Leipzig 1813

Marshal Marmont: Meditations on Möckern and Morality

August Marmont, Marshal of France and the Duke of Ragusa, has become one of the most controversial figures of the Age of Napoleon. A fierce and competent warrior whose relationship with the Emperor dated back to the Siege of Toulon in 1795, history has questioned not the courage and technical skill of Marmont, but has put into historical doubt the very character and soul of the Duke of Ragusa.

The ironic Marmont--mentor or betrayer? Warrior or a devotee of the dishonor of duty; his life is a study of contrasts. He was late to be named a marshal. He believed he was long delayed in receiving his baton despite his heroic early history with Bonaparte...however, once he received it served the emperor well. In addition to his skills on the battlefield, he was a sound administrator and politician. His accomplishments as the ruler of the Illyrian Provinces

(modern day Slovenia and parts of Croatia) are still remembered with great fondness by the inhabitants--perhaps the only part of Europe to recall Marmont with fondness, and even love. Marmont had many moments where his baton was justified. Whether it be Italy; Egypt; Italy again; the Austerlitz campaign; the campaigns in Illyria; Wagram; Portugal; Spain, Germany and France, the occasions of Marmont's brilliance exceeded his failures. Marmont was trained in the artillery. His studies and early experience with Bonaparte at Toulon and in Italy made him a master of that arm. At Möckern, his skill in managing the artillery almost won the day for the French. (In La Bataille de Möckern, he is considered an artillery leader of special ability and use of him in that capacity will assist the French efforts immeasurably as the playtests have shown.)

To set the stage at Möckern, Marmont had been in command of the Army of Portugal in 1811 and 1812. He had acquitted himself well up into the early summer of 1812 when he and the Duke of Wellington had maneuvered themselves into a battle in July. Accounts differ as to how the Battle of Salamanca between Marmont and Wellington came about on July 22, 1812, but Marmont found himself severely wounded early in that contest; and the end result was both a major French defeat and the retirement of Marmont back to France for his recuperation. By the time 1812 had ended, the full scope of the Russian disaster presented itself with the French defending central Germany as the campaign of 1813 opened. Marmont was called to take

command of the VI Corps in early 1813 and fought with distinction at Lützen; Bautzen and Dresden . However, the French position in Central Germany, despite the victory at Dresden, was rapidly deteriorating. As the noose around Napoleon gradually, but certainly, was tightening in Saxony in September and October of 1813; Napoleon decided to attempt to destroy the stronger allied army, the Army

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