The Death of Joachim Murat: 1815 and the Unfortunate Fate of One of Napoleon's Marshals

Joachim Murat, the son of an innkeeper, was appointed king of Naples by Napoleon in 1808. He and his wife, Caroline, betrayed their imperial relation and switched sides in 1814, but Murat engineered his own dramatic fall a year later. He fled to Corsica, where he plotted to return to Naples as a conquering hero and king. In September 1815, he set off with a small band of followers, but was hauled before a firing squad and executed. His fall is the final act of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe and a dramatic story in its own right.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Joachim Murat, the son of an innkeeper, rose to fame as Napoleon's esteemed cavalry general and ascended to the throne in 1808 after being appointed king of Naples by the French emperor. Alongside his wife, Caroline, Napoleon's sister, Murat governed the strategic Italian kingdom with loyalty until 1814, when the tide of war turned against Napoleon. In a dramatic turn of events, the royal couple betrayed their imperial allegiance and sided with the opposition. This notorious betrayal granted them a temporary respite, but it was short-lived. Just a year later, Murat orchestrated his own downfall through a series of blunders. Believing he had secured his dynasty, he suddenly found himself fleeing his kingdom. His native France initially rejected him due to Napoleon's unforgiving nature, and later, after Napoleon's downfall following Waterloo, the restored Bourbons offered a reward for Murat's head. Fleeing once again, fate led him to Corsica, where he was welcomed with open arms. Determined to reverse his fortunes, Murat hatched a harebrained plan to return to Naples as a conquering hero and king. With a small band of followers, he set off in September 1815, aiming to land near his capital, organize a regime change, and reclaim his throne. However, his journey took a tragic turn when, just five days after landing in Calabria, King Joachim was hauled before a firing squad and executed. The story of Joachim Murat is a fascinating blend of tragedy and comedy, serving as a cautionary tale about the risks of staging a coup. While had he succeeded, he would have been celebrated as a daring hero, his failure has relegated his final adventure to obscurity. It is unfortunate that the fall of Joachim Murat marks the end of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe, as well as a significant chapter in French history.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399058407