Marshal Berthier

Louis Alexandre Berthier, Prince de Neuchatel et Valangin, Prince De Wagram.

Marshal Berthier was one of the men essential to the career of Napoleon Bonaparte. And yet, Berthier was never a capable general in command of an army. His genius lay in his ability to completely understand Napoleon's ideas better than many and to be able to translate them into orders for the entire of Napoleon's armies to follow. He had also an orgizational ability which led to the creation of an almost seamless and efficient staff for Napoleon. It has been argued that Berthier's untimely death in 1815 was one of the leading casues of the Napoleon's loss at Waterloo. (Berthier supposedly threw himself from a 3rd story window when he saw enemy troops marching on France in the street below)

When Berthier was left in charge of an army, in 1809, Napoleon had to come literally racing back from Spain to Germany in time to save Berthier and the army from total chaos and destruction. Yet, when the military genius arrived Berthier and his staff were able ensure that suddenly fortunes were reversed and armies set into motion. This led to the drawn battles of Aspern and Essling and finally the fatal blow to Austrian hopes at Wagram. Berthier performed well enough in saving the situation that he was given the title Prince de Wagram as a result. Napoleon was not always kind nor gentle to Berthier. Often the little Emperor's rage would be vented verbally and physically on his Chief of Staff who 'soldiered on' until the 1st abdication in 1814.

Berthier was known for his incomprable staff work in the famous Italian Campaign of 1796, Egypt in 1799, 1800, 1805,6,7,9, 12, 13 and 14. But, often it is overlooked that as a very young officer he was on the staff learning his trade in the American Colonies with the French army also at a famous campaign...Yorktown.