La Bataille d' Eggmuhl 1809

Eggmühl Final Win For Napoleon Favorite

Absorbed By Premonition, Lannes Has Last Victory

There was never any doubt that Jean Lannes was not only crucial to many French victories in the French Empire, but was Napoleon’s personal favorite, perhaps the Emperor’s best friend. When the events of the 1809 campaign are recalled in the life of Marshal Lannes, clearly the two months plus of that fighting was remarkably different than his previous military campaign with Napoleon Bonaparte. What made the military career stand out in comparison to other marshals and generals? One only need to turn to when Lannes first attracted the attention of Bonaparte in Italy at Lodi and in the follow-up campaign against Italian rebels outside of Milan (where he was made a general in appreciation by Bonaparte). In both instances, Lannes was able to provide an immediate burst of energy to the situation and provide the leadership which led the French victory. Just a few months later at both Castiglione and Arcola, Lannes would provide that burst of almost preternatural energy to inspire the French arms. At Arcola, Lannes would be wounded several times, but he kept going and inspired a French victory.

Always Charging And Often Wounded

At the start of the Egyptian expedition, Lannes successfully stormed the fortress in Malta. Once the French were in Egypt, Lannes again led the charge and stormed Alexandria, securing it for the French. According to the Jean Lannes website (an excellent resource and read at https://www.jeanlannes.com/), at the Battle of the Pyramids, Lannes may have been at Bonaparte’s side inside one of the huge French squares. Lannes was one of the lead commanders in the Palestine expedition where his leadership stood out at Jaffa and Acre. He would be wounded several times, and again at Aboukir, Bonaparte’s last victory in Egypt before returning to France. Lannes would be part of the select group to accompany their commander back home.

Once back in France, Lannes was named the commander of the advance guard of the First Consul’s Army of Reserve. Lannes was like lightning, slashing from Dijon to Italy, crossing the Alps and bridging the Po. He and Victor won the battle of Montebello and set the framework for the great French victory of Marengo.

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