Some saved him, some helped him, some betrayed him. The generals and marshalls of Napoleon are the subject of this new series about the men Napoleon found along his way and who helped him (or not) to reach the summit.
Géraud-Christophe-Michel DUROC (1772-1813) was born in Pont-à-Mousson, in a noble family and was destined to follow the footsteps of his father and entered the military academy of his birth town. When the Revolution breaks out, his family is persecuted and he flees with them abroad. However, homesick and patriot above all else, he decides to come back and changes his name “du Roc” to “Duroc” as a testimony of his new allegiance.
He is sent to the Army of Italy and joins the siege of Toulon in 1793, where his competence and skills make a strong impact on the young Bonaparte. 3 years later, in the campaign of Italy, the pair meets again and his deeds in battle as well as his rigour convince Bonaparte to make him his aide-de-camp. Bonaparte takes him in Egypt as well, where Duroc covers himself with glory, and where he is makes himself so indispensable that he is among the few that he takes back with him in France.
As soon as Bonaparte becomes Consul, Duroc is sent as a diplomat in Prussia, Russia, Denmark and Austria with great success. In 1803, he is made general of division and in 1804, after the coronation of the Emperor he is promoted to “grand marshall of the palace”, meaning that he is in charge of the security of the household of the Emperor and his family.
A place perfectly suited to his reserved, dry and serious temper. Duroc becomes the personal bodyguard and chancellor of Napoleon. He is so inseparable that he earns the nickname of the “shadow of Napoleon”.
In spite of the deluge of responsibilities and honours bestowed by Napoleon upon him, Duroc remains a soldier at heart and a great one at that! He replaces at the last minute a general at Austerlitz (1805) and his artillery formation serves him well to stop the Austrians at the battle of Essling (1808). He is the one who obtains the abdication of the king of Spain at Bayonne (1808) and who signs the armistice with the Czar Alexander after the battle of Wagram (1809). His career follows the Emperor wherever he goes, including in Russia, and it seems only death can separate him from the way of the Emperor, and that death happens prematurely on the battlefield of Bautzen, in 1813, during the campaign of Germany, just when the Emperor needs him the most.
At Bautzen, on May 21st 1813, the Russians and Prussians are retreating and protecting themselves by artillery. A cannonball strikes a tree and the ricochet strikes Duroc in the belly. Transported to a nearby farm, he is visited one hour later by Napoleon, who stays at his bedside as long as his sorrow lets him bear the sight of his old friend suffering of his wound. All the army is affected by the news of the death of Duroc.
He dies the following morning. Napoleon immediately orders his body to be sent back to Paris and buried in the Invalides. Moreover, the Emperor sends money to the pastor of the village of Markersdorf to build a monument at the spot where Duroc was struck. However, the Russians will confiscate the money and the current stone you can find there has only been erected a few decades ago.
And in that way, disappears one of the most loyal soldier of Napoleon and the one who deserved his own confidence as much as anyone else.
