Bernadotte

Author: Alexandra Dalbin

The only successful case of independence in the entourage of the emperor, Bernadotte, nick-named Sergeant Pretty legs, was the only marshal to live through the revolution and the empire and to end up on a throne!

This son of an advocate enlisted in the royal army in 1780. The revolution and the war with Austria made him an officer. Kleber made him a brigadier general. In 1797 Bernadotte was detached from the army on the Rhine to support Bonaparte in Italy.

After the Treaty of Campoformio Bonaparte gave him a small command. The Directorate entrusted him with the post of ambassador in Vienna; quite undiplomatic, he was withdrawn, then was minister of war from July to September, 1799. He reorganized the army, then in poor shape, but the directors finished by dismissing him.
His antipathy for Bonaparte became manifest. He refused to engage openly in the coup d'etat of 18 brumaire, which gave him the reputation of being a neo-jacobin. He became the commandant of the army of the west, and his name was linked to the "crocks of butter" (in which was circulated anti-bonapartist propaganda). Moreover, he married Desiree Clary, one time fiancee of Bonaparte, now Joseph's sister-in-law.

He became a marshal in 1804 and prince of Ponte-Corvo two years later, even though he avoided the great battles, as, for example, Austerlitz, 2 December, 1805. At the double battles of Austerlitz and Jena on 14 October 1806 his mission was to support Davout's corps, which engaged the bulk of the Prussian army. He did not! Napoleon seems not to have dealt with him harshly.

On the other hand, when it was a question of pursuing the remains of the Prussian army he put on the seven- league boots to traverse Prussia from south to north. After having forced Bluecher's Prussians to surrender in open countryside, he treated the officers of the Swedish division captured at Luebeck with politeness and respect. This behavior, exemplary in the eyes of the Diet of Stockholm, as well as the desire of Sweden to draw close to France to counter Russia, had an unexpected consequence. After the suspicious death of the chosen heir, the prince of Holstein, on 21 August 1810 the Estates General of Oeretro chose this French marshal to be the crown prince of Sweden. Napoleon did not oppose this, perhaps because a French marshal on the throne of Gustavus Adolphus was one of the funniest tricks played on England.
For the moment Bernadotte again fought under the orders of Napoleon. It was during the campaign in Poland in 1807 that he best showed his ability to command. He retreated in a brilliant manner from the Russian armies of Benningsen, permitting Napoleon to engage in the manoeuvre of Eylau (8 February 1807).

On the other hand, his corps did not engage in that last battle nor in that of Friedland (14 June 1807). Bernadotte was finally dismissed by the emperor because of the conduct of the Saxon corps, which he commanded at the Battle of Wagram (5-6 July 1809). His corps did not succeed in reaching the Prussian lines and retreated in disorder on the first day of the battle. The next day, when the forces under the command of Napoleon were victorious, he issued a proclamation praising his troops, which had scattered the day before.

Bernadotte, summoned to the Swedish court on 21 August 1810, cherished by Charles XIII, showed himself to be a true Swede. He abjured catholicism and took to heart the affairs of his future kingdom. The interests of his new country were at odds with those of France. If Bernadotte yielded at first to the injunctions of Napoleon and declared war on England, he reneged on his decision in 1812 and signed an alliance with Czar Alexander I. In 1813 Sweden joined the coalition against France.

Bernadotte supplied an army of 30,000 men and his knowledge of Napoleonic tactics. His army defeated Oudinot at Grossbeeren (23 August 1813) and Ney at Dennewitz (6 September 1813). At Leipzig (16-19 October 1813) he once again showed himself able to manoeuver skillfully, but he avoided directly crossing swords with his rival.
During the campaign in France in 1814 Bernadotte commanded the northern army. He invaded his native country, passing through Holland and Belgium. Although his role did not determine anything, it was important in routing the French army.

Some people spoke of him as the future king of France. That was not to be, but he did obtain Norway on 14 January 1814 as recompense for his services.

On 5 February 1818 he succeeded Charles XIII, called Charles XIV, King of Sweden and Norway. He is an ancestor of many monarchs who still rule today in Sweden and Norway, as well as in Luxemburg, Belgium, and Denmark. A fine route for the old republican sergeant Pretty Legs, who, it is said, bore on his chest a tatoo: "Death to kings"!