R-58 JOACHIM MURAT, MARÉCHAL DE FRANCE

Joachim Murat was born in March 1767 and was executed in October 1815. He was an officer of the French army, its general and marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815), as well as the king of Naples in the years 1808-1815. The future king and marshal of France volunteered in 1787 at the age of 20. He served there during the revolutionary wars (1792-1799), gaining considerable military experience. At that time, he fought, inter alia, during the Italian campaign (1796-1797), as Napoleon Bonaparte's adjutant and during the Egyptian campaign. In 1799, he became a major general. In 1800, he married Napoleon's sister, Karolina Bonaparte, and in the same year took part in the Battle of Marengo. In 1804 he became the marshal of France, and a year later - the cavalry commander of the Grand Army. He was most famous for the daring actions of his cavalry during the campaigns of 1805 and 1806. Especially in the latter, his cavalrymen were able to force the Prussian fortresses to surrender, which was a phenomenon! In 1808 he was awarded the title of King of Naples. He took part in the Russian campaign in 1812, but did not show any military talent there. A year later, he took part in the battles of Dresden and Leipzig. After Napoleon's defeat in this last battle, he returned to Naples in an attempt to save his crown. However, his shaky policy in 1813-1815 eventually led to his dethronement and his execution on October 13, 1815.