La Bataille d' Eggmuhl 1809

Eggmühl Final Win For Napoleon Favorite

Marshal Jean Lannes, Duc de Montebello & Prince of Siewierz by Julie Volpeliere

In the 1805 campaign, Lannes fought well at Ulm; was instrumental in capturing a Vienna bridge over the Danube; and fought well at Austerlitz. As the 1806 campaign opens, Lannes again commands the advance guard and opens by defeating the Prussians sharply at Saalfeld. Shortly after that battle, Napoleon has Lannes open the battle at Jena. The resulting victory led French troops to overwhelm the city of Jena, where Lannes would see his friendship with the German philosopher von Goethe born, after Lannes saved von Goethe’s papers and books from over-anxious French looters and preservationists. Lannes performed well in the winter and spring campaigns of 1807. His defeat of the Russian relief column trying to reach Danzig led to fall of that fortress. Napoleon used Lannes to hold off the bulk of Bennigsen’s army at Friedland until Napoleon arrived with main French force. Napoleon preferred to use Lannes as his advance guard in his battles as seen from the review of his combats above shows. Lannes seemed to have the right amount of energy and drive to make things happen. However, his experience in Spain at Saragossa seemed to affect Lannes. Lannes had been named the third French commander of army besieging the Spanish city, sometimes called the Florence of Spain. The grueling and nearly three-month second siege of the city left the city beyond destroyed and the population reduced by two-thirds because of the grim fighting.

Marshal Enterprises

Page 2 of 2