Description:

Bonaparte Napoleon



Napoleon's War Minister Louis-Alexandre Berthier DS

 

1p partly printed and partly handwritten military document in French signed by Minister of War Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753-1815) as "Alex. Berthier" at bottom right. On cream watermarked paper featuring a "War Department" letterhead and two lovely Republican graphics. The first is a patriotic seal incorporating Roman symbols like the fasces, and the second features Marianne. An embossed "War Ministry" seal is found at upper right. With expected wear including overall toning, scattered foxing, minor chipped edges, and a few well-worn creases. Berthier's photocopied portrait has been attached at lower left but can easily be removed. 9.5" x 14.5". Comes with a French-language biographical description of the soldier mentioned therein.

 

On April 18, 1801, Berthier signed this document authorizing the temporary leave of absence of a French military officer.

 

Translated in part:

 

"French Republic.

 

War Department.

 

Liberty. ----- Equality.

 

The Minister certifies [to all present], to have granted to C.en Brouet, 1st Lieutenant in the 1st Regiment of Artillery of Foot, a leave of absence of two months without appointments, to begin the twentieth of next month, to go to Ligny, Dept. of the Meuse, to finish some special business.

 

…Done at Paris, the 28 Germinal l'an 9 of the French Republic, one and indivisible.

Alex. Berthier."

 

Louis-Alexander Berthier, a career soldier, served under Napoleon in the Army of Italy during campaigns in the mid-1790s. Napoleon recognized Berthier’s impressive organizational and logistical skills by appointing him his Chief of Staff in 1796. Berthier would serve the emperor in this capacity until 1814. He later served as War Minister and was appointed Marshal of France in 1811.

 

Charles-Louis Brouet (1774-1842), the son of an Ancien Régime soldier, entered military school in 1793--a year after the French Revolution. He was appointed lieutenant of the 1st Regiment of Artillery in 1800. He served in Spain, Germany, France, and the Caribbean. Upon retirement in 1824, the Napoleonic War veteran was promoted to Brigadier General. The Légion d'Honneur winner was admitted into the Knighthood of Saint Louis in 1814.

 

The 1st Regiment of Artillery was involved in many famous battles of the French Revolutionary, Directory, First Consulate, and Napoleonic War eras, including Valmy (1792), Austerlitz (1805), and Friedland (1807). It also participated in Napoleon's Egyptian (1798) and Russian (1812) campaigns.

 



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