November 17, 1765 (Sedan) - September 25, 1840 (Beaulieu-sur-Loire)
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- MacDonald, Etienne-Jacques-joseph-Alexandre, Duke of Taranto
Étienne Jacques Joseph Alexandre Macdonald, (born November 17, 1765 in Sedan, died September 25, 1840 in his castle of Courcelles, near Gien (Loiret)) was a Marshal of the Empire (1809), Duke of Tarente.
Origin
He was born in Sedan to a Scottish family from the island of South Uist in the Hebrides. His father, Neil MacEachen (later MacDonald) of Howbeg, protected Prince Charles Edward Stuart's escape to France. In 1767, Neil joined fifteen Jacobites exiled in Sancerre since 1752. Neil MacDonald settled there with his wife and children, including Alexandre. The latter served in the Ogilvy regiment. MacDonald first served in Dillon's Irish regiment in 1784 in Holland; cadet in the 87th Infantry in 1787.
French Revolution
At Jemmapes, he was made colonel of the old regiment of Picardy. Captain after the battle of Jemappes, he quickly rose to the rank of general. In 1795, in the army of the North of Pichegru, he pursued the English of the Duke of York, crossed the frozen rivers, and captured with his cavalry the Dutch fleet caught in the ice.
After having served in the armies of the Rhine and Italy, he was appointed governor of Rome and of the States of the Church. In 1799, when the French evacuated Rome, he campaigned with glory against the Allied armies.
He fought the battle of Trebbia which lasted three days, defeated an army of 50,000 men with 35,000, received several wounds and succeeded in joining up with General Moreau.
The Consulate and the First Empire
He was in command at Versailles on 18 Brumaire, Year VIII, and powerfully supported Napoleon Bonaparte. After the Battle of Marengo and the Grisons campaign, Macdonald was sent to Denmark as Minister Plenipotentiary until 1803. On his return, he received the title of Grand Officer of the Legion-d'Honneur.
Disgraced during the Moreau affair, which he defended, it was not until 1809 that he resumed command of a division in Italy.
It was at Wagram that he was made a marshal, after having broken through the center of the enemy army protected by 200 pieces of cannon.
On his return to Paris, in 1810, he was created Duke of Taranto, and went to take command of an army corps in Spain. In 1812 he commanded the 10th Corps in Russia. In 1813, he took part, in a glorious manner, in the battles of Lützen, Bautzen and Leipzig. There he swam across the Elster, where Poniatowski perished, and witnessed the Battle of Hanau on October 30. During the campaign of 1814, he commanded the left wing of the army, and was present at Fontainebleau at the abdication of Napoleon, to which he greatly contributed.
After the abdication of Fontainebleau, he accepted the peerage on June 4, 1814. On the night of March 19 to 20, 1815, he left Paris with Louis XVIII, and, after having accompanied him to Menin, he returned to Paris , refused any job for Napoleon, and served in the National Guard as a simple grenadier.
After Waterloo, he was made Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor.
On the return of the Bourbons, the Duke of Tarente received the mission to disband the Army of the Loire. In 1821, he was named Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Legion of Honor, a dignity he retained until 1831.
He died on September 17, 1840, in his castle of Courcelles, near Gien (Loiret), aged 75, leaving a 15-year-old son.
The words spoken by Napoleon at Saint Helena have a high value, especially when they concern men of whom he might have cause to complain; he said, “Macdonald had great loyalty. »
Service status
* March 8, 1793:Brigade Commander of the 26th Battle Demi-Brigade
* August 26, 1793:Brigadier General
* November 28, 1794:Division General
* July 12, 1809:Macdonald is elevated to the dignity of Marshal of the Empire
Titles, decorations and distinctions
* October 16, 1803:Knight of the Legion of Honor
* June 14, 1804:Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor
* August 14, 1809:Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor
* December 9, 1809:Duke of Taranto
* July 2, 1815:Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor
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- MacDonald's weapons