Episode 83 - The death of Marshal, Prince, & King Murat
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Murat probably had the most meteoric rise and fall of any of Napoleon's marshals. Special guest and author Jonathan North joins the program to discuss the swaggering, flamboyant Murat and his final days. How was Murat captured and executed? What is his legacy of the Marshal and King? Find out in this Murat-focused episode!
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Chapters
0:45 - Intro
3:58 - Rise to fame, overview
6:50 - Dash, flamboyance and panache of Murat
10:12 - Murat's exploits as cavalry commander
12:40 - Invasion of Russia in 1812
14:50 - Loss at Leipzig and separation from Napoleon
16:01 - Murat's wife, Caroline Bonaparte
19:30 - Turning against Napoleon to save the throne
22:42 - Losing the battle of Tolentino, appeals to Napoleon
29:25 - Murat attempts to recapture his throne
36:06 - Murat is captured and sentenced to death
38:01 - Firing squad and burial in a common grave
42:41 - Legacy of Murat and his descendants
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Our guest Jonathan North does a fantastic job in this episode.
As a regular researcher in one of the state archives in the southernmost part of Calabria, I am astonished by what I have come across about all that was achieved during the reign of Murat. A few examples: The magnificent Civil Registry, unique in Italy until 1865. The Cadastro Muratiano, a completely new cadastre in which a description of the land ownership with the owners and what was cultivated. The establishment of schools and compulsory education also for girls, something that after the return of the Bourbons, Southern Italy had to wait again until the time of Mussolini to reach that level again. The abolition of feudalism, a system that had held Southern Italy in a stranglehold for centuries.
It is incredible that the French tried to implement so many innovations in the few years that they governed the Kingdom of Naples. Yes, they were merciless to the "briganti" and unfortunately after the return of the Bourbons much was reversed.
Yeah, I think Napoleon and his disciples made some large improvements throughout Europe. But as the saying goes about his ideals - they liked the present, but they didn't like the packaging, meaning the conquered territories didn't like the reforms being forced upon them at bayonet-point even though they were good reforms (Napoleonic Code, abolition of feudalism). Marshal Marmont made huge strides in making improvements to roads, commerce, etc in Dalmatia as did Eugene in Italy.
Murat did more to establish Napoleon's empire than anyone else save the Emperor himself. His liabilities were his inability to work with other Marshals and lack of strategic vision. He had the star of luck on his side which rallied the men countless times, a quality equal to that of Ney. Yes he was vain but coming from humble beginning to rise to the heights he did would no doubt affect anyone in his position. He was very much a family man and did make a decent ruler while King of Naples though failing to carry out Napoleons directives. He put Naples first which I think is much to his credit. There are many who would have liked to have seen him brought down in dishonor so his history must be read with possible rivalries in mind.
Agree with all of this, David. In addition, some historians say he was the originator of Italian Unification with his Rimini Proclamation in 1815.
@@generalsandnapoleon I enjoy your show very much and feel you explore subjects more deeply than most videos do. You deserve a far larger audience so stay with it. People will find you.
@@davidcollins2648 Thanks, David. It's funny you mention the larger audience - our daily-hours-watched has been growing lately. So I think I've figured out the TH-cam algorithm. But yeah, please tell your friends and family to give us a follow. :)