Napoleon Affirms Jacques MacDonald as One of His Famed Marshals and a Member of the Nobility, With All the Associated Benefits

"We have resolved to reward this zeal and fidelity of which he has given constant testament in the command of different corps of the army confided to him."

The Battle of Wagram was a high water mark for Napoleon, as his Grande Army decisively beat the Austrians, who had challenged him by invading Bavaria. The battle destroyed the Fifth Coalition, the Austrian and British-led alliance against France. Napoleon crossed the Danube and occupied Vienna in May 1809; then in July he met the Archduke Charles east of Vienna in a battle between two enormous armies.  The Austrians deployed their line centered on a village called Wagram to await the French attack, which arrived earlier than anticipated.  After repelling an Austrian flanking attempt, Napoleon cut the opposition line in half with a bold maneuver in the center.  The commanding officer for this assault was Jacques MacDonald. This victory represented the last major campaign that Napoleon would definitively win.

MacDonald was a veteran French commander who had also served in diplomatic posts.  But he associated himself with Jean Moreau, originally an ally of Napoleon but later a rival.  Therefore, Napoleon had passed over MacDonald for the coveted position of Marshal.  In early 1809, Napoleon regained some confidence in MacDonald and appointed him an adviser to the Viceroy of Italy.  There MacDonald took command of French and allied forces in Italy, and led his soldiers to meet up with Napoleon at Wagram. Napoleon was so pleased with the performance of MacDonald and his men that he spontaneously made him Marshal of the Empire right on the field of battle, becoming the only Marshal to earn his title on the battlefield itself.   Napoleon's marshals were the heroes of his campaigns, successful and revered soldiers who led the Grande Army and earned his trust.  Only 26 men earned this title, and MacDonald was one of them.  

The title of Marshal was a military one.  For his service to the Empire and victory at Wagram, Napoleon wanted to fully reward MacDonald and named him the Duke of Taranto (a region in Italy).  This position had entitlements, and here he guarantees MacDonald land and other benefits that came with it.


Document Signed, Paris, December 9, 1809, affirming MacDonald's role as Marshal of the Empire by making him Duke of Taranto and recipient of all its benefits.  "Napoleon by the Grace of God, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine…The great service rendered to the Nation and to us by our dear and well loved cousin Marshal of the Empire MacDonald, having given to him our esteem and our benevolence, we have resolved to reward this zeal and fidelity of which he has given constant testament in the command of different corps of the army confided to him.  We have by our decree of August 15, 1809 named our dear and well loved cousin Marshal of the Empire Macdonald one of the Dukes of our Empire, under the title Duc de Taranto.  In consequence and in virtue of the said decree, our cousin Marshal of the Empire Macdonald addressed the Prince Arch-chancellor of the Empire to obtain his letters patent which are necessary to him in order to profit from his title.  We have, by these presents from our hand, bestowed on our dear and well loved cousin Jacques Etienne Alexandre Macdonald, Marshal of our Empire, Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor, born at Sancere the 17 november 1765, the title Duc de Taranto."  The document goes on to list the pageantry and coat of arms of the newly created duchy, and instructs MacDonald to so inform the Senate. 

The giving of letters patent is a monarchical method of bestowing financial, titular and other rewards.  Documents granting such high positions and benefits by Napoleon are very uncommon. Our research of records going back at least 40 years failed to disclose another such document from Napoleon to one of his Marshals, nor have we seen one.