Guillaume Marie-Anne Brune

French revolution

Wire of a lawyer to the Présidial of Brive, intended for the bar, it begins in the life like printer and journalist in Paris at the time of the French revolution.

He embraces with heat the cause of the Révolution, and incrit in 1791 with the Club of Cordeliers. Friend of Danton, Brune is executive officer with the 2nd battalion of volunteers of Seine-et-Oise in October 1791.

After a stay with the staff of Dumouriez in the Armed with North, he is chief of staff of Sepher, charged to repress the “federalistic” revolt. He is executive officer in 1791, and the following year associated with the adjudant-generals; adjudant-general and colonel in 1793.

He is commander of avant-garde against the general Wimpfen, and triumphs over him with Pacy-sur-Eure. Of return to the army of North, Brigadier general in August 1793, it is with Hondschoote. The 13 Vendémiaire, it is with Bonaparte and Barras, charged to repress the royalist insurrection. It is him which restores peace in the Midi, in this same town of Avignon where it was to perish assassinated.

Countryside of Italy

It follows Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy, is with Arcole and Rivoli. Brown was distinguished in Rivoli, Saint-Michel, Feltre, Bellune, etc, and was named major general on the battle field in November 1797.

Ambassador close to the court of Naples, commander-in-chief of the troops sent in Swiss, his control was worth to him the greatest praises and the command of the Armée with Italy, to replace Berthier and of Masséna.

He takes then the French head of the forces in Batavie and drives back an army Russo-British unloaded with the Helder with the Bataille of Bergen (September 19th 1799) and their fact of signing the Convention of Alkmaar. The control of Brown in this countryside was worth a complete armor to him, present of Bonaparte. However, the Batavian government is convinced that the general wanted to reverse it and deprives it of its command the December 4th 1799.

Bonaparte entrusts to him the Armée with the West to finish some with the insurrection. The Vendean chiefs and chouans agree to deposit the weapons. In August 1800, Brune replaces Masséna with the head of the Armée with Italy. It seizes Vérone, of Vicence, sign the armistice of Trévise.

Remained republican

Returned with the Council of State, there was named president of the section of the war, was remained republican, Brune badly puts at ease the First consul who moves away it while appointing it ambassador to Constantinople from 1802 to 1804, where he founded the first relations with the Perse.

With its return in 1804; it was named Maréchal of Empire, the May 19th 1804 and Grand-croix of the Legion of honor, ordering the Armée with the coasts of the Ocean, governor of the cities Hanséatique S in December 1806. Ordering body of observation of the Large army, Brune continues to worry the Emperor because of his opinions.

Having mentioned, in a convention with the Sweden, the French Army instead of the army of Its imperial and royal Majesty , it is disgraced and remains without employment until in 1814. It is understood, under these conditions, that Brune adopts the Bourbons on its return.

Louis XVIII gave him the Croix of Saint-Louis in 1814. But its sympathies always go to the Republic and it is without hesitation which it accepts the command of the military division of Marseilles that Napoleon offers to him during the Hundred Days.

Brown the Tricolor makes float on Toulon until the end of July 1815 (the Bataille of Waterloo takes place the June 18th).

This act of bravado was worth to him to be victim of a dramatic episode of the white Terreur , since he was massacred by royalist rioters the August 2nd 1815, at the time of its passage to Avignon (he went to Paris). The Hotel of the Palais Royal, where he was assassinated is with 21 of the current one the Place Crillon, to the Porte of Oulle. Its corpse was thrown in water of the the Rhone near. The following day, the Austrian troops penetrated in the department.

The body of the Marshal was found between Arles and Tarascon. It is buried the January 13rd 1829, at the sides of his wife, under a fall pyramidal into the cemetery of Saint-Just-Savage (Marne).

Napoleon said to Sainte-Hélène: “Brown, Masséna, Augereau and much of others were intrepid depredaters. ” (Tired Boxes.)

Partial source

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