La Bataille de Aspern-Essling 1809

Rapp Has the Final Victory After his return from Russian captivity, Rapp returned home to his native Alsace. When Napoleon returned from Elba, he met with Rapp, and despite another major argument, Rapp was convinced by Napoleon to throw in his lot with the restored Empire of the French. He was given command of the V Corp (aka The Army of the Rhine) on the Alsatian front. There, Rapp distinguished himself one last time by defeating 60,000 Austrians and Wurtembergers at La Suffel, near Strasbourg, with only 20,000 troops in what was the last battle of the Napoleonic Wars. Rapp died in 1821 but only after serving France as both a deputy in the French legislature and the Treasurer for Louis XVIII. Rapp’s career proved that the Revolution, despite the final loss at Waterloo, had been successful…the Ancien Regime could not dismiss the accomplishments of men like Rapp, who would go on to serve France in high positions throughout the 19 th Century despite humble beginnings. After his passing, Rapp’s hometown of Colmar built a statue in his honor…it states ‘Ma parole est sacree’ ( my word of honor is sacred ). His heart is kept in a shrine at the Colmar St. Matthieu church.

Marshal Enterprises

Page 4 of 4