Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc
Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc, duc de Frioul (actually Géraud Christophe de Michel, chevalier du Roc ; born October 25, 1772 in Pont-à-Mousson , † May 23, 1813 died in Markersdorf near Görlitz ) was a French general de division and diplomat , since 1804 Grand maréchal du palais (corresponds to an upper court marshal). Duroc was Napoleon's adjutant and one of his closest confidants.
Life
Duroc was the son of an officer and came from a noble family. He was educated in military institutions in his hometown and then attended the artillery school in Châlons-sur-Marne . When the revolution broke out , he emigrated to Germany, but soon returned to France. He was promoted to Sous-lieutenant ( artillery ) in 1793 , like Napoleon Bonaparte in the 4th Regiment, and rose steadily. In 1796 he became a Capitaine Napoleon's adjutant in the Italian army and distinguished himself during the Italian campaigns from 1796 to 1797 at the Battle of Bassano and Gradisca, among others . When crossing the Isonzo in March 1797, where he suffered a serious wound, he was promoted by Napoleon to Chef de bataillon .
He distinguished himself in the Egyptian campaign , especially at Salehieh and the storm on Jaffa , and was seriously wounded again at Abukir . Promoted to Chef de brigade on his return , he helped Brumaire overthrow the Board of Directors on the 18th . After Marengo he was sent on diplomatic missions to Vienna , Saint Petersburg , Stockholm and Copenhagen to represent the interests of the First Consul, for which he was promoted to Général de division in 1803 and, after his accession to the throne, appointed Grand maréchal du palais in 1804 .
As Governor du Palais impérial, Grand Officier de la Maison de l'Empereur, Grand Maréchal du Palais , he was responsible for the personal security of Napoleon, in France or on the campaigns, and took care of every detail of the imperial household.
In 1805 he commanded the grenadier corps near Austerlitz during the absence of Oudinot , made peace with Saxony after the battle of Jena and Auerstedt and in 1807 after the battle of Friedland the armistice, which preceded the Tilsit peace , after which he was elevated to Duke of Friuli (1808 ). Duroc was instrumental in the Treaty of Fontainebleau and Bayonne ( 1807 - 08 ) that the French intervention in Spain , involved regulated. In the Battle of Aspern he commanded the reserve artillery on the island of Lobau , negotiated the Znojmo armistice after the Battle of Znojmo , accompanied the emperor, who was fleeing from Russia, to France in 1812 and was in charge of the reorganization of the Imperial Guards. After the Russian campaign he was appointed senator in 1813.
In a battle of retreat near Markersdorf after the Battle of Bautzen , accompanied by Napoleon, he suffered a wound that was not manageable by the medicine of the time (a cannonball tore his abdomen open) and died in a nearby farmhouse on May 23, 1813. Napoleon bought the homestead and built Duroc there a monument. He also ordered the transfer of Duroc's remains to the Invalides , but this could not happen until 1847.
Duroc was Napoleon's most intimate confidante and almost always with him. His noble character, his kindness and loyal devotion were also recognized by the emperor and reciprocated with his full confidence. Duroc often exercised a moderating and mediating influence on him. Napoleon was deeply affected by Duroc's death. How much he valued the loyal service of his general was shown years later, when he gave Duroc's daughter a handsome legacy (100,000 francs) on St. Helena . His successor as Grand maréchal du palais was Henri-Gratien Bertrand .
testimony
Napoleon judged Duroc on Saint Helena :
“Son service était exact et régulier; ce n'était que lorsque ma journée était entièrement close et finie, quand je me reposais déjà, que la sienne commençait. Duroc était pur, moral, tout à fait désintéressé pour recevoir, extrêmement genéreux pour thunder. "
Honors
His name is entered on the triumphal arch in Paris in the 15th column. In Markersdorf , the place of his death, a hotel was named after him. A street and a metro station are named after him in Paris .
literature
- Jean de La Tour: Duroc, 1772-1813. - Nouveau Monde, 2004. - "Collection: La bibliothèque Napoléon" - ISBN 2-84736-038-7 (New edition of the Paris edition: M. Imhaus et R. Chapelot, 1913 - published by Jacques Jourquin, secrétaire général de l'Institut Napoleon )
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Emmanuel Augustin Dieudonné de Las Cases : Mémorial de Sainte Hélène . Vol. 1, Paris 1956, p. 321. Dt .: "His service was punctual and conscientious: when my day was over and I was already recovering, his was only just beginning. Duroc was of a noble and moral character, completely uninterested in taking, completely enthusiastic in giving. "
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Duroc, Géraud Christophe Michel |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Duroc, Géraud Christophe Michel duc de Frioul (full name); Du Roc, Géraud Christophe de Michel chevalier (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | French general, Grand Marshal of the Palace |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 25, 1772 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pont-à-Mousson |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 23, 1813 |
| Place of death | Markersdorf (near Görlitz) |