Day 4 of #MarshalAdventCalendar and today it’s the man who was never shy to tell Napoleon what he thought…whether the emperor liked it or not! It’s one of Napoleon’s few close friends - Jean Lannes. 
Lannes had no great level of education and was apprenticed to a dyer in his teens. His strength and bravery stood him in good stead when he enlisted though and he distinguished himself in the Italian campaign; rapidly gaining rank and personally capturing two flags at Bassano.
He accompanied Napoleon to Egypt and was very badly wounded at Aboukir. He returned to France alongside Napoleon and supported him during the Brumaire coup. He was instrumental to victory at Montbello, from where he got his ducal title.
He was one of few people who could speak frankly to Napoleon. This was recognised by the other marshals and he once challenged Murat and Soult to a duel after being ‘set up’ to suggest retreat & then the other two changed their tune before Napoleon. Lannes also loathed Bessières.
Lannes was the first of the Marshalate to die; taking a cannonball to the legs at Aspern-Essling in 1809. Although things initially looked promising post-amputation, he died of infection at the age of only 40.
There are greatly varying accounts of his last talk with N.
There are greatly varying accounts of his last talk with N.
Napoleon was genuinely devastated and had his friend interred first in Les Invalides and then in the Pantheon with all possible glories.
He said of Lannes “I found him a Pygmy and left him a giant.” By virtue of being already dead, Napoleon did not slate him on Saint Helena.
He said of Lannes “I found him a Pygmy and left him a giant.” By virtue of being already dead, Napoleon did not slate him on Saint Helena.
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