Le maréchal Marmont

Indeed and also it is boring to review the whole career of Marmont by the incident of 1814 and by Nabulieone's point of view only.

This is the problem with extreme and rigid thinking, a trait of those most likely to succumb to propaganda or conspiracy theories. Historical figures have to be either heroes or traitors. Reality is much more complex. Historical figures make judgements and rationalise them in their own terms. They knew Napoleon as a real man, not the legendary demi-god of modern myth. To them it might seem perfectly reasonable to put the welfare of their men or La Patrie above La Gloire de Napolèon. But “Marmont the Pragmatist” sells fewer copies or impresses PhD sponsors slightly less!

@david Tomlinson

I couldn't agree more, well said.

Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, Duc de Raguse, Marshal (1809) (napoleon-series.org)

One of the things left out of the article was that Marmont gave effective artillery support to Desaix's counterattack. His canister fire stopped the Austrian pursuit allowing Desaix to continue the attack and giving Kellermann his opportunity to charge and rout the Austrian infantry facing the French.

'On April 5, 1814, the defection of his army corps opened up the road to Fontainebleau to the Allies. The verb "raguser" meaning "to betray" stems from his title "Duc de Raguse."'

“RAGUSER v . intr . - Trahir – dans un emploi surtout répandu sous la Restauration , par référence à la trahison supposée du maréchal Marmont , duc de Raguse , envers l ' Empereur en 1814 ; ayant conquis la Dalmatie , Marmont avait été fait duc de Raguse…”

Le vocabulaire de l'histoire

Yves Tissier

Vuibert, 2005. Page 768

Regarding Marmont's 1814 treason, the following is a short timeline of the events leading up to both Marmont's betrayal and Napoleon's abdication. What is interesting is that Marmont played both sides of the coin after giving up Paris, fell under Talleyrand's influence, and his actions-while saving no lives as Napoleon had already abdicated when Marmont's corps was given over to the allies, the act did ruin any chances for a Regency by Marie-Louise for Napoleon's son and brought back the Bourbons which was Talleyrand's goal. Marmont didn't act in any way to 'save France' but on his own behalf and it is interesting that when the troops found out what he and his subordinate generals, especially Souham, had done, they mutinied. In short, Marmont was nothing but a pawn of Talleyrand's.

When Ney, Caulaincourt, Macdonald, and Lefebvre (who were negotiating with the allies for a regency for Napoleon’s son and Marie-Louise) found out what Marmont had done, they were furious, as they had no desire to bring back the Bourbons.

30-31 March 1814: Battle of Paris.

30 March 1814: Talleyrand approaches Marmont with the idea of turning against Napoleon and supporting Talleyrand.

31 March 1814: Mortier and Marmont withdraw from Paris southward. Imperial government establishes itself at Blois and continues to function efficiently. Talleyrand ordered to leave Paris by Savary, but manages to evade the order.

31 March 1814: Marmont pledges his support to Talleyrand against Napoleon.

1 April 1814: Allies enter Paris. Tsar Alexander is invited to stay at Talleyrand’s home. Talleyrand forms, and heads, a ‘provisional government’ which declares Napoleon ‘deposed’ with only 64 of 140 senators in attendance.

2 April 1814: Napoleon learns of Talleyrand’s actions.

3 April 1814: Napoleon reviews his army of 60,000 at Fontainebleu and is determined to march on Paris. The troops, regimental officers, and the younger generals are enthusiastic.

3 April 1814: Marshals Ney, Lefebvre, Macdonald, and Moncey urge Napoleon to abdicate in favor of his son, Napoleon II.

3 April 1814: Marmont agrees to support Talleyrand and turn his corps over to the allies in writing.

4 April 1814: Napoleon signs the abdication which states that he abdicates in favor of his son. Macdonald, Ney, and Caulaincourt are authorized to take the document to the allied sovereigns in Paris.

4 April 1814: Tsar Alexander, who is not in favor of the Bourbons returning to France, believes that the common people and the French army support Napoleon and seriously considers accepting the conditional abdication in favor of a regency for Napoleon II under his mother, Empress Marie-Louise.

4 April 1814: Marmont meets Macdonald, Ney, and Caulaincourt on the way to Paris to meet with Alexander and give him Napoleon’s conditional abdication. He tells them of his negotiations with Schwarzenberg to turn over his corps to the allies. The three are furious, but Marmont calms them down when he tells them that he had not committed to actually perform the action. He agrees to go to Paris with them as Napoleon wanted Marmont to be one of the plenipotentiaries. General Souham, who is complicit in the conspiracy, is left in command of VI Corps. Marmont goes to Paris with the three other marshals to meet with Alexander. Marmont had told Souham not to do anything until he returns. He has lied to the other three marshals about his plot with Talleyrand and agreement with Schwarzenberg and has decided to carry it out. One of his subordinate generals, Lucotte, refuses to be part of it.

5-6 April 1814: Souham orders the VI Corps on the road and the troops are led into the allied lines at night without their knowledge. They will later mutiny over the actions of their generals. Marmont is not with the corps, but when the other plenipotentiaries learn of Marmont’s actions, they condemn it, Ney being very vocal to Marmont on his treachery. Because of Marmont’s actions and those of his subordinate generals, the allied sovereigns reject Napoleon’s offer of abdicating in favor of his son, and the Bourbons are brought back to France ‘in the allies’ baggage wagons.’

6 April 1814: Napoleon abdicates unconditionally.

11 April 1814: Treaty of Fontainebleu signed.

20 April 1814: Napoleon bids farewell to the Guard and leaves for Elba.

The war was already over and Napoleon was prepared and in the process of abdicating when Marmont's corps was led by its commanders into the allied lines. The fighting had already stopped. Marmont saved no lives and was only considering his own welfare.

This information is contained in Caulaincourt’s memoirs. The translation is entitled No Peace with Napoleon! Concluding the Memoirs of General de Caulaincourt Duke of Vicenza.