Andre Masséna (° May 6th 1758 with Nice - † April 4th 1817), duke of Rivoli, prince d' Essling, is a soldier French, Maréchal of Empire.

Biography

Old Mode

Born with Nice, County of Nice, Kingdom of Sardinia, it passes its childhood to Levens in its family home of Siga and Serret. Young orphan of a tradesman, it engages like foams on a trading vessel, then in the Régiment Royal-Italian where there remain fourteen years with his uncle who in particular learns how to him to include/understand the charts, reaching the row of Adjudant, highest possible for a Roturier.

Wars of the French revolution

After a short episode like Smuggler, it joined the National guard and is elected officer.

It is Colonel in 1792, it made the first countryside of the Piedmont in the armies of the Republic. When the general of Anselme penetrates in the town of Nice the September 29th 1792 with the head of the French troops of occupation of the Comté of Nice, Masséna takes part in the exactions and the repression of the movement barbet spaniel counter-revolutionary…

He arrived quickly at the Brigadier general rank of which to him was conferred the August 22nd 1793, then Major general the December 20th.

He is then affected with the Armée with Italy. He gains in 1794 there the victory of Saorgio in August 1794.

Major general in 1795, it ordered the right wing of the army of Italy. One owes him the profit of the Bataille of Loano.

Countryside of Italy

It receives the command of the avant-garde of the Armée with Italy. With Rivoli, 25 with the 27 Nivôse Year V (14 with January 16th 1797), its action is decisive. Bonaparte calls it “ the Child cherished of the victory ” thanks to the 170 km traversed in two days, nickname that some transform into “ Enfant rotted of the victory ” because of its systematic plunderings, in particular of the pawnshops.

Named ordering troops of occupation of the Papal States by the Directory, it represses very hard an insurrection of dissatisfied soldiers not to be paid, but must leave in front of the hostility of the officers.

After the days of 18 and 19 fructidor year V, Masséna was one of the candidates related to the lists to replace Lazare Carnot and François de Barthélemy with the Directoire.

Second coalition

He is general-in-chief of the army of Italy in February 1798 and of the Armée with Helvétie in 1799. Its forces undergo a defeat the 16 Prairial (June 4th) with Zurich but its victory at the time of the Bataille of Zurich over the Russian army of Alexandre Souvorov and Alexandre Korsakov of the 3 and 4 Vendémiaire An VIII (25 and September 26th) is decisive. It stopped the floods of the second coalition lends to overflow on the France.

Second countryside of Italy

See also: Countryside of Italy (1799-1800)

Locked up with Genoa for three months, it has capitulated the 15 meadow An VIII (June 4th 1800). It orders during the Bataille of Marengo ten days later but is dislocated for plundering.

Consulate and Empire

Become appointed with the legislative Body in Messidor Year XI (July 1803), it made opposition there and did not vote against the consulate with life. It receives nevertheless the stick of Marshal of France in 1804.

Large eagle of the Legion of honor in 1805 and again called with the command as a chief of the army of Italy, conqueror of the Kingdom of Naples and peacemaker of the Calabria S. It is with the head of the forces which capture Vérone and installs Joseph on the throne of Naples. But it is again suspended to be monopolized the goods of overcome. It obtains the title of Duc in 1808.

Ordering right wing of the large army in 1807, named for its bright services duke of Rivoli with a considerable equipment, it was private of an eye by a rifle shot which Berthier in a hunting close to Paris drew to him inadvertently.

In 1809, during the battles of Aspen-Essling, whereas it fell from its horse which put the leg in a rabbit burrow and which it orders since a truck, the avant-garde, IVe body, is insulated, and releases itself only after one bloody combat. It strikes down of a blow of gun to the head a hussard which threatens it. It receives the title of prince d' Essling. It contributed still strongly to the profit of the Bataille of Wagram, where, wounded, it traversed the rows trailed in a barouche.

In 1810, in the war of Spain, it carries out the invasion of the Portugal with the Bataille of Buçaco, forcing the allies to fold up itself on the line of Torres Vedras. After the allies had accepted reinforcements the following year, it must be folded up after the battles of Barrosa and Fuentes de Oñoro where it is replaced by Auguste de Marmont.

Returned to France, it was badly accommodated by Napoleon i which did not employ it in the famous campaigns of 1812 and of 1813; but, after the Battle of Leipzig, the Emperor entrusted the 8th military division to him (Marseilles).

He was maintained by Louis XVIII which did it Pair France and Commandeur of Saint-Louis. Louis XVIII granted also letters to him of naturalization.

In 1815, it remained faithful to the Bourbons as a long time as it could it, did not accept any service during the Hundred Days. It maintains the calm one in the area of Marseilles during the Hundred Days but refuses then the requirements of oath of the ultraroyalists.

It ordered the national guard under the provisional government, refused to belong to the Conseil of war called to judge the Maréchal Ney, was denounced with the Rooms like culprit of félonie to the March 20th, was justified this calumny. He dies the April 4th 1817 in Paris, 58 years old.

He piled up an immense fortune, managed well by his wife.

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