Marshal of France, participant in the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, king of Sweden and Norway and founder of the dynasty Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, later Charles XIV Johan, was born on January 26, 1763 in the city of Po region Béarn (France) in the family of a lawyer.
After the death of his father, Jean Baptiste did not want to continue the family dynasty of lawyers, and in August 1780 he joined the Royal Marine Regiment of Infantry as a private, intended for service in foreign territories, on islands and in seaports. First he served in Corsica, in Ajaccio, and from 1784 in Grenoble, the capital of the province of Dauphine. In 1789, the Naval Regiment was relocated to Marseille.
At that time, Jean Baptiste supported the ideals of the French Revolution, which opened up broad prospects for his military career. In 1792, Bernadotte received his first officer's rank of sub-lieutenant and an appointment to the 36th Infantry Regiment, stationed in Brittany. With the outbreak of war between France and Austria, which was later joined by Prussia, the 36th Regiment was sent to Strasbourg. Bernadotte fought as part of the Army of the Rhine for two years. Professional experience, military abilities, personal courage, and devotion to the revolution ensured his rapid promotion. In the summer of 1793 he became a captain, in August of the same year he received colonel epaulets, and in April 1794 he was promoted to brigadier general, and at the Battle of Fleurus he already commanded a division. Bernadotte then participated in the campaigns on the Main and in Italy, where he became famous as a strict general who did not tolerate looting and indiscipline.
In 1798, Bernadotte was appointed French ambassador to Vienna. In August 1798, he married Désiré Clary, Napoleon's former fiancée, whose older sister married Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte.
In July 1799, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was appointed Minister of War.
In the coup d'etat of the 18th Brumaire, which replaced the power of the Directory with the military dictatorship of the Consulates, Bernadotte did not support Bonaparte, but did nothing to protect the Directory.
In 1800-1802 he served as State Councilor and commanded troops in Western France. In 1800, troops under Bernadotte suppressed a royalist (supporters of the monarchy) uprising in Vendée in western France. In 1802, he was suspected of having links with a group of army officers who distributed anti-Napoleonic pamphlets in Rennes, the capital of Brittany (the Rennes plot), but the suspicion remained unproven.
After the proclamation of the Empire, Napoleon made Bernadotte a marshal (1805), and for, where Bernadotte's corps was on the front line in the center of the French troops, he gave him the title of Prince of Ponte Corvo (1806).
In 1806, during the Jena-Auerstedt battle of the Russian-Prussian-French war, Bernadotte's corps was at the junction between Davout's corps in Auerstedt and the main forces of the French army in Jena. Pursuing the retreating Prussians, he defeated them at Halle, drove Blucher's army to Lübeck and forced the field marshal to surrender in November 1806. Having crossed into Polish territory in January 1807, Bernadotte defeated Russian troops at the Battle of Morungen. In July 1807 he was appointed commander of the French forces in Northern Germany and Denmark.
In the 1809 campaign, Bernadotte commanded the 9th Army Corps, which lost a third of its strength at the Battle of Wagram (a village in Austria northeast of Vienna). Napoleon then appointed Bernadotte commander of the troops in Holland, where he repelled the British landing on the island of Walchern.
Soon, due to worsening relations with Napoleon, Bernadotte was removed from command of the troops.
In August 1810, the Riksdag elected Bernadotte as Crown Prince of Sweden, to which Napoleon gave his consent. His candidacy, mistakenly considered Napoleon's candidate, surfaced under unclear circumstances when the old and childless Charles XIII ascended the Swedish throne. Before setting foot in Sweden, Bernadotte converted to Lutheranism, was adopted by Charles XIII and took the name Karl Johan. From this time on, Bernadotte became the de facto ruler of Sweden.
The French party in Sweden hoped that Bernadotte, with the support of Napoleon, would return Finland, seized from Sweden by Russia under the Treaty of Friedrichsham in 1809. Contrary to the hopes of the French party, Bernadotte, who understood that the only power in Europe that could resist the influence of France was Russia, abandoned the idea of returning Finland. He entered into secret negotiations with Alexander I, hoping with his help to annex Norway, which belonged to Denmark, to Sweden.
Treaties of alliance were concluded with Russia and Great Britain in 1812. The British provided a subsidy to Sweden for the conduct of hostilities. But at the insistence of the allies, the campaign against Denmark was postponed until the defeat of the main Napoleonic forces. In May 1813, Swedish troops landed in Pomerania, where the Northern Allied Army was formed, of which Bernadotte took command. In the campaign of 1813, the Northern Army advanced towards Saxony. The arrival of Bernadotte's army near Leipzig in October 1813 tipped the balance in the Battle of the Nations, the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars. As a result, in January 1814, Karl Johan dictated the terms of the Treaty of Kiel to the Danish king Frederick VI, according to which Norway ceded to Sweden.
After the defeat of Denmark, Bernadotte continued the fight against Napoleon. In 1814, the Northern Army, in the fight against the troops of the French Marshal MacDonald, occupied Cologne, Flanders and advanced from the northeast towards Paris. In the spring of 1814, when the Allied troops entered the defeated capital of the Napoleonic Empire, Bernadotte offered himself as king or protector of the new France, but European monarchs chose to restore the Bourbon dynasty in France.
After the surrender of France, Karl Johan entered Norway with the Swedish army. Here, the Swedish regent managed, through concessions and compromise, to achieve recognition by the Norwegians of the union of Sweden and Norway, and then this act was recognized at the Congress of Vienna, where representatives of Sweden ensured that Swedish Pomerania was ceded not to Denmark, but to Prussia, and Denmark received Lauenburg. The island of Guadeloupe was ceded to France.
After the death of Charles XIII in February 1818, Jean Bernadotte became king of Sweden and Norway under the name Charles XIV Johan. His wife Desiree was proclaimed Queen of Sweden and took the name Desideria.
The years of the reign of the new monarch became the time of establishment of a constitutional monarchy in Sweden. The king invested all his energy, strength, and diplomatic talent into ensuring peace within Sweden and on its borders.
In foreign policy, Karl Johan consistently adhered to a peaceful line based on friendly relations with Russia and Great Britain. Within the country, he showed himself to be a conservative, prone to authoritarian methods of governance. Karl Johan avoided radical reforms that could destroy social harmony in the country.
During the reign of Karl Johan, the Swedish economy developed rapidly. The populations of both Sweden and Norway have grown significantly. Swedish agriculture and the Norwegian merchant fleet achieved success. In 1832, the Gotha Canal, 615 kilometers long, was built between the cities of Gothenborg and Stockholm, which connected the Gotha Elf River with lakes Wener, Wetter and Mälar. New schools were opened - both higher (medical-surgical, forestry, mining and technological institutes) and lower ones, and new departments were opened at universities.
In response to harsh management methods, an opposition against the king formed in the 1830s, which also had support in the Riksdag. The opposition accused Karl Johan of both a hot temper and poor knowledge of the Swedish language, but he managed to overcome the brewing conflict without consequences thanks to his personal charm, political experience and military merits.
Karl XIV Johan died on March 8, 1844 in Stockholm, leaving the Swedish throne to his son Oscar I (1799-1859).
The material was prepared based on information from open sources
Jean Baptiste Bernadotte
Bernadotte Jean Baptiste (1763-1844) - Marshal of France. He distinguished himself during the wars of revolutionary France. Divisional commander at the Battle of Fleurus (1794), commander of the corps sent to strengthen the French army in Italy (1797). Bernadotte took charge of the military department during the Directory period. Komkor in the battles of Auserlitz, Jena, Wagram. Dismissed by Napoleon I (1813), led the Swedish army in the war against France (1813). Became King of Sweden (Carl XIV Johan) (1818-1844). Founder of the Bernadotte dynasty.
Bernadotte Jean-Baptiste-Jules (Bernadotte) (1780-1844) - a native of Pau (South of France, the son of a lawyer; in 1780 he entered military service as a private, but during the Revolution he began to quickly rise in ranks, so that in battle under Fleurus (1794) he already commanded a division, then participated in campaigns on the Rhine, Main and Ireland, and suppressed a royalist uprising in the Vendee in 1800. In 1804, B. was promoted to marshal and made governor of Hanover, and in 1805 for his participation in the victories at Ulm and Austerlitz, he received the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. In 1806, commanding an army corps, he defeated the Prussians at Halle, pursued Blücher to Lübeck and forced him to capitulate (November 7). After that, B. stood at the head of the French . troops located in northern Germany and Denmark, and fought at Moruagen (January 2, 1807). In 1809, he commanded the 9th French corps and drove out the British who occupied Walchern. - His humane treatment of captured Swedes, captured in Trava, made B.'s name so popular in Sweden that the council of states, assembled by King Charles XIII to elect his successor, unanimously decided to offer B.'s crown if he accepted the Lutheran faith. Upon receipt of his consent to this, he, 31 opt. 1810, was presented to a meeting of government officials in Stockholm, and on November 5. adopted by the king and from that time was regent of Sweden, which he ascended to the throne in 1818 under the name of Charles XIV. March 8, 1844.
F. Brockhaus, I.A. Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
BERNADOTT Jean Baptiste Jules (26.1.1763, Pau, Bearn -8.3.1844, Stockholm, Sweden), Prince of Pontecorvo (5.6.1805), Marshal of France (19.5.1804). The son of a poor lawyer. On August 17, 1798, he married the daughter of a Marseille shipowner, Desiree Clary (1777-1860), who at one time was considered the bride of Napoleon, and her sister was married to Joseph Bonaparte. On Sept. 1780, due to a difficult financial situation, he enlisted in the Béarn infantry regiment. 7.2.1790 promoted to adjutant non-commissioned officer. During the revolutionary wars, as a staunch republican, he made a brilliant career. On Nov. 1791 promoted to officer, and already 2.5 years after the Battle of Fleurus on June 29, 1794 he became a brigadier general. On 10/22/1794 he was promoted to division general. He became famous for his successful actions in Belgium (1794) and Germany (1795-96). He fought in Italy together with N. Bonaparte. Under the Directory from 1798 he was envoy in Vienna, and in July-September. 1799 - Minister of War. Since January 24, 1800, member of the State Council. In 1800-01, B. was entrusted with leading the suppression of the Chouan movement in the Vendée. Using troops extensively, he brutally suppressed the uprising. During the coronation of Napoleon (1804), he carried the chain of the Legion of Honor. In 1804 he was briefly governor of French-occupied Hanover. Later, B.'s name was repeatedly mentioned by the police in connection with republican conspiracies, but B., as a “member of the Bonaparte family,” always enjoyed the trust of Napoleon. From August 30, 1805, commander of the 1st Corps of the Great Army. On October 17, 1806, at Halle, the Prussian army was defeated by General. G. Blucher. At the end of Oct. - Nov. successfully pursued the retreating troops of Blucher and on November 7. forced him to capitulate in Lübeck and Rathkau. In addition, the Swedish division capitulated to his troops; he treated the Swedes very well, which subsequently played a role. However, he could not prevent the massacre carried out by his soldiers in Lübeck. In 1806 he captured approx. 1 thousand Swedes (from the detachment of Colonel G. Merner), he received them extremely kindly and won their sympathy. After the Peace of Tilsit (1807) he was appointed commander of the occupation army and governor of northern Germany. Being an experienced politician, B. quickly gained the sympathy of the local population, but even then he began to develop strained relations with Napoleon. The main reason was B.'s independent policy, which became the reason for his removal from command of large military formations. From July 14, 1807, governor of the Hanseatic cities. From April 8, 1809, commander of the 9th Corps of the German Army, stationed in Denmark, which was planned to be transferred to help Sweden (the expedition did not take place). 17.5.1809 repulsed a demonstration of part of the army of Archduke Charles near Linz. At this time, a crisis arose in Sweden regarding the issue of succession to the throne and the king's courier, Karl Otto Merner, who was carrying a letter to Napoleon, approached B. with an offer to become the Swedish heir to the throne. Napoleon, having agreed to the election, first drew up “conditions” for B., obliging him to guarantee that Sweden would never act against France, but B. achieved the abolition of such conditions and received a letter that freed him from any obligations to France . At the same time, B. secretly met with the emissary of Alexander 1, Colonel A. Chernyshev, and enlisted his support, assuring him that Sweden would not pursue an anti-Russian policy. On August 21, 1810, the Swedish Riksdag in the city of Erber elected B. crown prince (subject to his acceptance of Lutheranism). Arriving in Stockholm, B. converted to Lutheranism, on November 5, 1810 he was adopted by the seriously ill elderly Swedish king Charles XIII and actually became the ruler of the kingdom. At first, B. continued to maintain an alliance with France, but then disagreements with Napoleon worsened when the emperor became too demanding of the conditions of the continental blockade, which threatened Sweden with ruin. 9/1/1812 Napoleon occupied Swedish Pomerania. On April 5, 1812, a secret Russian-Swedish agreement was signed. In Aug. 1812 he met with Alexander 1 in Abo (Finland) and signed a Russian-Swedish treaty, according to which, in exchange for Sweden joining the anti-French coalition, it was guaranteed the accession of Norway. On August 30, 1812 he was awarded the Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. On March 13, 1813, he signed an agreement with Austria, and on April 22. - with Prussia, and both treaties guaranteed him the acquisition of Norway. At the end of the spring of 1813, he formed a corps in Swedish Pomerania (28 thousand people, 62 guns) and, after joining the allied forces, was appointed commander of the Northern Army (about 100 thousand people). After some hesitation, he took an active part in the “Battle of the Nations” at Leipzig, and then deployed troops against the Danish allies of France and captured Lubeck. 30.8.1813 “for the defeat of the French in the battle of Dennewitz on 25.8.1813” was awarded the Russian Order of St. George, 1st degree. On January 14, 1814, based on Swedish interests, he made peace with Denmark in Kiel, receiving Norway from her in exchange for Pomerania. On January 14, 1814, the Treaty of Kiel was signed, according to which Denmark transferred Norway to Sweden in exchange for Swedish Pomerania. After this, the Swedish troops caught up with the allies, but B. left them in the Netherlands and defeated Paris arrived alone. He was considered one of the most likely candidates for the French. throne. But largely thanks to the intrigues of Charles Talleyrand (as well as due to the active opposition of Great Britain and Austria), the throne returned to the Bourbon dynasty. After an uprising against Swedish rule broke out in Norway, which did not recognize the Treaty of Kiel, B. moved troops here, and then, not wanting to continue the bloodshed, agreed to a personal union of Norway and Sweden with the preservation of the Norwegian constitution. After the death of Charles XIII (5.2.1818) he ascended the Swedish throne under the name of Charles XIV Johan. Until the end of my life I did not know Swedish. Since the late 1820s. was seriously ill and practically did not get out of bed, making Count Magnus Brahe his representative.
Book materials used: Zalessky K.A. Napoleonic Wars 1799-1815. Biographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Moscow, 2003.
Bernadotte, Jean Baptiste Jules (1763-1844) - from 1818 king of Sweden and Norway under the name of Charles XIV John. A Frenchman, the son of a lawyer from Pau, B. took part in the revolutionary wars, proving himself to be a talented military leader. In November 1797, the Directory appointed him envoy to Austria. In 1799, B. was appointed Minister of War and contributed to the coup of the 18th Brumaire. After the proclamation of the empire, Napoleon made B. a marshal (1805), and for the Battle of Austerlitz gave him the title of Prince of Ponte Corvo (1806). B. took part in the campaigns of 1806 and 1809, but soon, due to worsened relations with Napoleon, he was removed from command of the troops. On July 23, 1810, a Diet was convened in Sweden in Örebro to elect a new crown prince to replace the deceased Duke of Augustenburg. At the insistence of Swedish military circles, the choice fell on B., who, thanks to his intrigues, was mistakenly considered Napoleon's candidate. The French party in Sweden hoped that B., with the support of Napoleon, would return Finland, seized from Sweden by Russia under the Friedrichsham Peace Treaty of 1809 (see). 21. VIII 1810 B. was elected heir to the throne and adopted by the Swedish king Charles XIII. From that time on, B. became the de facto ruler of Sweden. Contrary to the hopes of the French party, V., who understood that the only power in Europe that could resist the influence of France was Russia, abandoned the idea of returning Finland. He entered into secret negotiations with Alexander I, hoping with his help to annex Norway, which belonged to Denmark, to Sweden. On November 17, 1810, B. was forced, at the request of Napoleon, to declare war on England and on the same day issue a decree on the inclusion of Sweden in the continental blockade, which had a disastrous effect on the Swedish economy. The actions of Napoleon, who occupied Swedish Pomerania (17. I 1812), led to a worsening of Franco-Swedish relations. With a note dated 7.3.1812, Napoleon offered Sweden, for its assistance to France in the war with Russia, to liberate Pomerania and facilitate the return of Finland. B. refused. 5. IV 1812 B. concluded an alliance treaty with Russia, according to which Alexander I pledged to facilitate the annexation of Norway to Sweden. The war between France and Russia that began in 1812 put Belgium in an advantageous position. Napoleon, trying to keep Norway in the hands of Denmark and prevent Russian-Swedish rapprochement, offered B. for an alliance against Russia as compensation for Pomerania, Finland, Mecklenburg, Stettin and a large monetary subsidy, to which B. did not agree. B. sought to reconcile Russia with England, believing that only with friendly relations between them would he be able to implement his plans regarding Norway. For this purpose, B. acted as a mediator and contributed to the conclusion of the Anglo-Russian Treaty of 1812 in Orebro (see). At the same time, the Anglo-Swedish treaty was signed. 27. VIII 1812 in Abo there was a meeting between B. and Alexander I, as a result of which the representatives of both powers signed the Russian-Swedish agreement of 1812 (see). Until the end of 1812, Sweden did not openly oppose Napoleon. But after the French retreat from Russia, Brazil broke relations with France and on March 13, 1813, signed an alliance treaty with England in Stockholm, which guaranteed Brazil’s annexation of Norway.
22. IV 1813 followed by the conclusion of an alliance treaty with Prussia. These treaties formalized Sweden's entry into the sixth coalition against France. Having received English subsidies, in May 1813 B. landed with troops in northern Germany. After the Battle of Leipzig (18.X 1813), B. began a campaign against Denmark, Napoleon's ally. 14. I 1814 Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden under the Treaty of the Nile, which Norway refused to recognize. On 17. V 1814, the Constituent Assembly met in Eidsvold, drafted a constitution and proclaimed the Danish prince Christian Frederick the king of Norway. With the consent of England and Russia, B. invaded Norway and on VIII 14, 1814 concluded an agreement in Moss, according to which a personal union was established between Sweden and Norway. 4. XI 1814 Charles XIII was recognized as King of Norway. The annexation of Norway to Sweden was secured by B. at the Congress of Vienna. 7. VI 1815, through the mediation of Russia, a Prussian-Swedish-Norwegian treaty was signed in Vienna, according to which Swedish Pomerania and about. Rügen went to Prussia. At the same time, Danish and Swedish declarations were published, confirming the terms of the Nile Treaty in relation to Norway. 5. II 1818 Charles XIII died and B. ascended the throne of Sweden and Norway under the name of Charles XIV John. After B.'s unsuccessful attempts to involve England in the fight against Russia for Finland, on June 23, 1834, he concluded an alliance convention with Nicholas I, joined the powers of the Holy Alliance and joined the channel of Russian politics.
Diplomatic Dictionary. Ch. ed. A. Ya. Vyshinsky and S. A. Lozovsky. M., 1948.
BERNADOTTE (Bernadette) Jean Baptiste (26.1. 1763, Po, - 8.3.1844, Stockholm), Marshal of France (1804), in 1818-44 King of Sweden under the name of Charles XIV Johan, founder of the Swedes, the Bernadot dynasty. Until 1789 he served as a sergeant in the Royal Marines. infantry. He distinguished himself during the wars as a revolutionary. France. At the Battle of Fleurus in 1794 he commanded a division. In 1797, at the head of the corps, he was sent to reinforce the French. army in Italy. It will not continue during the Directory period. was headed by a military officer for a time. min-vo, later commanded by Zap. the French army, suppressing the last centers of the Vendee uprising (Vendee Wars 1793-1795). As a corps commander, he took part in the battles of Austerlitz, Jena, and Wagram. Capture by liberation. In Holland the Swede, the prisoners gained popularity in Sweden. Enmity developed between B. and Napoleon I. relations, and in 1810 B. was forced to resign. Napoleon did not highly appreciate B.'s leadership qualities, who during battles allowed slowness and excessive caution. In 1810, the Swedish parliament elected B. as heir to the throne, and the childless King Charles XIII adopted him. From that time on, B. actually began to rule Sweden. In 1810, Napoleon I forced Sweden to join the continental blockade and declare war on England, which was contrary to the interests of Sweden. In 1812, B. entered into an alliance with Russia against Napoleon I, and in 1813 he joined the anti-Napoleonic coalition and commanded the North. army of the allies. In 1818, after the death of Charles XIII, Sweden assumed the throne.
Materials from the Soviet Military Encyclopedia were used. Volume 1: A – Bureau of Military Commissars. 640 pp., 1976.
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Historical figures of France (biographical index).
(b. 1763 - d. 1844)
Marshal of France, participant in the Napoleonic wars, commander-in-chief of the Northern Army, later King of Sweden Charles XIV Johan, founder of the dynasty.
“I did not at all influence the rise of Bernadotte in Sweden, but I could have opposed it,” Napoleon noted. “Russia, I remember, was very dissatisfied at first, because it imagined that this was part of my plans.” Meanwhile, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte himself - Marshal of France, participant in the revolution and Napoleonic wars - could never have imagined that he, a Frenchman, not a nobleman, would become the king of Sweden. Already being a monarch, Bernadotte avoided human eyes in every possible way when he bathed. Even the servants had never seen him naked. There were rumors that the king had some kind of physical defect. And only when he died did everyone learn about the reason for this behavior: on the monarch’s chest there was a large tattoo “Death to Tyrants.”
Jean Baptiste, the fifth child in a wealthy family of a lawyer from the office of the royal counsel, was born on January 26, 1763 in Pau in the south of France. When the boy grew up, he was sent to a school of Benedictine monks, and then assigned to study as a lawyer in the office of a close family friend. But soon the father suddenly died, and the family found themselves in a difficult situation. Seventeen-year-old Jean Baptiste abandoned his studies and enlisted in the Royal Naval Regiment, which was intended to serve on the islands overseas. Over the next year and a half, without any incident, he served on Fr. Corsica, but in 1782 he contracted malaria and, having received leave for six months, went home, where he stayed for a whole year and a half.
From 1784, Jean Baptiste served in Grenoble, where he became a sergeant. This was his limit: to become an officer, nobility was required. Bernadotte was in good standing; the regiment commander gave him important assignments: training recruits, instructing newcomers in fencing, catching deserters. In 1788, a sergeant with a detachment of soldiers was instructed to restore order in Grenoble, where unrest had broken out, and he, using weapons, carried out the order. The following year found Jean Baptiste in Marseilles, where his regiment was transferred. It was a time when all of France lived with the events of the revolution. Conflicts began between the army and the National Guard, and soon Bernadotte's regiment was withdrawn from Marseille, and in 1791 it was renamed the 60th Infantry. Revolutionary sentiments penetrated the barracks, discipline fell, soldiers refused to obey, and desertion began.
The revolution swept away class barriers, and in 1792 Jean Baptiste was already a lieutenant in the 36th infantry regiment located in Brittany. At this time, France entered into a war with Austria and Prussia, who intended to restore the previous order. The beginning of the war found Jean Baptiste in the Army of the Rhine under General Custine. On August 10, 1792, the French monarchy was overthrown. France became a republic. Bernadotte at this time dreamed of ranks, and already in the summer of the next year he was promoted to captain, and a few weeks later he became a colonel. As a zealot of strict military discipline, which many seemed to be a relic of the “old regime,” Jean Baptiste almost ended up under arrest. Only personal courage shown in battle saved him from this.
Period 1792-1794 was not the most successful in Bernadotte's military career. Defeated by the Prussians, the Army of the Rhine retreated. However, by 1794 the situation was improving. In April, Jean Baptiste received a half-brigade under his command, quickly established order and discipline there, and already in May, in a battle against the Austrians, near the city of Giza, he was noticed by Robespierre's closest associate Saint-Just, who intended to assign Bernadotte the rank of brigadier general. But Jean Baptiste modestly refused, most likely not wanting to receive the title from the hands of a civilian. But during the famous Battle of Fderus on June 26, where Bernadotte fought in the ranks of the Sambro-Meuse Army, his immediate superior, Divisional General Kleber, promoted him to brigadier general right on the battlefield. Another three months later, a new promotion followed - the rank of division general. At that moment it was the highest rank of the French revolutionary army. In the period 1794-1796. Bernadotte participated in almost all military operations of the Sambro-Meuse army. He always knew how to force troops to obey his orders, but he never threw soldiers into battle headlong, although he himself was always in the very center of the battle.
Bernadotte first met Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy in 1797, when his 20,000-strong corps was sent to strengthen the Italian army. There were no friendly relations between the two generals. Both self-confident, experienced commanders, endowed with glory and honors, they even then had difficulty finding a common language. And quarrels often broke out between their soldiers, which even led to bloodshed. Neither the victory at Tagliamento nor the capture of the Gradiska fortress changed the relationship. Moreover, for the last battle Bernadotte received a reprimand from Bonaparte, although outwardly their relationship seemed normal. Napoleon even appointed Jean Baptiste governor of the province of Friuli, and in August instructed him to deliver five banners captured from the Austrians to Paris, characterizing them. Bernadotte before the French government as an "excellent general". When he first arrived in Paris, Jean Baptiste established good relations with some members of the Directory. At the same time, he informed Napoleon in detail about everything that was happening in the capital.
In October Bernadotte returned to Italy. Here another clash with Napoleon occurred. This was facilitated by Bernadotte's ambitious claims to the role of commander of the Italian army. Bonaparte, very concerned about this, praising the general's diplomatic abilities to the Directory, managed to get him sent to Vienna as his plenipotentiary envoy. However, Bernadotte's defiant behavior, his lack of understanding of the basic rules of Diplomacy and simply his unwillingness to take them into account led to the complete failure of the mission.
Upon returning to Paris, Jean Baptiste indulged in amusements. He often visited the salons of Madame de Recamier and Madame de Stael, and also stayed in the house of Napoleon's older brother, Joseph Bonaparte, where he met another of his brothers, Lucien. Here Joseph introduced him to his sister-in-law Desiree Clary. Oddly enough, it was in her parents’ house, back in 1789, that the young sergeant Bernadotte lodged when his regiment was stationed in Marseille. Desiree was Napoleon's first lover, but this romance did not end at all according to her will. The 20-year-old girl favorably accepted the advances of the 35-year-old general, and when he proposed to her, she immediately agreed to become his wife. Their marriage was concluded according to a civil ceremony on August 17, 1798. Then Madame Bernadotte did not yet know that she would soon become Desideria, Queen of Sweden. The marriage brought Jean Baptiste into the Bonaparte family, although Napoleon himself could not stand him. Therefore, when Bonaparte went on an Egyptian expedition in 1799, he did not take Bernadotte with him. He remained in France and even served as Minister of War in the Government of the Directory for some time. In this post, he showed vigorous energy in solving such difficult problems as reorganizing and supplying troops with everything necessary, as well as the formation of new units.
But intrigues in the government, Bernadotte’s reluctance to cooperate with Abbe Sieyès and the group that intended to make changes in the Directory, as well as his quarrelsome character and irrepressible ambition led to the fact that the general was soon removed from his post. This happened shortly before Napoleon returned from Egypt and prepared his coup. Jean Baptiste did not accept Bonaparte's offer to join the coup of 18 Brumaire (November 9), 1799, but when the consulate was recognized as the legitimate authority, he began to cooperate with the new government. Outwardly, Napoleon showed favor towards Bernadotte. He introduced the general to the Council of State, the main advisory body, and from May 1, 1800 appointed him commander of the Western Army located in Brittany. But mutual dislike did not fade. In 1802-1804. Bernadotte was already involved in a military conspiracy to overthrow Napoleon. However, thanks to his popularity in the army, as well as the intervention of new relatives, Jean Baptiste was not punished. Moreover, in 1802 Napoleon “rewarded” him with the ceremonial position of senator. But the First Consul still did not trust the general. After all, Bernadotte made his way to the top of the military hierarchy on his own and believed that he owed nothing to Napoleon.
In May 1803, the war with England resumed. At the same time, the French occupied Hanover, and a year later Napoleon appointed Jean Baptiste as its governor. When Napoleon was proclaimed emperor, in 1804 one of the first people he made marshals was Bernadotte.
In 1805, the newly-minted marshal distinguished himself in the battle of Austerlitz, and he was granted lands in Italy and the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. But the next year, while fighting in Holland, Bernadotte treated the Swedish prisoners gently - he released them. This created him popularity in Sweden, but angered Napoleon. In 1807, the marshal became governor of the Hanseatic cities, delved deeply into Baltic politics and gained fame in Northern Europe. Two years later he returned to the army, but after the battle of Wagram he again fell out of favor and was sent to Paris. Later Bernadotte led the defense of Fr. Walchern, successfully defending it from the British.
Also in 1809, very important events took place in Sweden. She lost the war to Russia and lost Finland. As a result, a palace coup took place in Sweden, and the elderly, childless Charles XIII ascended the throne. In search of his successor, the Swedish nobility turned to Napoleon's entourage. The calculation was precise: the emperor was preparing for war with Russia, and the Swedes were thirsty for revenge. With the consent of Napoleon, the Swedish Riksdag in 1810 proclaimed Bernadotte crown prince. He converted to Lutheranism, was adopted by Charles XIII and took the name Karl Johan. But the future king not only did not go to war against Russia, but also in 1812 joined the anti-Napoleonic coalition. Karl Johan had his own goal: to defeat Napoleon and annex Norway. As commander of one of the coalition armies, he participated in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig in 1813, and then forced Denmark to abandon Norway in 1814. The union of Sweden and Norway lasted until 1905.
In 1818, Charles XIII died. After his death, the former republican and revolutionary general Bernadotte, under the name of Charles XIV Johan, was proclaimed king of Sweden. He did a lot to develop education, agriculture, strengthen finances, and restore the country's prestige. His policy, based on good relations with Russia and England, ensured Sweden's peaceful existence and prosperity. The king died on March 8, 1844. The Bernadotte dynasty remains ruling in Sweden to this day.
Dmitry Kirilovets, Ivan SiyakTo become king, the French marshal Bernadotte deceived the Swedes. To strengthen Sweden, he decided to fight against France.
"No one has had a career that compares to mine"- said Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte a few days before his death. The son of a provincial lawyer was able to rise to the rank of marshal, become related to Napoleon, win over his enemies and ascend to the throne of a foreign country.
In search of the king
King Gustav IV of Sweden was a staunch opponent of the French Revolution and sent his army to fight as part of the anti-Napoleonic coalition. France took revenge a few years later, pushing its then allies Denmark and Russia to attack. The war on two fronts was hopeless for Sweden, Russian troops occupied the province of Finland, but Gustav did not want to give up. In 1809, the officers staged a coup and placed the king's uncle, the mentally ill and therefore controlled Duke Charles, on the throne. He had no children, so the Danish prince Christian August was invited to play the role of heir.
A year later, the heir died of a stroke, and the Riksdag had to think again about the name of the next king. The deputies were inclined to choose the Danish Prince Frederick, who in the future could unite Denmark and Sweden under his crown. A 29-year-old deputy, army lieutenant Karl-Otto Merner, was sent to obtain approval from Napoleon, who was at the height of his power. He single-handedly decided the fate of his country.
Like many Swedish officers, Merner wanted to see one of Napoleonic's popular marshals on the throne. In Paris, he found Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who was about to take office as governor of Rome, and invited him to become heir to the Swedish crown.
Swedish Parliament.
House where Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was born. City of Pau, France. Source: Wikipedia
Who is Bernadotte
Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was the fifth child in the family of the prosecutor of the city of Pau. The father died early, and there was no money for the children’s education. At the age of 17, the guy enlisted in the army and by 25 became a sergeant. This was the highest rank that a person of non-noble origin could receive in royal France.
Bernadotte's further career was facilitated by the French Revolution of 1789. The establishment of the republic opened the way for commoners to become officers and provoked wars with neighboring monarchical states, in which capable commanders quickly rose in rank. At the age of 30, Jean-Baptiste rose to the rank of captain, a year later he became a major, then a colonel and a general. In 1804, when Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, 41-year-old Bernadotte received the title of Marshal of France.
In 1805, he commanded a corps, defeated the Austrians in Germany and participated in the Battle of Austerlitz, where the Austrian Emperor Franz I and the Russian Alexander I fled from the battlefield. In 1806, Bernadotte's corps forced the Prussian army to surrender. Together with her, a thousand Swedes were captured, with whom the marshal treated very kindly.
"Marshal Bernadotte, Prince of Ponte Corvo", 1818. Source: Versailles / nationalmuseum.se Bernadotte, Marshal of France, 19th century portrait. Source: Wikipedia
Napoleon's indecision
Bernadotte's relationship with the emperor cannot be called smooth. The marshal allowed himself public criticism and was even suspected of distributing anti-Napoleonic pamphlets. Probably his wife, Clarie Desiree, gave him immunity. She was Napoleon's fiancée until he abandoned the girl for the Parisian courtesan Josephine Beauharnais. It is believed that many years later Napoleon still felt guilty towards Désiré. In addition, her sister married the emperor's brother, Joseph.
Bernadotte's invitation to Sweden took Napoleon by surprise. The union state could be headed by a person distinguished by independence and obstinacy, but still a Frenchman and a distant relative. Torn between fears and hopes, the Emperor of France chose neutrality. He conveyed that he would not oppose Bernadotte’s election, but did not contribute to it in any way.
Desiree Clary, by the artist R. Lefebvre, 1807 Source: Wikipedia
French intrigue in Sweden
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Merner returned to Sweden, where he informed the Riksdag about the invitation of the French marshal to become crown prince - and was immediately arrested for violating instructions. He didn't sit for long. Army officers remembered Bernadotte's kind attitude in captivity and believed that the country needed a commander of the Napoleonic school to return lands lost in the recent war with Russia. Old King Charles XIII said: “If Napoleon quarrels with Alexander, what a great opportunity we will have to return Finland! The Crown Prince will command the army, and I will command the fleet!”
The matter was decided by Fournier, Bernadotte's envoy. Through manipulation and outright deception, he made the Swedish government believe that he was speaking on behalf of Napoleon, and he expressed full support for the election of his marshal.
Coronation of Crown Prince Bernadotte as King of Sweden and Norway at Nidaros Cathedral, 1818.
Bernadotte, son of the prosecutor of the city of Pau, entered military service in the royal army in 1780. Walking with his Brassac infantry regiment across the expanses of France, he sewed the stripes of a senior sergeant onto his uniform. Even then, he received his famous nickname “Sergeant Pretty Leg” for his beautiful gait and relaxed demeanor. The revolution and the war with Austria made him an officer. Kleber appointed him brigadier general. In 1797, Bernadotte left the Army of the Rhine to support Bonaparte in Italy.
After the conclusion of the peace treaty, Bonaparte gives him subordinate command. Then the Directory entrusts him with a short ambassadorial mission in Vienna, and from July to September 1799 he is the Minister of War of France. Bernadotte reorganizes the army, which is in a deplorable state, but the Directory removes him from office. Such antipathy seemed a sign to Bonaparte. But Bernadotte refuses to participate in the coup d'état 18 Brumaire, which costs him his reputation as a neo-Jacobin. Having become commander of the Western Army, he is rumored to be involved in the “butter cans” conspiracy (through which anti-Bonapartist tickets circulated). Moreover, he married Desiree Clary, Bonaparte's former fiancée, and was supported by the daughter-in-law of Joseph, Napoleon's brother.
Bernadotte, among the first eighteen, became marshal on May 19, 1804, and received the title of Prince of Ponte Corvo two years later, despite the fact that he showed himself rather reservedly in major battles - for example, at Austerlitz ( December 2, 1805). In the double battle of Auerstadt and Jena, October 14, 1806, Bernadotte, tasked with supporting Davout's corps against a large column of the Prussian army, began to move only in the evening! It seems that Napoleon is not even angry with him...
But when it comes to pursuing the remnants of the Prussian army, he puts on seven-league boots and walks throughout Prussia from south to north. Having forced Blücher to capitulate in the open field, he treated the captured officers of the Swedish detachment, imprisoned in Lübeck, with exceptional politeness and respect. This exemplary behavior in the eyes of Stockholm, as well as Sweden's desire to get closer to France in order to confront Russia, have an unexpected consequence: on August 21, 1810, the Swedes choose this French marshal as hereditary prince of Sweden. Napoleon does not oppose this: after all, the French marshal on the throne of Gustave-Adolphe is one of the most beautiful games played with England.
But for now Bernadotte is still fighting under the command of Napoleon. It was during the Polish campaign, in 1807, that he showed his best abilities as a commander. He conducts a brilliant maneuver with Bennigsen's Russian army, which allowed Napoleon to occupy Eylau ( February 8, 1807).
Again, his corps does not take part in either this last battle or the Battle of Friedland ( June 14, 1807). Ultimately, Bernadotte is removed by the Emperor and entrusted with the Saxon corps, which he commands at Wagram ( July 5-6, 1809). The corps cannot take the Prussian lines and is bogged down in attacks throughout the first day of the battle ( 5'th of July). The next day, while the forces under Napoleon's command begin to push back the enemy, and victory is inevitable, he calls out to his relaxed troops, and they overthrow the enemy.
Bernadotte, called to the Swedish throne on August 21, 1810 and favored by Charles XIII, turned out to be a real Swede. He renounced Catholicism and took the affairs of his future kingdom to heart. The interests of the new homeland collide with the interests of France. If Bernadotte initially yields to Napoleon’s orders, declaring war on England, then in 1812 he signs an alliance treaty with Tsar Alexander I. In 1813, Sweden enters the coalition against France. Bernadotte brings an army of 30,000 men and adds his knowledge of Napoleonic tactics. His army fights Oudinot's troops ( 23 August 1813) and Neya ( September 6, 1813). Under Leipzig ( October 16-19, 1813), he once again shows himself to be a good master of maneuver, but avoids crossing bayonets with his opponent.
During the French campaign of 1814, Bernadotte commanded the Army of the North. He captures his former homeland, passing through Holland and Belgium. Although not decisive, he played a role in the defeat of the French army. Some even spoke of him as the future king of France. This did not happen, but on January 14, 1814 Bernadotte received Norway as a reward for his service. On February 5, 1818, he succeeds Charles XIII on the throne, and becomes Charles XIV, King of Sweden and Norway. He is the ancestor of numerous monarchs who still reign today in Sweden and Norway, as well as in Luxembourg, Belgium and Denmark. The brilliant rise of the former Republican sergeant nicknamed Pretty Legs, who was said to have a "Death to Kings" tattoo on his chest!
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Napoleon, St. Island Elena
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From track record
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