Moncey
engages in the army at 15 years, with the despair of his father,
lawyer at the Parliament of Besancon. Lieutenant in 1785, he
continues his rise at the time of the Revolution. In 1791, he
is a captain. Two years later, he is useful in the Army of the
Western Pyrenees against the Spaniards. He is soon major general.
After having occupied Navarre and the Country Basque, he takes
Bilbao on July 19, 1795. He signs the treaty of Saint-Sébastien,
who will end to the peace of Basle.
In 1797, after the 18-Fructidor, Moncey is denounced like royalist
and is relieved. Recalled in 1799, favorable to Bonaparte, he
takes part in the Strike of state of the 18-Brumaire. He is then
named with the command of a body in Italy in 1800. However, in
August, he refuses to take part in the occupation of the States
Pontificaux under Murat. Bonaparte does not hold of rigour to
him and appoints him general inspector of the state police force,
posts that Moncey will preserve until 1815.
Filled
honors with the advent of the Empire, Moncey is recalled in 1808
in Spain, where he takes part in the head offices of Valence
and Saragossa. Although he receives the title of duke of Conegliano,
he will not be in charge any more of significant commands.
The war however comes until him; March 30, 1814, he is one of
those which defend with eagerness the input of Paris to the allys.
With the first Restoration, having meant its adhesion with the
new government, he is named even of France by Louis XVIII and
is maintained in his command. Napoleon, income of Elba, confirm
Moncey in his peerage. On his return, Louis XVIII withdraws it
to him.
Moncey, charged to chair the judgement of the Ney marshal, addresses
to the King a letter justifying his refusal, letter which will
create sensation. Louis XVIII relieves him and orders his imprisonment
but the Prussian commander of the fort of Ham refuses to imprison
the marshal. Moncey then shows all his direction of the honor:
he imprisons himself, in an inn initially, then in his castle,
certainly more comfortable.
The King restores his stick of marshal to him on July 3, 1816,
the title of even of France in 1819. He continues his military
career. Present at the time of the return of ashes of the Emperor,
in December 1840, he will say «By now, come back to die».
He dies on April 20, 1842.
Below,
text of a letter autograph of the Moncey Marshal August 11, 1832;
the recipient is not identified.
<
< [... ] It is not in the principles of an old soldier
who always served his country with satisfying when he is close
being octogenarian and the first registered voter on the table
of the army to go to request some grace of the government of
the king [... ] while waiting for time runs out, the needs
come and the candle burns hard when the fruit of all his life
matures and that it dies out gently. Remainder, I take my party
of it, seeing the things as I saw them up to now; devotion, fidelity
to his duty, his country, and arrive that will be able! In that,
I have to see little for my account, because to make, it is necessary
to be able! and I smell only too my weakness, therefore am I
well without any desire! [... ] Good-bye, my sizeable friend,
look after your health and want to give me news of them; mine
weakens much, but I live with much care, which supports it a
little... > >
