DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823)

DAVOUT LOUIS NICOLAS: (1770-1823) Marshal of France, Duc d´Auerstaedt and Prince of Eckmuhl. Known as the Iron Marshal, Davout was the only Napoleonic Marshal not to have been defeated in battle by 1815. Unusual and lengthy A.L., signed Davout to the address leaf, three pages, 4to, Bruges, 10th September 1803, to his wife Aimée Leclerc, in French. Davout sends a warm letter to his wife, with the printed heading of "Republique Française - L. Davout, General of the Guard of the Government, Commandant in chief of the Bruges camp", and states in part `... pendant tout le voyage je ne pensais qu´à elle, qu´à notre cruelle séparation. Je me disais ma bonne aimée pleure maintenant et les larmes n´étaient pas éloignées de couler chez moi. Je t´assure qu´il n´y a que toi au monde capable de m´attendrir à ce point... Crois qu´aussitôt que je pourrai te mander de venir me rejoindre ce sera un courier pour ne pas perdre de temps qui t´en apportera l´ordre...´ (Translation: " During the entire trip I only thought of you, of our cruel separation. I said to myself, my dear one is crying now and the tears were not far from flowing on me. I assure you that there is only you in the world capable of moving me to this point... Believe that as soon as I can ask you to come and join me it will be a courier so as not to waste time will bring you the order...") Davout further refers to the works in their home, and asks his wife to choose the garden iron doors, the additional trees for the garden and access and assure that her taste will preside everything charmingly. Further again, Davout refers to his wife´s pregnancy, stating ` Comment, ma chère aimée, ai-je pu être aussi longtemps sans te parler du grand motif de consolation que tu portes probablement dans ton sein le petit Louis t´a t-il déjà donné des coups de pieds, tes maux de coeur ont-ils augmentés? J´ai tant d´espérance que je ne mets nullement cela en doute. Embrasse-le bien de ma part et recommande lui de ne point trop tourmenter sa petite maman...´ (Translation: " How, my dear beloved, could I have been so long without speaking to you about the great reason for consolation that you probably carry in your bosom, has little Louis ever kicked you inside, your heart aches have they increased? I have so much hope that I in no way doubt it. Give him a good kiss for me and advise him not to torment his little mother too much...") With address leaf. G to VG Davout was noted for his loyalty to his long-time second wife Louise Aimée Julie Davout (1782-1868), sister-in-law of Pauline Bonaparte, whom he married in 1801 and who remained with him until his death. Their marriage was loving and the couple seem to have been faithful to each other despite very long periods of separation. They had eight children, four of whom died in childhood. At the time of the present letter the couple had lost their first child, Paul, earlier that same year, and Louise was pregnant again. Although Davout calls the baby Louis, it will be a girl this time, Joséphine, who will also die shortly after in childhood.