4/5 JIE G. 5 years ago on Google • 221 reviews
André
Masséna,
Duc
de
Rivoli,
Prince
d'Essling
(May
6,
1758
-
April
4,
1817),
was
a
French
Revolutionary
and
Napoleonic
War
An
important
French
commander,
he
was
one
of
the
first
18
French
generals
to
be
awarded
the
title
of
Marshal
of
the
Empire
after
Napoleon
proclaimed
himself
emperor
in
1804.
He
was
nicknamed
l'Enfant
chéri
de
la
Victoire
("Son
of
Victory").
Many
military
historians
believe
that,
except
for
Napoleon,
there
was
no
commander
in
the
world
who
was
more
outstanding
than
him.
Most
of
Napoleon's
generals
received
French
or
European
military
education,
but
Masséna
did
not
receive
formal
military
education.
Napoleon
praised
him
as
the
most
famous
man
in
the
empire.
In
addition
to
Massena's
outstanding
military
exploits,
many
French
marshals
have
been
commanded
by
Massena
in
battles,
which
is
rare
in
European
history.
Andre
Massena
was
born
in
Nice
to
a
Jewish
family
of
Italian
descent.
His
father
was
a
small
merchant.
In
1764,
Massena's
father
died
and
his
mother
remarried,
and
he
was
sent
to
live
with
relatives
for
foster
care.
When
he
was
thirteen
years
old,
he
joined
a
merchant
ship
as
a
waiter
and
lived
on
the
ship
for
four
years.
In
1775,
he
accepted
his
uncle's
suggestion
and
joined
the
French
Royal
Italian
Legion.
It
was
then
that
he
began
to
learn
French.
Due
to
his
outstanding
performance,
he
was
gradually
promoted
from
a
private
to
a
warrant
officer,
which
was
the
highest
rank
a
civilian
could
achieve
in
the
army
at
that
time.
In
1789,
he
left
the
army
and
became
a
smuggler.
In
1791,
he
was
hired
by
the
Antibes
town
council
to
serve
as
an
instructor
in
the
newly
formed
National
Guard.
In
1792
he
was
promoted
to
colonel.
In
1793,
Massena
was
promoted
to
major
general
and
continued
to
serve
in
the
Italian
Army.
In
1799,
he
was
transferred
to
the
commander
of
the
Swiss
Army
and
the
Danube
Army
and
started
the
three
battles
of
Zurich.
After
the
Coup
of
Brumaire,
Massena
returned
as
commander
of
the
Italian
Army.
He
was
awarded
the
title
of
Marshal
of
France
in
1804.
In
1808,
he
was
named
Duke
of
Rivoli
for
his
contribution
in
the
Battle
of
Rivoli.
In
a
hunting
accident,
one
eye
was
shot
out
by
Napoleon
I.
In
January
1810,
he
was
named
Prince
of
Essling
for
his
military
exploits
in
the
Battle
of
Aspine-Essling.
During
the
Peninsular
War,
Napoleon
appointed
Masséna
as
commander
of
the
Portuguese
Army.
Fortress
Rodrigo
was
captured
in
July,
but
soon
after,
Massena
was
blocked
by
the
British
general
Duke
of
Wellington
of
the
Anglo-Portuguese
coalition
at
the
Battle
of
Busacou.
He
pulled
his
troops
back
to
the
Torres
Vedras
line,
and
the
two
sides
remained
in
a
stalemate
for
several
months.
In
1811,
Massena
had
to
retreat
to
Spain
due
to
lack
of
food
and
supplies.
After
further
defeats,
he
was
replaced
by
Auguste
de
Marmont
as
commander
of
the
Marseille
military
district.
After
the
restoration
of
Louis
XVIII,
Masséna
was
reinstated
and
still
served
as
commander
of
the
Marseille
military
district.
When
Napoleon
was
restored
to
power
the
following
year,
Masséna
refused
to
pledge
allegiance
to
either
side
and
kept
the
place
peaceful.
After
Napoleon
was
defeated,
he
reluctantly
proved
his
loyalty
to
the
monarchy.
He
refused
to
participate
in
the
trial
of
Marshal
Michel
Ney.
Massena
died
in
Paris
in
1817
and
was
buried
in
Père
Lachaise
Cemetery.
3 people found this review helpful 👍
