Marmont,
of minor nobility, comes out officer of artillery of the school
of Châlons in 1792. Bonaparte notices it with the head
office of Toulon. The two men, who received a similar education,
sympathize. Bonaparte does of Marmont one of his aide-de-camps
in 1796, for the campaign of Italy.
In 1798, Marmont accompanies it in Egypt, where it becomes brigadier
general after the catch of Malta. It follows its head to Paris
to take part in the 18-Brumaire.
To Marengo, June 14, 1800, it leads artillery. In reward, it
is named major general, at 26 years. However, it misses list
of the marshals in May 1804. That does not prevent it from fighting
with heat with Ulm (October 20, 1805). In July 1806, he becomes
general governor of Dalmatie. Marmont increases this duchy by
associating there Raguse, which it takes to the Russians in 1807.
In 1809, it controls the Army of Dalmatie which joint with the
Army of Italy under the command of prince Eugene.
He takes part in the battles in Italy and Croatia, of which that
of Znaïm July 10, and 11 1809. Bonaparte grants the stick
of marshal then to him on July 12 and creates it duke of Raguse.
The
two following years, Marmont moves away from the battle fields
to become governor of the Illyriennes provinces. But, in 1811,
it succeeds Masséna with the command of the Army of Portugal.
After some successes, its dissensions with Soult and the address
of Wellington lead to the failure of the battle of Arapiles of
July 22, 1812.
Marmont is seriously wounded with the arm. In 1813, given of
its wound, it takes part in the campaign of Germany. It controls
VIème body and takes part in the battle of Lützen
(May 2, 1813) and of Bautzen (May 20, and 21 1813). During the
second phase of the campaign, it fights in Dresden (August 26-27,
1813). It is also present at the battle of Leipzig.
During the campaign of France, it fights in Brienne and Champaubert
(February 10), in Montmirail (February 17, 1814) but it is beaten
in Laon (March 9-10, 1814), which is worth reproaches of the
Emperor to him. It is folded up towards Paris with its divisions.
It takes part in the defense of Paris but capitulates on March
30. Marmont receives in the night from the 3 to April 4 an envoy
of Alliés and signs the rendering of its troops, which
defend the road of Fontainebleau where is the Emperor. Caulaincourt
comes to find it. Together, they return visit to the tsar with
the first abdication of the Emperor. Souham receives in its absence
a fold of the Emperor who convenes them in Fontainebleau. Thrown
into a panic, it chooses to make pass all the body, which defended
the road of the palate, with the enemy rather than to face the
anger of Napoleon, than it supposes with the fact of rendering.
That decides the tsar to require abdication without conditions
of the Emperor.
Napoleon will not forgive this defection with his marshal. When
it learns it, it murmurs: «Marmont carries me the last
blow». Louis XVIII the even fact of France. Exiled in 1830
with Charles X, Marmont traverses Europe, with a passage in Vienna
where he becomes tutor of the duke of Reichstadt, wire of Napoleon.
Marmont, whose name is from now on honni Bonapartists, occupies
the end of its life to write Memories where it tries to be justified.
