Description
MURAT (Joachim). Set of 3 signed letters to Claude-Louis Lecomte. Hesdin, 1793. - October 6, 1793. " ... I have worked on the items you requested, you will find them enclosed. Take advantage of the weapons I'm putting in your hands; harass me until you get what you want. You say you need the cross and banner to get in, so use them. If that's not enough, add the stoup and the goupillon, then YOU'LL EXORCISE THE DEVIL; this ceremony done, you'll get the better of him and do whatever you want with him; but no more jokes... You will see by one of the two letters we are writing to the minister..." (2 pp. in-4 and one line). - 26th vendemiaire year II [October 17, 1793]. " ... The regiment needs a general overhaul, the arduous service performed by the war squadrons requires a major reform... It is very unfortunate that, because some individuals in the regiment refuse to render accounts, we see ourselves frustrated even of the indispensable... I HAVE MY NOTICE LETTER FOR SQUADRON LEADER. I have given all my service records. MY FRIEND, THE REPUBLIC IS IN DANGER, Landrieux commands six thousand men at Pont-à-Marck...". He also mentions the horses needed for the officers, the presence of a trumpet major as an instructor, the need for two seals with the regimental number and "the escutcheon of the goddess of Liberty" (3 pp. folio, a few tears with a few words missing). - 14 brumaire an II [November 4, 1793]. " ... You will never cease to have friends and brothers in us... Landrieux may be trying to work me; but my conduct responds in advance to the attack and my cons[c]ience lets me sleep easy;... tell citizen Lefèvre that WE ARE TRUE MONTAGNARDS, I DON'T... M'APPELLE PLUS MURAT; MAIS MARAT, LES REPRESENTANS DU PEUPLE VIENNENT DE M'AUTORISER A QUITTER UN NOM QUE JE PORTOIS AVEC HORREUR... " (one p. 1/4 in-folio; spotting and soiling, a few marginal tears). MURAT, OFFICER OF THE TERRORIST REPUBLIC AND FUTURE KING OF NAPLES. Then squadron leader in the Armée du Nord, the future marshal and future sovereign took part in operations against the Austrians. Noticed by brigade commander Jean Landrieux, "an ambiguous character [...] specialized - thanks to the war - in soliciting wrecks and declassed men for the armies of the Republic [...], Murat was entrusted with the training of 300 'poacher' hussars [...], a motley band which, thanks to the grace of the Minister of War, became the 21st Chasseurs". He soon came into conflict with Landrieux, who falsely accused him of being an aristocrat, but escaped without damage. On the other hand, he was an exalted patriot, openly favorable to the regime of the Terror, and at one point even wanted to change his name from Murat to Marat. He was denounced after the 9th of Thermidor, and only saved thanks to the intervention of Jean-Baptiste Cavaignac, deputy for Lot, his native department.
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MURAT (Joachim). Set of 3 signed letters to Claude-Louis Lecomte. Hesdin, 1793. - October 6, 1793. " ... I have worked on the items you requested, you will find them enclosed. Take advantage of the weapons I'm putting in your hands; harass me until you get what you want. You say you need the cross and banner to get in, so use them. If that's not enough, add the stoup and the goupillon, then YOU'LL EXORCISE THE DEVIL; this ceremony done, you'll get the better of him and do whatever you want with him; but no more jokes... You will see by one of the two letters we are writing to the minister..." (2 pp. in-4 and one line). - 26th vendemiaire year II [October 17, 1793]. " ... The regiment needs a general overhaul, the arduous service performed by the war squadrons requires a major reform... It is very unfortunate that, because some individuals in the regiment refuse to render accounts, we see ourselves frustrated even of the indispensable... I HAVE MY NOTICE LETTER FOR SQUADRON LEADER. I have given all my service records. MY FRIEND, THE REPUBLIC IS IN DANGER, Landrieux commands six thousand men at Pont-à-Marck...". He also mentions the horses needed for the officers, the presence of a trumpet major as an instructor, the need for two seals with the regimental number and "the escutcheon of the goddess of Liberty" (3 pp. folio, a few tears with a few words missing). - 14 brumaire an II [November 4, 1793]. " ... You will never cease to have friends and brothers in us... Landrieux may be trying to work me; but my conduct responds in advance to the attack and my cons[c]ience lets me sleep easy;... tell citizen Lefèvre that WE ARE TRUE MONTAGNARDS, I DON'T... M'APPELLE PLUS MURAT; MAIS MARAT, LES REPRESENTANS DU PEUPLE VIENNENT DE M'AUTORISER A QUITTER UN NOM QUE JE PORTOIS AVEC HORREUR... " (one p. 1/4 in-folio; spotting and soiling, a few marginal tears). MURAT, OFFICER OF THE TERRORIST REPUBLIC AND FUTURE KING OF NAPLES. Then squadron leader in the Armée du Nord, the future marshal and future sovereign took part in operations against the Austrians. Noticed by brigade commander Jean Landrieux, "an ambiguous character [...] specialized - thanks to the war - in soliciting wrecks and declassed men for the armies of the Republic [...], Murat was entrusted with the training of 300 'poacher' hussars [...], a motley band which, thanks to the grace of the Minister of War, became the 21st Chasseurs". He soon came into conflict with Landrieux, who falsely accused him of being an aristocrat, but escaped without damage. On the other hand, he was an exalted patriot, openly favorable to the regime of the Terror, and at one point even wanted to change his name from Murat to Marat. He was denounced after the 9th of Thermidor, and only saved thanks to the intervention of Jean-Baptiste Cavaignac, deputy for Lot, his native department.
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