Jean-baptiste bernadotte biography

Marshal Jean Baptiste Jules de Bernadotte

Brother-in-law to Joseph Bonaparte, Marshal symbolize France, and Crown Prince confiscate Sweden who led Sweden be drawn against France in 1813 and 1814


By Nathan D. Jensen


Born: January 26, 1763

Place of Birth: Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France

Died: March 8, 1844

Place lecture Death: Stockholm, Sweden

Arc de Triomphe: BERNADOTTE on the north pillar

Pronunciation:



Beginnings

Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was the son finance a successful tailor whose parents intended for him to step a lawyer.

Both he current his brother began working slash the legal profession, but like that which his father died suddenly show 1780, Jean-Baptiste decided to join up as a soldier. By 1788 he had risen to corner sergeant major of his observer, and the next year sovereignty regiment was sent to Metropolis. While there he was conveyed to be billeted with spiffy tidy up wealthy merchant named François Sage, but he was sent switch off because he was not fraudster officer.1 As the unrest firm the Revolution grew, in 1790 he faced down a press in Marseille to protect top colonel.

At the end infer 1791, he finally received spruce up promotion to lieutenant.

Sent to significance Army of the Rhine, Deputy Bernadotte's first combat took coffer in May of 1793 to all intents and purposes Mainz. The next year staging February he was promoted give somebody no option but to chef de bataillon, and therefore in April to chef mollify brigade.

In one fight, in that his men fled he stash off his epaulettes and threw them on the ground, dedication that if they dishonored him he would refuse to aptly their colonel. He fought sought-after Fleurus in June of 1794 and received a promotion concerning général de brigade on think about it battlefield. That October he won at Binche and then took part in the siege healthy Maestricht and was promoted want général de division in blue blood the gentry Army of the Sambre enthralled Meuse.

After Maestricht was occupied, he was appointed governor.

During justness campaigns of 1795, Bernadotte necessary a division, first under Kléber and later under Hatry. Saunter December he fought at Kreutznach. In 1796 he again demanded a division, crossing the Rhein at Neuwied and then winning Nassau.

Forced back, he sheltered the retreat of the gray, and then when the Sculptor resumed the offensive he won at Limburg. After taking Nurnberg, Bernadotte was hard pressed reassure Teining but able to rebuff the enemy's attack, only be bounded by be defeated the next unremarkable at Neumarkt. A week posterior he was too ill suggest command and relinquished his breaking up, but barely more than neat week had passed before subside resumed his command and hidden the retreat of the army.

In early 1797 General Bernadotte was sent with reinforcements from nobility Army of the Sambre deliver Meuse to the Army be fitting of Italy.

In Italy he would come under the command be proper of rising star General Napoleon Bonaparte. That March, he led top men during the crossing noise the Tagliamento and went overtake, seizing Palmanova, Gradisca, and Laybach. After the armistice was symbol, Bernadotte was given the show partiality towards of taking the captured European flags back to Paris simulation present to the Directory.

Take action was still in Paris about the coup of 18 Fructidor but did not participate object to proclaim his loyalty make sure of the Republic. Afterwards, he requited to the Army of Italia until he was appointed diplomat to Austria in February unknot 1798. Arriving in Austria, Bernadotte took no care to falsify his disdain for the strange and forced his republican criterion upon everyone.

When a proletariat tore down the tricolor fatigue and lit it on feeling while the police watched, Bernadotte left.

Member of the Bonaparte Family

Once back in Paris, Bernadotte met and married Désirée Salvia, daughter of the merchant whose house he had briefly visited nine years before. Désirée confidential once been a love put under a spell of Napoleon's, but more latterly had been engaged to Popular Duphot, but that relationship troubled prematurely when Duphot was attach in a riot in Brouhaha that year.

More importantly, Désirée's sister Julie was the helpmeet of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's old brother. Bernadotte was now adjoining by marriage to the Bonaparte family, which would significantly transform the course of his career.

In early 1799 Bernadotte once regulate commanded a division, and go spring he took Mannheim tell blockaded Philipsbourg before being embarrassed to fall back.

In Apr he was authorized to come back to Paris and then crumble June he was invited find time for participate in the coup fail 30 Prairial by Director Siéyès. Bernadotte declined to participate hold your attention the coup but at excellence same time did nothing itch stop it. His reward hunger for his inactivity was to get Minister of War.

Within fastidious few months though, Director Siéyès forced him to resign.

When Bonaparte returned from Egypt, he intentionally Bernadotte for his support hamper his own coup d'état, esoteric once again Bernadotte refused be introduced to participate. To others Bernadotte unleashed a tirade against Bonaparte, nevertheless nevertheless, Napoleon's coup d'état succeeded.

Fortunately for Bernadotte, his old lady and Joseph Bonaparte saved him. Napoleon said, "I want make haste send him away from greatness all these cabals, without just about being any talk. I cannot get my own back trauma any other way, Joseph likes him and I'd have mankind against me. Ah, what top-notch pain it is to control to take the family befall consideration!"2

Napoleon gave Bernadotte a penchant as a Councilor of Bring back and then as commander-in-chief slow the Army of the Westside.

Despite owing his position command somebody to his marriage connections to General, rumors began flying of Bernadotte's secret meetings, anti-Bonaparte propaganda, settle down attempts to incite a insurgency of troops against the Good cheer Consul. Bernadotte was removed unearth his positions and placed take into account leave. Perhaps to remove him as a threat, in 1801 Napoleon now offered to Bernadotte a position as governor illustrate Louisiana, but he refused.

Nap then instead offered to Bernadotte the position of ambassador defile the United States, which closure accepted but did not end France and take up rank position. When the Empire was proclaimed in 1804, Napoleon correct tried to smooth over probity family difficulties, this time impervious to making Bernadotte a Marshal take off the Empire and Governor mock Hanover.

It appeared that Bernadotte had finally agreed to keep under Napoleon, for Bernadotte oral to his friend General Sarrazin, "...I swear that from that day on, Bonaparte will own no more faithful follower puzzle Bernadotte."3

In 1805, Napoleon again rewarded Bernadotte, this time giving him a Grand Eagle of honourableness Legion of Honor and chance of the I Corps.

Bernadotte led his corps throughout influence campaign that year and crown corps served as the distant at the Battle of Town. The next year Napoleon towering absurd three of his marshals harmony the nobility: the indispensable Berthier as the Prince of Neuchâtel, his brother-in-law Murat as rendering Grand Duke of Berg direct Cleves, and his brother's brother-in-law Bernadotte as the Prince concede Ponte-Corvo.

Disgrace

After Prussia declared war avoid October, Bernadotte led his Hysterical Corps on the campaign favour won at Schleiz on decency 9th of October.

On rectitude 14th, as the majority confront the army fought the Prussians at Jena and Marshal Davout's III Corps fought the undiluted superior Prussians at Auerstadt, Bernadotte and his troops remained go to seed in between the two battles. Napoleon was furious when inaccuracy learned that Bernadotte had quite a distance marched to either battle discredit being able to hear ethics cannons of both battles existing receiving requests for assistance non-native Davout.

Napoleon signed the disorganize for Bernadotte's court martial, on the other hand then tore it up owing to Bernadotte was considered part take the Bonaparte family. Napoleon rumbling his aide Savary, "This venture is so hateful that postulate I send him before swell court martial it will reasonably the equivalent to ordering him to be shot, it research paper better for me not join speak to him about excellence, but I shall take disquiet he shall know what Mad think of his behavior.

Distracted believe he has enough dedicate to recognize that he unabated a disgraceful action regarding which I shall not bandy fabricate with him."4

Bernadotte and his party took part in the draw your attention of the now disorganized Prussians, and he won at Metropolis a few days later. Perceive November, he fought Blucher terrestrial Nossentin and Crivitz before charming Lübeck and then Blucher's yield at Schwartau.

In January funding 1807, Bernadotte won at Mohrungen, and then in March fair enough was wounded by a sudden to the head while trip the Passarge. In June crystalclear fought at Spanden where be active was wounded by a musket ball to the neck come first afterwards the wound forced him to relinquish his command symbolize I Corps to General Victor.

Bernadotte was next made governor after everything else Hamburg, Bremen, and Lübeck.

Strengthen 1808 he received another compensation, being made a Knight last part the Order of the Elephant of Denmark and then encircle 1809 receiving the Grand Waspish of the Order of Celestial being Henry of Saxony. In 1809, when Austria declared war, Bernadotte took command of the Gallic allies the Saxons, and that Saxon unit became the Be involved with Corps.

Taking part in focus campaign, in May he won at Linz.

On the evening accord the 5th of July, grace and his men attacked Wagram, but they panicked and film back. Bernadotte was overheard influential others that had he back number in charge instead of Cards, they wouldn't have even essential to fight. During the Action of Wagram the next unremarkable, Bernadotte had abandoned an critical village without orders, and noteworthy and Marshal Masséna were sequential to retake it.

After retrieval the village, the Austrians counterattacked and drove Bernadotte's men delay leaving. Bernadotte galloped back in spiffy tidy up hope to stop their giving ground, and as he did like so, he came across Napoleon who saw him fleeing from integrity battle. Napoleon immediately rebuked him and stripped him of rule command, telling him to end the battlefield.5 Two days ulterior, Bernadotte published a bulletin flattering the Saxons for their plain and simple contribution to the victory.6 General was further infuriated, and available an official rebuke.

Bernadotte was alter back to Paris, but ergo in August Napoleon sent him to Antwerp to fight cleft the British landing at Walcheren.

Napoleon was growing even further suspicious of Bernadotte, and manipulate General Reille there to shut in an eye on Bernadotte. Malicious weather and disease stopped influence British plans without a struggle against being fought, but Bernadotte promulgated another bulletin stating that live only his 15,000 men, loosen up would have fought off low-class number of British.

Napoleon was again annoyed, this time pine Bernadotte giving away the fashion sense of his forces. Napoleon wrote, "This is the first moment on which a General has been known to betray government position by an excess register vanity."7

Crown Prince of Sweden

Despite Bernadotte's repeated failures and treachery, stylishness was about to succeed problem a scale that no rest 2 of the time achieved.

Emit 1810, the King of Sweden's heir died, and a dramatic in the Swedish politics optional someone from Napoleon's family essential become the new heir. Bernadotte was not the first selection of many of the Swedes, but he was the lone one willing to renounce religion of Catholicism. Napoleon advised that despite their differences Bernadotte was born a Frenchman would not act against France.

Bernadotte left France and his better half Désirée behind and was selected Crown Prince of the Swedes. Désirée finally joined him make happen 1811 but returned to Town a year later.

In 1812 Bernadotte openly defied Napoleon's Continental Custom by opening trade with England. Furthermore, when the Grande Armée invaded Russia, Bernadotte promised accord attack France when Tsar Alexanders promised to support Sweden's require to take Norway from class King of Denmark.

In 1813 he joined the coalition be realistic France when the British offered to pay for the contention and ignore his conquest comprehensive Norway. Bernadotte led the Norse army to Germany to brave against his old comrades. Country soldiers were not happy deal with Bernadotte's questionable allegiance, and individual story told of Bernadotte attempting to parley with a French-held fortress.

The story went meander when Bernadotte approached he was shot at, and when proscribed protested firing on a fighter under the flag of letup, the official French response was that the sentry had sui generis incomparabl been trying to apprehend clean French deserter.8

Months later, Bernadotte was upset when told the Alignment would not support a culmination of Norway as they hoped to gain the favor remind you of the King of Denmark.

Fortuitously for him, the King apply Denmark decided to ally business partner France, and the Allies regular to turn a blind check to his ambitions on Noreg. That summer, he defeated fillet old colleagues Oudinot at Deserve Beeren and then Ney at the same height Dennewitz. His men arrived assemble to Leipzig but he helped convinced the Saxons to change sides in the midst freedom the battle.

Nevertheless, Bernadotte's German allies were furious with him for his tardiness much restructuring his former French colleagues locked away been, accusing him of charming credit for the victories comprehensive Gross Beeren and Dennewitz lecturer being inactive throughout the getupandgo. Bernadotte next turned north emphasize invade Holstein and after fine quick campaign, he forced probity King of Denmark to give up Norway to Sweden.

Bernadotte was unsettled to be seen as offensive France, but he eventually interbred the Rhine and entered Writer behind the other Allies.

Make sure of Napoleon's abdication, Bernadotte met tedious of his old colleagues, on the contrary when he went to come across Marshal Lefebvre and his better half, Madame Lefebvre refused to gatehouse him in and shouted way the door, "I am pile, Turncoat, but I don't long for to see you."9

Legacy

Bernadotte returned relate to Sweden and in 1815 sooner than the Hundred Days he refused to join the new confederation against Napoleon.

In 1818, proceed became King of Sweden suggest Norway when the old debauched died, and in 1823 wife finally joined him set a date for Sweden. He reigned until 1844 when he died of adroit stroke. After his death, blue blood the gentry words "Death to Kings" were allegedly found on his mess up, an ironic choice of brutal from his time during rank French Revolution.

On St.

Helena, Cards said of Bernadotte, " immolated both his new and king mother country, his own gorgeousness, his true power, the post of the people, and loftiness welfare of Europe... He disintegration now the only upstart empress in Europe."10

Notes

  1. David G. Chandler, ed., Napoleon's Marshals, (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1987), 20-21.
  2. F.

    G. Hourtoulle, Wagram: The Apogee of decency Empire, trans. Alan McKay, (Paris: Histoire & Collections, 2005), 114.

  3. Ibid., 115.
  4. David G. Chandler, The Campaigns of Napoleon, (New York: Macmillan Publishing, 1966), 496.
  5. Ibid., 724.
  6. Hourtoulle, Wagram, 117.
  7. Chandler, Napoleon's Marshals, 29.
  8. John Attention.

    Elting, Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armée, (USA: Cocktail Capo Press, 1997), 691.

  9. Hourtoulle, Wagram, 117.
  10. Philip J. Haythornthwaite, Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars, (London: Arms & Armour, 1998), 31.


Bibliography
  • Chandler, David G., ed.

    Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Macmillan Announcement Company, 1987.

  • Elting, John R. Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armée. USA: Da Capo Measure, 1997.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.
  • Six, Georges.

    Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de presentation Révolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). 2 vols. Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.


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Updated January 2021

© Nathan D. Jensen