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Lunchbreak #MarshalMonday thread. This week, the focus is on Napoleon's Ajax, Marshal Jean Lannes.
Lannes had almost no education; his father could not afford to formally educate his five sons. As a result, Lannes' spelling and grammar were atrocious all his life.
Lannes had almost no education; his father could not afford to formally educate his five sons. As a result, Lannes' spelling and grammar were atrocious all his life.
Though his eldest brother became a priest and, upon entering the seminary, acted as an unofficial tutor to the other brothers, Lannes had little interest in anything beyond reading and writing.
He and his younger brother (nicknamed Louiset), had a reputation for mischief.
He and his younger brother (nicknamed Louiset), had a reputation for mischief.
There are no stories of far-sighted townspeople in Lectour predicting a great future for Lannes - most of them thought he was a little hooligan.
He did little to correct that opinion when he returned home for his sister's wedding in 1797.
He did little to correct that opinion when he returned home for his sister's wedding in 1797.
He was, at this point, a freshly-minted general of brigade, celebrated hero and reciever of many wounds. Such a figure, decked out in glittering uniform, might have been expected to conduct himself with a certain level of gravitas...
Not Lannes.
Not Lannes.
Quickly getting bored of the civilities and celebrations, he went for a wander and decided to amuse himself by lobbing stones over a wall and into the garden of an elderly lady.
Enraged, she came hurrying out and was not impressed by the fine uniform.
Enraged, she came hurrying out and was not impressed by the fine uniform.
"I know exactly who you are! You little git! I can't see that you've improved very much!"
His total disinterest in education was further highlighted during the voyage to Egypt.
Napoleon, with an attitude diametrically opposite, had his officers assemble in the evening to listen to talks from the savants travelling with them.
Lannes and Junot misbehaved without fail.
Napoleon, with an attitude diametrically opposite, had his officers assemble in the evening to listen to talks from the savants travelling with them.
Lannes and Junot misbehaved without fail.
They would make silly comments, rile each other up, snicker and heckle until eventually Napoleon lost his patience and had Junot thrown out of one session.
He forced Lannes to remain. Lannes meanwhile was happy to tell the savants that he thought they were useless.
He forced Lannes to remain. Lannes meanwhile was happy to tell the savants that he thought they were useless.
But for all his (nigh continual) rudeness, Lannes had a capacity for generosity and genuine gratitude.
When he was hit in the neck at the siege of Acre, he lost consciousness and was left behind when his troops retreated. Attempts to rescue him left most men dead.
When he was hit in the neck at the siege of Acre, he lost consciousness and was left behind when his troops retreated. Attempts to rescue him left most men dead.
His men knew however that prisoners were infallibly butchered and mutilated and so one intrepid grenadier decided to have one last go.
Seizing the unconscious Lannes by the ankle, he physically dragged over the rocks back to safety.
Seizing the unconscious Lannes by the ankle, he physically dragged over the rocks back to safety.
Lannes, left with a permanently tilted neck, made a big show about moaning about the bruises he'd picked up going over the rocks, but when they returned to France he gave that grenadier enough money to purchase an inn as thanks for saving his life.
When he left his brief posting in Spain to return to France for his last campaign, Lannes actually stopped off at this inn and stayed with the grenadier.
Another thread tomorrow.
Another thread tomorrow.
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