A Remarkable Napoleonic Order Signed by Three of Bonaparte’s Leading Generals, Aiming to Crush the Tyrolean Rebellion
Signed by Bonaparte’s Son and Viceroy, Beauharnais, his Chief of Staff, Berthier, and the leader of the counterinsurgency, General Drouet.
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The Battle of Wagram in 1809 was a decisive battle at the high water mark of Napoleon’s conquests. The Battle pitted Napoleon’s forces against the Austrians and the Fifth Coalition, which was virtually destroyed as a result. In the Treaty of Schonbrunn, Austria was forced to cede one sixth of its population...
The Battle of Wagram in 1809 was a decisive battle at the high water mark of Napoleon’s conquests. The Battle pitted Napoleon’s forces against the Austrians and the Fifth Coalition, which was virtually destroyed as a result. In the Treaty of Schonbrunn, Austria was forced to cede one sixth of its population and much territory. Napoleon’s power would never be greater, his star never brighter.
The area was, however, not yet fully at peace. An important region along the border of present-Italy and Austria called Tyrol was in rebellion against the French (known appropriately as the Tyrolean Rebellion). The reason was it had been guaranteed constitutional autonomy after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805, and it was in part the French breach of this agreement that led to the outbreak of hostilities that the Treaty of Schonbrunn ended. So although the treaty took most of the Allied combatants out of the war, the Tyroll insurgents remained engaged. And as a blow to the insurgents, the treaty required Austria to give up any rights to Tyrol, making the rebels claims harder to maintain.
But the insurgents were successful enough to get Napoleon’s attention. They defeated the French forces under Marshal Lefebvre, and a small army of them, led by Andreas Hofer, expanded the reach of their control. Then Napoleon removed Lefebvre in favor of General Jean-Baptiste Drouet. With peace now declared against the Austrians, Bonaparte turned to Tyrol to tamp down the final bastion of dissension.
Alexander Berthier was Napoleon’s Chief of Staff and had been in that position since the 1790s when Bonaparte was commander of the Army of Italy. He was in charge, along with Napoleon, of communicating with the Emperor’s family and rulers of his provinces, among them Eugene de Beauharnais, Bonaparte’s stepson and Viceroy of Italy. General Pierre Francois Joseph Boyer had served with distinction in battle against the Fifth Coalition and his forces would now be needed to help put down the Tyrolean Rebellion. All three men were turning their attentions to Tyrol.
Order signed by Berthier, as Chief of Staff to Napoleon, October 20, 1809. “Order. It is hereby ordered that Adjutant Commander Boyer shall depart and join the forces of General Drouet at Salzourg. He will pass by the residence of the Viceroy of Italy and remit to him the inclosed letter and take his orders. Major General Berthier.”
The next day, Beauharnais writes that Boyer has visited him. He signs the document on October 21, 1809, attesting that Boyer has done as ordered. “Adjutant General Boyer has been retained by me until now, October 21 in the morning.” Beauharnais sent him to join Drouet to put down the rebellion, as ordered.
On October 28, General Drouet also signs this remarkable document, attesting that Boyer has arrived, though late and in Tyrol itself, not in Salzbourg as anticipated. He signs on October 28, 1809. “General in chief of the division. The Bavarian troops in the Tyrol attest that the Adjutant General Boyer, who had the above order…. to go to Salzbourg has not been able to rejoin us until Hall [a city in Tyrol]… on the 24th of October of this month.”
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