Louis-Alexandre Berthier

Origin

His/her father Jean-Baptiste Berthier (born in 1721 with Thunder, deceased in 1804 with Paris), was engineer-geographer of the army, lieutenant-colonel and had been anobli by Louis XV for rendered services. His/her mother was Marie-Francoise Lhuillier of the Greenhouse, chambermaid of Mister (future king Louis XVIII) (born towards 1731, deceased the March 29th 1783 with Versailles). In 1809, it married Elisabeth in Bavaria (1784 - 1849), girl of the duke Guillaume in Bavaria (the great-grandfather of Elisabeth de Wittelsbach). His/her brother César Berthier was him also general.

During Monarchy

Intended for the military state, it accepted a neat education. Louis Alexandre is received with the royal École of the genius of Wall in 1764. January 1st 1766, it is named engineer-geographer at thirteen years and makes the Guerre of American independence under the orders of Lafayette gaining there its rank of Colonel in 1778. The chronology below watch its course in the army.

The French revolution

At the beginning of the French revolution, as general major of the national guard to Versailles, it facilitates the emigration of various personalities of which the count d' Artois, the Polignac and two aunts of the king. At the time of the devastation of the Palais of Bellevue by the demonstrators, it restores the order hard what was worth the opposition of the patriots and the reference of the army to him.

It was employed by Rochambeau, then by Lafayette then as chief of staff by Luckner. When the royalty was abolished, it was relieved.

In May 1793, Berthier was pointed out and named Head of State major of above the Duc of Biron in the Vendée to be revoked later three weeks.

The March 2nd 1796, it was named Head of State major of the Armée with Italy under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte.

In 1797, with Monge, it gave to the Directoire the Traité of Campo-Formio. When Bonaparte left for the Congrès Rastadt, the command of the army to him was entrusted what it tried to refuse. It occupied Rome (February 10th 1798) and took possession of the Château Saint-Angel, reversed the papal government and proclaimed the Roman republic.

Bonaparte brought it in Egypt where it always rendered very invaluable services as Head of State major and returned to France with the chief to prepare the Coup d'etat of the 18 brumaire.

As of the Consulate, Bonaparte indicates it like Ministre for the War.

Empire

Under the Empire, it belongs to the promotion of marshals of 1804 and Large huntsman, was filled favors whose principality of Neuchâtel (1806), it becomes Vice-constable Empire in 1807 and finally prince of Wagram (1809).

Napoleon Maria with Marie Elisabeth in Bavaria, girl of the prince Guillaume of Bavaria, brother-in-law and cousin of the king of Wurtemberg, (March 9th 1808) of which it had three children. Its descent is prestigious because allied with various royal or ducal European families: Murat, Lambertini, Durfort Civrac, Beauvau-Craon, Rochefoucauld, the Tower of Auvergne, Broglie, Lannes (duke of Montebello, prince of Sievers), Caumont the Force, Noailles, Hatchet (editions), Polignac…

Berthier made all the campaigns of Napoleon as general major.

During the campaigns of Marengo, Austerlitz and Iéna, Berthier fulfills with the greatest zeal the important functions of chief of staff.

In 1809, it contributed strongly to the victory of Wagram.

It represents Napoleon, in Vienna, with the marriage with Marie-Louise.

During the Countryside of Russia, it tries to convince Napoleon not to continue towards Moscow. It gave even its resignation and was disgraced. With the combat of Brienne, the February 24th 1814, it accepted a blow of lance on the head.

Restoration

The April 11th 1814, it adhered to the decree of the senate which excluded Napoleon from the throne. With the First Restoration, Louis XVIII accommodates it with the memory of its attitude passed with Versailles; he was captain of the one of the companies of the bodyguards and Pair of France on June 4th, 1814.

To the return of the Isle of Elba, it follows the king to Ghent

It takes refuge in its castle with Bamberg in Bavaria close to his father-in-law where it dies, on June 1st 1815 shortly after its arrival, before Waterloo, falling from the window of the third stage during an access of hot fever; according to others by suicide or assassinated by masked men who remained unknown. He died before the Bataille of Waterloo where the absence of this excellent chief of staff was cruelly felt.

The organizer

As organizer, one owes him: formation of the Guard of the consuls (December 1799); institution of the weapons of honor (1799); the creation of the Legion of honor (May 20th 1802); the meeting with Metz of the schools of application of artillery and the genius (1802); the special military academy of Fontaineblea U (January 1803); a law which grants territorial properties to the veterans, in 20th and 27e military divisions (April 1803); the creation of eighteen marshals of Empire (May 19th 1804), etc

In short, it had qualities of chief of staff but was unable to direct only the army like showed it the catastrophic beginning of countryside of 1809 before Napoleon does not arrive. Cherished by Napoleon, it uses of his capacity against the other marshals like André Masséna or the general Jomini who will prefer to pass to the Russians in 1813.

A son: Napoleon Alexandre Berthier. Berthier was more specific to carry out the orders of another than to order as a chief.

He gave relations of the Campagne of Egypt , 1800, Bataille Marengo , 1804, and left Mémoires , published in 1826.

Chronology

1753 (November 20th): Birth in Versailles of Louis-Alexandre Berthier.
1764 : Louis-Alexandre is received first blow with the royal École of the genius of Wall.
1766 (January 1st): At the exit of the School, it is named engineer-geographer, on January 1st 1766.
1772 (March): He is lieutenant with the Légion of Flandres.
1776 (August): Lieutenant with the dragons of Lorraine.
1777 (June): It is promoted captain.
1780 (September) at June 1783: It takes part in the war of American Independence, with the staff of Rochambeau.
1788 : It is made knight of Saint-Louis.
1789 : It is named lieutenant-colonel in July 1789.
1789 : It is named major-general of the national guard of Versailles.
1791 : It helps Mrs Adélaïde and Mrs Victoire, aunts of Louis XVI, to flee.
1792 (May): It is Brigadier employed with the Armée with North.
1792 (August): With the fall of monarchy, it is relieved.
1795 (March): It is Brigadier general and chief of staff of the Armée with the Alps and of Italy.
1795 (June): It is named Major general.
1796 (March): It meets Bonaparte which appoints it chief of staff of the Armée with Italy.
1796 : It is distinguished with the Bataille from the Bridge from Lodi.
1799 (November) with 1807 (August): Berthier occupies the station of Minister for the War with a short interruption from April at October 1800.
1800 (June 14th) It is wounded with Marengo
1804 (May): It is made Maréchal of Empire.
1804 (July) Large huntsman.
1805 (February): Large-eagle and chief of the 1st troop of the Legion of honor.
1805 (August): It is made general major of the Large army.
1806 (March): He becomes prince of Neuchâtel and Valangin (Suisse).
1807 (August): Defect Constable.
1808 (March): He marries Marie-Elisabeth of Bavaria-Birkenfeld, thirty years younger than him.
1809 (July 6th): With Wagram, its horse is killed under him.
1809 (August): It is made prince de Wagram. At that time it has more than one million francs of annual Rente. It receives in equipment the Château of Chambord and its dependences, and has the Château of Grosbois and in Paris, the Hôtel of the Colonnade, with the corner of the Rue of the Nasturtiums.
1810 (February): Napoleon chooses it to go to Vienna, as ambassador extraordinary in order to ask in marriage for the archduchess Marie-Louise, girl of the emperor François Ier of Austria.
1810 (March 5th): It makes its official entry with Vienna.
1810 (March 7th): He solemnly asks for the hand of Marie-Louise for the Emperor.
1810 (March 9th): The archduchess gives up her rights on the crown of Austria.
1810 (March 11th): the marriage is celebrated with Vienna.
1810 (March 13rd): Berthier and Marie-Louise, leave Vienna for France in the middle of great festivities.
1810 (March 27th): The empress arrives at Compiegne accompanied by the Emperor come at her meeting.
1812 (February) with 1813 (March): Major-general of the Large army in Russia.
Major-general of the Large army under Napoleon in Germany then in France.
1814 (January): It receives a blow of lance on the head with Brienne.
With the fall of the Empire, it is joined the Bourbons. It accommodates Louis XVIII with Compiegne and overlaps in front of its car at the time of its solemn entry in Paris.
1814 (June): Even of France.
1814 (September): It is made Commandeur of Saint-Louis.
1815 (March): At the time of the return of the Emperor, it accompanies the king with Ghent and is then striped list of the marshals.
Then it joined its family installed with the castle of Bamberg, in Bavaria. To prevent it from joining itself the Emperor, the allies retain it captive.
1815 (June 1st): He dies while falling from a window located on the third floor of the castle of Bamberg.

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