September 24, 1771 (Bussy-le-Grand) - July 29, 1813 (Montbard)
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- Junot, Andoche, Duke of Abrantès
After studying law, Junot enlisted in September 1791 in the volunteers of the Côte-d'Or. With a temerity bordering on unconsciousness, "Junot la Tempête", as his comrades nicknamed him, was a sergeant in July 1792. Sent to the siege of Toulon, he was Bonaparte's secretary there and became his faithful admirer, sharing with adversity, taking advantage of his fortune after 13 Vendémiaire Year IV (October 5, 1795). Bonaparte's first aide-de-camp in Italy, he distinguished himself at Millesimo, Lonato and Venice, was responsible for carrying to the Directory the flags captured from the enemy and was promoted to colonel. He was, of course, part of the expedition to Egypt, became brigadier general there, accomplished an exploit at the siege of Saint-Jean-d'Acre by stopping with 500 men a relief army of 25,000 Turks, at Nazareth (August 8, 1799). Bonaparte cannot bring him back with him, but brings him back as soon as possible, appoints him governor of Paris (July 27, 1800), general of division (1801). But Junot's excesses worried Bonaparte, who did not put him on the list of marshals and sent him as ambassador to Lisbon (March 1805). Junot abandons his post to be in Austerlitz. Having taken up the defense of the banker Récamier, whose wife runs a salon where opponents meet, Junot is once again disgraced and sent to Parma to repress a revolt. Then the Emperor pardons and reappoints him Governor of Paris (July 19, 1806). But Junot behaves just as extravagantly as ever, assisted by a wife as spendthrift as him, coupled with a clumsy schemer. Napoleon's anger results in a new exile. Junot is put at the head of an army charged with conquering Portugal which is too favorable to the English. Having entered Spain in October 1807, Junot was in Lisbon at the end of November, appointed Duke of Abrantès and governor of Portugal abandoned by its king who had taken refuge in Brazil. In August 1808 landed an English army of 10,000 men commanded by Wellesley, future Lord Wellington. Defeated, Junot negotiates the Cintra convention which allows the repatriation of the French army. After having made the campaign of 1809 against Austria, Junot leaves for Spain, but under the orders of Masséna is seriously wounded by a bullet in the forehead at Rio Mayor (January 19, 1811). During the Russian campaign, Junot made a huge mistake at Valoutina (August 19, 1812) by not intervening and allowing the Russians to escape a decisive defeat. Deprived of his command, Junot loses what reason he had left. Appointed governor of the Illyrian provinces (February 20, 1813), he presented himself at a ball in Ragusa with no other clothes than his decorations. Brought back to his father in Montbard, he threw himself from a window and died of his injuries. His name appears on the triumphal arch of the star.