The Marshal that everyone loves to hate is the focus of the latest monthly marshal instalment, as Rachael Stark returns to talk about the life, tempestuous character, and controversies of Marshal Bernadotte, King of Sweden.
Twitter: @zwhitehistory | @Bookish_Rachael
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So the Prince de Ponte Corvo - as hinted - was covered in the last episode. I see that my epic crusade about Auerstedt or Auerstaedt is failing abysmaly, even if such interested persons as Zack are still clinging to Auerstudt instead of Auersteadt - I fear that all my efforts to persue correct pronounciation is wasted. Of course it is very difficult to deal with the Prince de Ponte Corvo's illustrious life in one episode. I got interested in him, when he was as usual bashed again in diverse fora by Boney fawners -
Davout the Duc de Auerstaedt - prounounced Auerstead - like in instead down at Auerstedt / Auerstaedt. I was just rolling up the case at looking at the original orders given by Boney / Berthier and the response of the Prince de Ponte Corvo, starting with Foucart and finding other and missing orders in Girod de l'Ains biography and then starting an epic discussion in Markus Stein's forum - also in the old Napoleon org series, needless to say that I came to the conclusion that the Prince de Ponte Corvo was hardly to be blamed at all and that Boney and Berthier were ready to jump onto him and cover up their messy orders. The Prince then performed very ably in the persuit of the Prussian army, particular at Halle, but then again he came under attack by Boney / Berthier at Barby. In 1807 he showed a solid performance and in my view was only second to Lannes - but when he was wounded - he was more or less retired and only employed again in 1809 - to command the Saxons, what a fall in favour. In 1813 he did well as commander of the Nord Armee, or Northern Army, and despite harsh critics by the Prussian - his operational art of war enabled such victories as Groß Beeren and Dennewitz.
Vigo-Roussilon
Then a captain in the 32e de Ligne in 1806
Bernadotte sollicita de l’empereur l’autorisation de libérer les prisonniers suédois faits à Lübeck. Elle lui fut accordée. Le maréchal vint voir à l’auberge de l’Ange les officiers suédois qui y avaient été logés. Il les fit assembler et leur dit : « Messieurs, de tout temps les Suédois furent les alliés de la France, je vais vous renvoyer dans votre partie. On va vous reprendre vos épées. S’il en est parmi vous qui aient besoin d’argent, ma bourse leur est ouverte. »
(…)
Nous quittâmes Berlin, le 3 décembre. Nous arrivâmes le 4 à Francfort-sur-l’Oder où nous séjournâmes. Le prince de Ponte-Corvo y avait sone quartier général. Nous allâmes lui rendre visite. Il nous fit le plus gracieux accueil. Le prince Bernadotte était adoré de militaires qui avaient le bonheur de servir sous ses ordres.
P. 190
Si rejoignant le régiment j’eus avec le maréchal Bernadotte une conversation qui monta sa excellent cœur. Après m’avoir loué d’avoir si bien exécuté son premier ordre, il me dit : « Si les propriétaires de fabriques que vous avez brûlées sont ruinés, ce n’est pas votre faute, c’est la mienne. J’y ai pensé trop tard mais je les indemniserai. » Et il le fit
P. 193/ 194
Gonneville, p. 110
A sous – lieutentant in a cuirassier regiment – after being exchange as POW in 1807
From Braunsberg we were taken to the head-quarters of Bernadotte (the Prince of Ponte – Corvo, and afterwards King os Sweden), commanding our first corps d’armée, and Dupont’s division in it. The Prince received us exceedingly well, offered us money and linen, telling us in the kindest way that his purse and baggage were at our service. We did not take advantage of his offers; for my part, I had found an officer on General Dupont’s staff, who advanced me then three Fredericks which I wished to return to Count de Moltke. I never saw any one that had so much the bearing of a great nobleman as Bernadotte, though he had the far from refined Gascon accent.
Recollections of Colonel de Gonneville in two volumes, London 1875, re-print Warley Publications, Felling 1996
Trefcon, a colonel and POW in 1814
Le 8, nous quittons Bruxelles pour nous rendre à Louvain. Le prince royal de Suéde (maréchal Bernadotte) y était.
Nous allâmes nous présenter à lui, et il nous accueillit fort bien. Il donna même des secours à quelques-uns d’entre nous.
Nous eûmes avec le prince royal un entretien de plus d’une heure. Au milieu de notre conversation, un de ses maréchaux entra. Le prince le prit par le main et lui dit en nous désignant : - « Monsieur le maréchal, je vous présente mes anciens compagnons d’armes. » Nous le quittâmes, très content de lui.
p. 168 Colonel Trefcon : Carnet de Campagne, 1793 – 1815, re-print Paris 2003