As many Napoleonic history buffs are already aware, the Fondation Napoléon has recently published the the entirety of Napoleon’s correspondence online (here). This will be the first part of a series of translations of the Emperor’s letters to Murat. Rather than going from earliest to latest, I’m starting with the letters from the beginning of Murat’s reign as King of Naples, as these will tie into a couple of other longer-term research projects of mine–an in-depth look at the Napoleon/Murat relationship, and a study of Murat’s abortive attempt to conquer Sicily in 1810 (and the disastrous impact this episode had on his relationship with Napoleon). This first set of letters range from 17 July – 25 October 1808, cover Murat’s pending departure to Naples, Napoleon’s advice and orders to him in the aftermath of his arrival, and his ensuing capture of Capri. I’ll be including all of the footnotes in the Fondation Napoléon’s published versions.

***

(Correspondance Générale 8 – 18606)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples[1]
Bayonne, 17 July 1808

My brother, I have received your letter. I am pleased to see that the waters are doing you good.[2]

I am going to tell you some good news. On the 14^th of July, General Cuesta, at the head of 35,000 men, was encountered at Medina de Rio Seco. Of these 35,000 men, there were 25,000 troops of the line, making up the entire army of Galicia and Oporto.[3] They occupied a superb position, defended by forty pieces of cannon. At six o’clock in the morning, Marshal Bessières marched on them with 15,000 men, took all their positions, put them in the most complete rout, took several thousand prisoners, killed five to six thousand of them, took all their artillery and dispersed the army.

The fugitives withdrew to several points. We had only 250 wounded and 30 killed. Among the latter is the colonel of the 22^nd Chasseurs[4], an officer of distinguished merit. General Darmagnac was lightly wounded[5]; General Merle had two horses killed. This affair will give us all of Galicia and decide the affairs of Spain. This affair took place on the 14^th of July. The army charged to the cries of Vive l’Empereur! And No more Bourbons in Europe!

Announce this news, which is very important. The King[6] was in Burgos and has departed for Madrid.

Nap

Don’t print anything, but read my letter to Lannes and Ney, who would do well to hurry up and drink the waters.[7]

*****

(CG8 – 18679)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Agen, 30 July 1808

My  brother, I have received your letter. I am pleased to see that your health is getting better.

The news from the Duchy of Berg is not satisfactory.[8] Your agents are packing and sending to the left bank; your studs[9] are heading towards Tyrol. This has a detestable effect in the country and throughout Germany. Is it worth it to show such greed for baubles? In any event, if you hold on to your studs, do not be certain you will have them after two weeks or a month. This is thoughtless and hurts public opinion. Write and give orders that nothing be taken away, and that no kind of greed is shown.

The heat is so strong that I fear that, if you put yourself on the road too promptly, you will not be able to bear it.[10] Take care of your health first, that is the main thing.[11]

Napol

*****

(CG8 – 18720)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 18 August 1808

My brother, I have given you the command of my army of Naples. I see nothing inconvenient about General Reynier[12] being Minister of War, if that suits you. You can pass through Milan.

You can only see the Pope when he has recognized you.

Before raising new troops, you must know if you have the money.

There is nothing to do for the Archipelago[13], where we are at peace with the Porte.

I will be pleased to see you depart as soon as possible.[14]

Napol

*****

(CG8 – 18821)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 3 September 1808

My brother, I have received your letter from 21 August, in which you inform me that you are going to Naples. I suppose that you have arrived there by now.[15] I am very impatient to know you are there, in order to be without worry as to the tranquility of this country.[16]

Nap

*****

(CG8 – 18932)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 15 September 1808

My brother, I have received your letters from Rome[17] with all the details they contained. I will be happy if you will let me know what is happening in this country.

The army you have to maintain is reduced by two regiments. Bring all the units together, and take the greatest care in the organization of this army. Pay them on time and outfit them well.

I am departing on the 20^th for Erfurt[18] where I have an interview with the Emperor of Russia. He has recognized you, and his minister is en route to Naples, he will receive yours.

You are the master of doing whatever you want in regard to M. Baudus.[19][20]

Nap

*****

(CG8 – 18954)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 18 September 1808

My brother, I have received the status of the army of Naples as of the 1^st of September. I would have liked to know the number and numeral of the battalions which are with each regiment as well as their ability to be at full strength at 140 men per company.

I see also that the units are not united. Why does the 10^th have 198 men in the government of Naples, the 20^th 70 men? Why aren’t the three battalions of the 102^nd united in Naples? Why is the regiment of La Tour d’Auvergne not united into one regiment? Why is the 20^th not united in the same place? It has detachments in three different places.[21]

Np

*****

(CG8 – 18955)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 18 September 1808

My brother, I have received your letter from […][22] I am happy to learn of your entry into Naples, and that you are content with the spirit of your people.

We must tread lightly with arming citizens, or at least only arming proprietors.

The capture of Capri would be a good result; it would signal your arrival all the better as it would make the English fear for Sicily, which would be very useful.

I could ask for nothing better than to make the expedition to Sicily this winter; but you need to know how many people the English have there, and how many troops you will need for it.

Distinguish yourself and make yourself loved, and know that this can only happen by putting your finances in the greatest order.[23]

Np

*****

(CG8 – 19002)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Erfurt, 30 September 1808

My brother, I have received your letter from the 17^th of September. Erfurt is very brilliant. Things are going well with the Emperor.[24]

Nap

*****

(CG8 – 19078)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 19 October 1808

My brother, I have learned with the greatest pleasure of the events of Capri.[25] I wish to have a detailed account of it sent to the Minister of War[26], so it can be printed. As soon as you can do so, remove the grenadiers from this post; put some Neapolitans there, some Corsicans and some men from the regiment of Isenbourg; my intention is that no French remain on the islands. I look forward to learning that the fort has been taken.

My chargé d’affaires Alberti[27] has sent me a letter written to him by the Marquis de Gallo regarding the influence that you would have had on the affairs of Rome during your stay in that city. This approach by M. de Gallo makes no sense. If it was you who prescribed it, you were wrong to get involved in things that don’t concern you, especially when it is against my interests. Since when have we seen a foreign minister[28] write to a chargé d’affaires about such nonsense.

I have received your letter from the 9^th of October. I long to learn of the surrender of the fort of Capri. I suppose batteries were made so it cannot communicate with the sea.

As soon as I know the number of troops you need to undertake the expedition to Sicily, I will see what can be done.[29]

Napol

*****

(CG8 – 19083)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 20 October 1808

My brother, independently of the status reports that you send to the Minister of War[30], I ask you to send me every Saturday a small status report on the army of Naples divided into three chapters, French army, Italian army, and Neapolitan army.[31]

Napole

*****

(CG8 – 19084)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Saint Cloud, 20 October 1808

My brother, you command an army of Naples. In this capacity, you should write to the Minister of War, and report everything to him, not through the channel of your chief of staff[32], but directly. This does not prevent you from writing to me, but it is with the minister that you must correspond to obtain your responses, and for everything which regards the army. Your chief of staff must write to send the status reports and give details. It is necessary that the Minister of War receive a letter from you every day with the movements.[33]

Np

*****

(CG8 – 19133)

Napoleon to Murat, King of Naples
Paris, 25 October 1808

My  brother, I have received your letter from the 14^th. I am eager to learn that the fort of Capri is taken.[34] I was pleased to see the support you provided there. Sixteen vessels of the line, ten frigates and four large transports might easily, this winter, depart from Toulon, go near Reggio, and, there, protect the crossing of 12 or 15,000 men to Sicily. How many spéronares or small gunboats will you have ready to that could facilitate the landing? I suppose that the batteries of Taranto are still fit to protect my squadron. I am leaving in a few days for Spain, where my troops are arriving.[35]

Napoleon

*****

---

[1] (Fondation Napoléon note) Murat was named King of Naples following the treaty signed on 15 July.

[2] (FN note) He is taking the waters of Barèges, in the company of Lannes and Ney.

[3] (FN note) To understand: a part of Taranco’s Spanish corps which had stayed in Portugal before defecting to join Galicia and Blake’s army.

[4] (FN note) Jean Baptiste Piéton-Prémale (1781-1808)

[5] (FN note) He was promoted general of division after having been vilified by Napoleon at the beginning of the year.

[6] (FN note) Joseph set out for the capital.

[7] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 24, d. 467, p. 114. [C 14213] 

[8] (FN note) Reports from Beugnot.

[9] (FN note) See CG8-18755.

[10] (FN note) Murat will leave Paris for Naples on the 22^nd of August.

[11] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 24, d. 467, p. 115.

[12] (FN note) He had taken this office on 31 July.

[13] (FN note) Cyclades Archipelago. This term refers to the Aegean Sea and its islands.

[14] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 1. [C 14260]

[15] (FN note) Murat will make his entry into Naples on 6 September at 5:00 PM.

[16] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 2. [C 14292] 

[17] (FN note) To understand: news from Rome sent from Albano in a letter of 4 September.

[18] (FN note) More precisely the 22^nd.

[19] (FN note) Jean-Louis Amable de Baudus, tutor of Achille Murat. The new King of Naples wishes to dismiss him “for proof of his perfidy.”

[20] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 3.

[21] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 4. 

[22] (FN note) Date left blank. This is the letter of 8 September in which Murat discusses the capture of Capri and the expedition against Sicily.

[23] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 5. [C 14339]

[24] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, p. 6. 

[25] (FN note) The island was attacked by the troops of Lamarque on 5 October; he seized it with the exception of the town of Capri and the fort. On 17 October, he forced the English governor, Hudson Lowe, to capitulate.

[26] (FN note) Clarke.

[27] (FN note) Chargé d’affaires of the Kingdom of Italy in Rome.

[28] (FN note) Gallo is the Minister of Foreign Affairs from Naples.

[29] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d. 479, fol. 7. 

[30] (FN note) French minister Clarke.

[31] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d.479, fol. 8.

[32] (FN note) Jean-Maximien Lamarque.

[33] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d.479, fol. 9.

[34] (FN note) Governor Hudson Lowe had surrendered on 17 October.

[35] (FN note) Expédition, Archives nationales, fonds Murat, 31 AP 25, d.479, fol. 10. [C 14411]