
1053-407: A significant trial of Napoleon's administrative and logistical acumen, with his focus in the first half of 1812 dedicated mainly to provisioning his invading army. Napoleon's study of Russian geography and history, including Charles XII's invasion of 1708–1709 , reinforced his understanding of the imperative to transport as many supplies as possible. The French Army's prior experience operating in
1134-420: A soldier. Two of the ministers had accused him of being an aristocrat, confusing him with the noble family of Murat d'Auvergne, an accusation that continued to haunt him for the next several years. In the autumn of 1795, two years after King Louis XVI had been guillotined , royalists and counter-revolutionaries organised an armed uprising. On 3 October, General Napoleon Bonaparte , who was stationed in Paris,
1215-638: A strategic maneuver, he deployed the Old Guard against Miloradovich , who obstructed the primary road to Krasny, effectively isolating him from the main army. Davout successfully broke through, Eugene de Beauharnais and Michel Ney were forced to take a detour. Despite the consolidation of several retreating French corps with the main army, by the time they reached the Berezina , Napoleon commanded only around 49,000 troops alongside 40,000 stragglers of little military significance. On 5 December, Napoleon departed from
1296-781: A term for the German invasion of the Soviet Union during the Second World War . The " Patriotic War of 1812 " is also occasionally referred to as simply the " War of 1812 ", a term which should not be confused with the conflict between Great Britain and the United States, also known as the War of 1812 . In Russian literature written before the Russian revolution, the war was occasionally described as "the invasion of twelve languages" ( Russian : нашествие двенадцати языков ). Napoleon termed this war
1377-527: A third in just the first eight weeks of the campaign, before the major battle was fought. This loss in strength was in part due to diseases such as diphtheria , dysentery and typhus and the need for garrison supply centres. There are eyewitness reports of cannibalism in November 1812. Nine pontoon companies, three pontoon trains with 100 pontoons each, two companies of marines, nine sapper companies, six miner companies and an engineer park were deployed for
1458-553: A vocation in the church. He was taught by the parish priest, after which he won a place at the College of Saint-Michel at Cahors when he was ten years old. He then entered the seminary of the Lazarists at Toulouse . When a regiment of cavalry passed through the city in 1787, he ran away and enlisted on 23 February 1787 in the Chasseurs des Ardennes , which the following year became known as
1539-548: A vocation in the clergy before enlisting in a cavalry regiment on the outbreak of the French Revolution . Murat distinguished himself under the command of General Napoleon Bonaparte on 13 Vendémiaire (1795), when he seized a group of large cannons and was instrumental in suppressing the royalist insurrection in Paris. He became Napoleon's aide-de-camp and commanded the cavalry during the French campaigns in Italy and Egypt . Murat played
1620-470: Is his great-great-great-grandson, American actor René Auberjonois . French invasion of Russia Russian victory [REDACTED] French Empire [REDACTED] Duchy of Warsaw [REDACTED] Italy [REDACTED] Naples [REDACTED] Switzerland [REDACTED] Spain 450,000 – 685,000 total: 508,000 – 723,000 total: 434,000 – 500,000 410,000 The French invasion of Russia , also known as
1701-508: The Battle of Smolensk . However, the Russian Army, now commanded by Mikhail Kutuzov , opted for a strategic retreat, employing attrition warfare against Napoleon compelling the invaders to rely on an inadequate supply system, incapable of sustaining their vast army in the field. The fierce Battle of Borodino , located 110 kilometres (70 mi) west of Moscow, concluded as a narrow victory for
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#17329028623471782-589: The Continental System , a blockade aimed at the United Kingdom. However, the treaty imposed significant economic strain on Russia, prompting Tsar Alexander to break away from the Continental blockade on December 31, 1810. This decision left Napoleon without his primary foreign policy tool against the United Kingdom. The Treaty of Schönbrunn , concluding the 1809 conflict between Austria and France included
1863-647: The Baltic ports Stettin and Danzig. During this period, Napoleon's physical and mental condition underwent changes. He experienced weight gain and increasing susceptibility to various health issues. In May 1812 he left his palace in Saint-Cloud ; one month later he arrived in Toruń . Committed to Catherine the Great's expansion policy, Alexander I issued an ultimatum in April 1812, demanding
1944-555: The Chasseurs de Champagne , or the 12th Chasseurs. In 1789, an affair forced him to resign, and he returned to his family, becoming a clerk to a haberdasher at Saint-Céré . By 1790, Murat had joined the National Guard . The Canton of Montaucon sent him as its representative to the Fête de la Fédération , the celebration of the first anniversary of Bastille Day ( la Fête nationale ). He was reinstated in his former regiment. Because part of
2025-560: The Congress of Vienna , Klemens von Metternich , Austria's Foreign Minister , was bound by other coalition allies that wanted to restore Ferdinand IV of the House of Bourbon to the Neapolitan throne, particularly Britain . With his throne no longer secure, following Napoleon's return from exile , Murat switched sides in an unsuccessful attempt to return to Napoleon's favour. On 15 March 1815,
2106-640: The Grand Duchy of Berg was set up, he was appointed Grand Duke of Berg and Duke of Cleves on 15 March 1806, and held this title until 1 August 1808, when he was named King of Naples . Murat was in charge of the French Army in Madrid when the popular Dos de Mayo Uprising , that started the Peninsular War , broke out. Murat proved to be equally useful in the Russian campaign of 1812, where he distinguished himself as
2187-964: The National Museum of Ceramics, Naples , also called the Museo Duca di Martina. The Duke of Martina, second-born son of Riccardo and Maria Argentina Caracciolo, born in Naples in 1929, but moving to Paris where he began collecting decorative arts. His heirs donated the collection in 1911 to the city of Naples. Since at least 1953 the gardens have been home to a colony of predominantly black stray cats, which are cared for by volunteers. 40°50′22″N 14°13′48″E / 40.839400°N 14.230050°E / 40.839400; 14.230050 Joachim Murat Joachim Murat ( / m j ʊəˈr ɑː / mure- AH , also / m ʊ ˈ r ɑː t / muurr- AHT , French: [ʒɔaʃɛ̃ myʁa] ; Italian : Gioacchino Murat ; 25 March 1767 – 13 October 1815)
2268-512: The Rimini Proclamation , though it may have been backdated after his military defeats. Murat's eastern column advanced northwards from Rimini towards the River Po , entering Bologna on 2 April, while the western column reached Florence on 8 April. On the same day, the eastern column engaged 3,000 Austrian soldiers at the Battle of Occhiobello . Following its defeat at Occhiobello, it
2349-657: The Russian campaign ( French : Campagne de Russie ), the Second Polish War , and in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812 ( Russian : Оте́чественная война́ 1812 го́да , romanized : Otéchestvennaya voyná 1812 góda ), was initiated by Napoleon with the aim of compelling the Russian Empire to comply with the continental blockade of the United Kingdom . Widely studied, Napoleon's incursion into Russia stands as
2430-488: The Suwałki Gap . Several corps, except X Corps , passed Marijampolė before arriving at the river Neman. On 23 June Napoleon arrived at Naugardiškė near Kaunas . After two days of preparation, the invasion commenced on Wednesday, 24 June [ O.S. 12 June] 1812 with Napoleon's army crossing the border. The army was split up into five columns: Napoleon initially met little resistance and moved quickly into
2511-546: The "Second Polish War" in an attempt to gain increased support from Polish nationalists and patriots. Though the stated goal of the war was the resurrection of the Polish state on the territories of the former Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (modern territories of Poland , Lithuania , Latvia , Estonia , Belarus and Ukraine ), in fact, this issue was of no real concern to Napoleon. From 1792 onwards, France found itself frequently embroiled in conflicts with major European powers,
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2592-700: The 12th Chasseurs had been sent to Montmédy to protect the royal family on its flight to Varennes , the regiment had to defend its honour and loyalty to the Republic. Murat and the regiment's adjutant made a speech to the assembly at Toul to that effect. In 1792, Murat joined the Constitutional Guard , but left it that same year. His departure was attributed to various causes, including his constant quarreling and dueling, although he claimed he left to avoid punishment for being absent without leave. An ardent Republican, Murat wrote to his brother in 1791 stating he
2673-614: The French although Napoleon was not able to beat the Russian army and Kutuzov could not stop the French. At the Council at Fili Kutuzov made the critical decision not to defend the city but to orchestrate a general withdrawal, prioritizing the preservation of the Russian army. On 14 September, Napoleon and his roughly 100,000-strong army took control of Moscow , only to discover it deserted, and set ablaze by its military governor Fyodor Rostopchin . Remaining in Moscow for five weeks, Napoleon awaited
2754-812: The Kingdom of Naples declared war on the Austrian Empire, starting the Neapolitan War . With an estimated 45,000 troops, the Neapolitan army invaded the Papal States and Tuscany . Though the Austrian army in northern Italy numbered 94,000 troops, it was widely distributed. On 30 March 1815, Murat's troops arrived in Rimini , where they were hosted by the Battaglini counts. In a final attempt to gain allies, Murat published
2835-613: The Neman, a number of soldiers began to develop high fevers and a red rash on their bodies. Typhus had made its appearance. On 29/30 June, a violent thunderstorm struck Lithuania during the night and continued for several hours or a day. The results were most disastrous to the French forces. The movement of troops was impeded or absolutely checked and the vast troop and supply trains on the Vilnius-Kaunas Road became disorganized. The existing roads became little better than quagmires causing
2916-778: The Russians had failed to destroy or empty, and Moscow itself was filled with food. Twenty train battalions provided most of the transportation, with a combined load of 8,390 tons. Twelve of these battalions had a total of 3,024 heavy wagons drawn by four horses each, four had 2,424 one-horse light wagons and four had 2,400 wagons drawn by oxen . Auxiliary supply convoys were formed on Napoleon's orders in early June 1812, using vehicles requisitioned in East Prussia. Marshal Nicolas Oudinot 's II Corps alone took 600 carts formed into six companies. The wagon trains were supposed to carry enough bread, flour and medical supplies for 300,000 men for two months. The standard heavy wagons, well-suited for
2997-547: The Russians. In 1806, Murat was appointed Grand Duke of Berg, a title he held until 1808 when he was named King of Naples. He continued to serve Napoleon during his Russian and German campaigns but abandoned the Grande Armée after the Battle of Leipzig to save his throne. In 1815, Murat launched the Neapolitan War against the Austrian Empire but was decisively defeated at Tolentino . He fled to Corsica and then made
3078-454: The absence of meticulous records, estimations varied and often included exaggerated counts, overlooking auxiliary troops. Napoleon's initial force upon entering Russia exceeded 450,000 men, accompanied by over 150,000 horses, approximately 25,000 wagons and nearly 1,400 artillery pieces. However, the surviving count dwindled to a mere 120,000 men (excluding early deserters); signifying a staggering loss of approximately 380,000 lives throughout
3159-460: The architect Antonio Niccolini reconstructed the building and the surrounding gardens, landscaping in a free, English -style. The director of the Botanical Gardens, Friedrich Dehnhardt , planted oaks, pines, palms, cypresses and a large selection of flowers in the gardens. The neoclassical residence and surrounding gardens were built between 1817 and 1819. The villa since 1931 has housed
3240-453: The army at Smorgonie in a sled and returned to Paris. Within a few days, an additional 20,000 people succombed to the bitter cold and diseases carried by lice . Murat and Ney assumed command, pressing forward but leaving over 20,000 men in the hospitals of Vilnius . The remnants of the principal armies, disheartened, crossed the frozen Neman and the Bug . While exact figures remain elusive due to
3321-412: The army had to rely solely on its own resources. Danzig contained enough provisions to feed 400,000 men for 50 days. Breslau, Plock and Wyszogród were turned into grain depots, milling vast quantities of flour for delivery to Thorn, where 60,000 biscuits were produced every day. A large bakery was established at Villenberg ( Braniewo County ). 50,000 cattle were collected to follow the army. After
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3402-609: The best cavalry commander of the Grande Armée at battles such as Smolensk and Borodino . Although he was a great horseman, Murat showed a total lack of concern for the well-being of the horses. Napoleon had created the greatest forage problem known in military history by putting together a cavalry of 40,000 men and horses. The long marches and the lack of rest meant that the horses suffered from hunger, bad fodder, saddle sores and exhaustion, but these factors were aggravated by Murat himself. He also failed to forge caulkin shoes for
3483-415: The bivouacs; the downpour lasted all the next day. The heavy losses to disease, hunger and desertion in the early months of the campaign were in large part due to the inability to transport provisions quickly enough to the troops. The Intendance administration failed to distribute with sufficient rigor the supplies that were built up or captured. By that, despite all these preparations, the Grande Armée
3564-716: The campaign, half of which resulted from diseases. This catastrophic outcome shattered Napoleon's once-untarnished reputation of invincibility. The French invasion is known as the Russian campaign, the Second Polish War, the Second Polish campaign, the Patriotic War of 1812, or the War of 1812. It should not be confused with the Great Patriotic War ( Великая Отечественная война , Velikaya Otechestvennaya Voyna ),
3645-592: The cavalry of the French Egyptian expedition of 1798, again under Bonaparte. On 25 July 1799 at the Battle of Abukir , he successfully led the cavalry charge that broke the Ottoman line. In 1799, some remaining staff officers, including Murat, and Bonaparte returned to France, eluding various British fleets in five frigates . A short while later, Murat played an important, even pivotal, role in Bonaparte's "coup within
3726-399: The dense and partially paved road networks of Germany and France, proved too cumbersome for the sparse and primitive Russian dirt tracks, further damaged by the unstable weather. Many horses also died during the march towards Vilnius through forests which lacked the necessary fodder, slowing even further the transport of supplies for Napoleon's troops. The supply route from Smolensk to Moscow
3807-407: The enemy's territory in spite of the transport of more than 1,100 cannons, being opposed by the Russian armies with more than 900 cannons. But the roads in this area of Lithuania were actually small dirt tracks through areas of birched woodland and marshes. At the beginning of the war supply lines already simply could not keep up with the forced marches of the corps and rear formations always suffered
3888-711: The evacuation of French troops from Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Warsaw. When Napoleon chose war over retreat, between June 8 and 20, the troops remained in constant motion, enduring arduous marches amid intense heat. Napoleon's primary objective was to defeat the Imperial Russian Army and compel Czar Alexander I to rejoin to the Continental System. From 21–22 June 1812, Bonaparte stayed at Vilkaviškis Manor (in Polish: Wilkowiszky). There Napoleon announced
3969-689: The fatal hour came, seeing the emotion of his men, Murat said, "My friends, if you wish to spare me, aim at my heart." Murat and Caroline had four children: Murat had a brother named Pierre (La Bastide-Fortunière, 27 November 1748 – La Bastide-Fortunière, 8 October 1792), who married at La Bastide-Fortunière on 26 February 1783 Louise d'Astorg (La Bastide-Fortunière, 23 October 1762 – 31 May 1832), daughter of Aymeric d'Astorg, born in 1721, and wife Marie Alanyou, paternal granddaughter of Antoine d'Astorg, born 18 November 1676, and wife Marie de Mary (4 May 1686 – 7 October 1727) and maternal granddaughter of Jean Alanyou and wife Louise de Valon. Pierre and Louise were
4050-528: The following proclamation: Soldiers, the second Polish war is begun. The first terminated at Friedland, and at Tilsit, Russia vowed an eternal alliance with France, and war with the English. She now breaks her vows and refuses to give any explanation of her strange conduct until the French eagles have repassed the Rhine, and left our allies at her mercy. Russia is hurried away by a fatality: her destinies will be fulfilled. Does she think us degenerated? Are we no more
4131-585: The horse had been killed. Other accounts describe eating the flesh of horses still walking, too cold to react in pain; drinking blood and preparing black pudding was popular. The French simply were unable to feed their army. Starvation led to a general loss of cohesion. Constant harassment of the French Army by Cossacks added to the losses during the retreat. Though starvation caused horrendous casualties in Napoleon's army, losses arose from other sources as well. The main body of Napoleon's Grande Armée diminished by
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#17329028623474212-500: The horses to break down under the additional strain. The delay and frequent loss of these supply trains caused both troops and horses to suffer. Napoleon's forces traditionally were well supplied by his transportation corps, but they proved inadequate during the invasion. The foraging in Lithuania proved hard as the land was mostly barren and forested. The supplies of forage were less than that of Poland, and two days of forced marching made
4293-483: The horses to enable them in the retreat to traverse roads that had become iced over. The Polish cavalry and Caulaincourt knew this and acted accordingly. He continued to serve Napoleon during the German Campaign of 1813 . Following Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Leipzig , Murat reached a secret agreement with the Allies in order to save his own throne and switched sides to the Coalition. Following further military defeats, Napoleon abdicated on 6 April 1814. At
4374-621: The horses; as usual there is no order or administration; the Army must live by the sword, and even on Prussian territory and with their allies, the troops pillage atrociously, as if they were in an enemy’s country. During the campaign, the widespread death and depletion of horses emerged as a significant issue. Forced marches often forced troops to go without essential supplies, as supply wagons struggled to keep pace; The scarcity of roads, frequently turned to mud by rainstorms ( rasputitsa ), further impeded horse-drawn wagons and artillery. In thinly populated and agriculturally sparse regions,
4455-469: The invasion began, large magazines were constructed at Kovno ( Kaunas ), Vilna ( Vilnius ), and Minsk , with the Vilna base having enough rations to feed 100,000 men for 40 days. It also contained 27,000 muskets, 30,000 pairs of shoes along with brandy and wine. Medium-sized depots were established at Vitebsk , Orsha , and Smolensk , and several small ones throughout the Russian interior. The French also captured numerous intact Russian supply dumps, which
4536-411: The invasion force. Large-scale military hospitals were created at Breslau , Warsaw, Thorn, Marienburg, Elbing and Danzig, while hospitals in East Prussia ( Königsberg ), had beds for 28,000. The main hospital was in Vilnius, another was set up in Hlybokaye . A significant arsenal was established in Warsaw, forming a crucial part of the logistical infrastructure. The distribution of artillery
4617-433: The lack of food and water led to casualties among troops and their mounts, exposing them to waterborne diseases from drinking contaminated water and consuming spoiled food and forage. While the foremost sections of the army received whatever provisions could be supplied, formations behind them suffered from starvation. During the attack phase, Vilna stood as the most advanced magazine in the operational area. Beyond that point,
4698-415: The land, which proved successful in the densely populated and agriculturally prosperous regions of central Europe, characterized by a well-connected network of roads. Swift forced marches had disoriented the traditional Austrian and Prussian armies, relying extensively on foraging for sustenance. Colonel Pion documented the logistical challenges that this strategy imposed on the army: There is no fodder for
4779-451: The members of the National Convention . Napoleon's later report did not mention Murat, but Napoleon did not forget him, as Murat was made a marshal, the "First Horseman of Europe", Grand Duke of Berg and King of Naples. In 1796, Joachim Murat went with Bonaparte to northern Italy, initially as his aide-de-camp, and was later named commander of the cavalry during the many campaigns against the Austrians and their allies. Murat commanded
4860-476: The parents of Marie Louise, Pierre Adrien (d. 1805), Marie Radegonde (d. 1800), Thomas Joachim and Marie Antoinette Murat , whom Emperor Napoleon I arranged to marry Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ; Karl III and Marie were the parents of Charles Anthony, Prince of Hohenzollern from whom descended Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Queen of Portugal; her brother Carol I of Romania and her nephew Albert I of Belgium . Another descendant of note
4941-410: The pivotal role of logistics in military strategy , particularly in situations where the available terrain cannot sustain the large number of deployed troops. Napoleon meticulously prepared for supplying his army, significantly surpassing the logistical efforts of previous campaigns. To sustain the Grande Armée and its operations, twenty train battalions with 7,848 vehicles, were mobilized to provide
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#17329028623475022-418: The ranks with hundreds in a field hospital that had to be set up for the purpose. He reported the times, dates and places of events, reporting new thunderstorms on 6 July and men dying of sunstroke a few days later. Rapid forced marches quickly caused desertion, suicide and starvation, and exposed the troops to filthy water and disease, while the logistics trains lost horses by the thousands, further exacerbating
5103-649: The road to Sudervė , with Oudinot marching on the other side of the Viliya river . Since the end of April, the Russian headquarters was centred in Vilna but on June 24 couriers rushed news about the crossing of the Neman to Barclay de Tolley. Before the night had passed, orders were sent out to Bagration and Platov, who commanded the Cossacks, to take the offensive. Alexander left Vilna on June 26 and Barclay assumed overall command. Napoleon reached Vilna on 28 June with only light skirmishing but leaving more than 5,000 dead horses in his wake. These horses were vital to bringing up further supplies to an army in desperate need; he
5184-402: The soldiers and provision for the horses, combined with guerilla warfare from Russian peasants and Cossacks , resulted in significant losses. More than half of the soldiers perished from exhaustion, typhus , and the unforgiving continental climate . During the Battle of Krasnoi , Napoleon faced a critical scarcity of cavalry and artillery due to severe snowfall and icy conditions. Employing
5265-495: The soldiers who fought at Austerlitz? She places us between dishonour and war—our choice cannot be difficult. Let us then march forward; let us cross the Neman and carry the war into her country. This second Polish war will be as glorious for the French arms as the first has been, but the peace we shall conclude shall carry with it its own guarantee, and will terminate the fatal influence which Russia for fifty years past has exercised in Europe. The invasion of Russia starkly highlights
5346-405: The sparsely populated and underdeveloped regions of Poland and East Prussia during the War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807) also informed their approach. However, nothing was to go as planned, because Napoleon had failed to take into account conditions that were totally different from what he had known so far. Napoleon and the Grande Armée were accustomed to utilizing the method of living off
5427-410: The sun which would bake the deep ruts into canyons of concrete, where horses would break their legs and wagons their wheels. Jean-François Boulart reported: Then on June 29th came a fresh and awful and extraordinary storm; such a terrible tempest had not been known in the memory of man.Thunder and lightning burst forth from every side of the horizon; soldiers were struck dead; torrents of rain flooded
5508-399: The support of the Republicans. Murat rejoined his former regiment and was promoted to corporal in April, and in May to sergeant. By 19 November 1792, Murat was 25 years old and elated at his latest promotion. As a sous-lieutenant , he thought, his family must recognise that he had no great propensity for the priesthood, and he was hoping to prove that he had not been wrong in wishing to be
5589-487: The thousand-year-old Holy Roman Empire ), the War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807), and the War of the Fifth Coalition (1809). In 1807, following a French triumph at Friedland Napoleon and Alexander I of Russia signed the Treaty of Tilsit along the Neman River. These treaties progressively solidified Russia's alignment with France, allowing Napoleon to exert dominance over neighboring states. The accord rendered Russia an ally of France, leading to their adoption of
5670-535: The worst privations. On the 25th of June Murat's reserve cavalry provided the vanguard with Napoleon, the Imperial guard and Davout's 1st Corps following behind. Napoleon spent the night and the next day in Kaunas, allowing only his guards, not even the generals to enter the city. The next day he rushed towards the capital Vilna, pushing the infantry forward in columns that suffered from stifling heat, heavy rain and more heat. The central group marched 110 kilometres (70 mi) in two days. Ney's III Corps marched down
5751-450: The youngest sister of Alexander. However, he ultimately married Marie Louise , the daughter of the Austrian emperor. Subsequently, France and Austria solidified their relationship by signing an alliance treaty on 14 March 1812. In March 1811, Marshal Davout received orders to clandestinely prepare for a demonstration of military strength aimed at impressing Russia. This plan involved deploying (Dutch) troops to Magdeburg and occupying
5832-443: Was Jeanne Loubières (1722 – 11 March 1806), the daughter of Pierre Loubières and his wife Jeanne Viellescazes. Murat's father, Pierre Murat-Jordy, was the son of Guillaume Murat (1692–1754) and his wife Marguerite Herbeil (d. 1755), the paternal grandson of Pierre Murat (b. 1634) and his wife Catherine Badourès (d. 1697), and the maternal grandson of Bertrand Herbeil and his wife Anne Roques. Murat's parents intended that he pursue
5913-654: Was a French Army officer and statesman who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars . Under the French Empire he received the military titles of Marshal of the Empire and Admiral of France . He was the first Prince Murat , Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808, and King of Naples as Joachim-Napoleon (Italian: Gioacchino Napoleone ) from 1808 to 1815. Born in Labastide-Fortunière in south-western France , Murat briefly pursued
5994-541: Was captured, sentenced to death, and shot by firing squad in Pizzo Calabro on 13 October 1815. According to the memoirs of Murat's granddaughter: On being asked if he had any request to make, he said he wished to have a bath prepared for him and perfumed with a bottle of eau-de-Cologne, and, as a last request, that his eyes should not be bandaged. Both wishes were granted, and, by order sent by King Ferdinand, twelve of his own soldiers were selected to shoot him. When
6075-539: Was concentrated across strategic locations at Magdeburg , Küstrin , Stettin , Danzig and Glogau . Modlin Fortress near Warsaw, Thorn and Malbork (Marienburg) served as vital ammunition and supply depots. Troops gathered in Thorn, Königsberg , Znamensk , Insterburg , and Gumbinnen , where Napoleon arrived on 18 June. Meanwhile, Davout had ordered his I corps to pillage the town. The corps coming from Warsaw used
6156-443: Was forced to leave up to 100 guns and up to 500 artillery wagons. Napoleon had supposed that Alexander would sue for peace at this point and was to be disappointed; it would not be his last disappointment. Balashov demanded that the French return across the Neman before negotiations. Barclay continued to retreat to Drissa, deciding that the concentration of the 1st and 2nd armies was his first priority. Several days after crossing
6237-577: Was named commander of the French National Convention's defending forces. Bonaparte tasked Murat, who had offered himself voluntarily, with the gathering of artillery from a suburb outside the control of the government's forces. Murat managed to take the cannons of the Camp des Sablons and transport them to the centre of Paris while avoiding the rioters. The use of these cannons – the famous "whiff of grapeshot" – on 5 October allowed Bonaparte to save
6318-429: Was not self-sufficient logistically and still depended on foraging to a significant extent. Inadequate supplies played a key role in the losses suffered by the army as well. Davidov and other Russian campaign participants record wholesale surrenders of starving members of the Grande Armée even before the onset of the frosts. Caulaincourt describes men swarming over and cutting up horses that slipped and fell, even before
6399-724: Was preoccupied with revolutionary affairs and would sooner die than cease to be a patriot. Upon his departure from the Constitutional Guard, he reported to the Committee of Surveillance of the Constitutional Assembly that the Guard was guilty of treason and that his lieutenant colonel, a man named Descours, had encouraged him to serve in the émigré army of Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé , then stationed in Koblenz . This garnered for him
6480-599: Was pushed southwards, leading to Murat's decisive defeat at the Battle of Tolentino on 2–3 May. Murat returned to Naples on 18 May, where Caroline had already surrendered to the British, and fled immediately to southern France. Hearing of Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815, Murat fled to Corsica , from which he attempted an impossible invasion of Calabria . Napoleon remarked: "Murat attempted to reconquer with 200 men that territory which he failed to hold when he had 80,000 at his disposal." Murat
6561-738: Was therefore entirely dependent on light wagons with small loads. Central to the problem were the expanding distances to supply magazines and the fact that no supply wagon could keep up with a forced marched infantry column. The weather itself became an issue, where, according to historian Richard K. Riehn: The thunderstorms of the 29th [of June] turned into other downpours, turning the tracks—some diarists claim there were no roads in Lithuania—into bottomless mires. Wagons sank up to their hubs; horses dropped from exhaustion; men lost their boots. Stalled wagons became obstacles that forced men around them and stopped supply wagons and artillery columns. Then came
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