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HISTORY OF EUROPE.

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CHAPTER XX.

VOL. III.

Erratum-In p. 445, Note, for Admiral Gautheaume, read Admiral Gantheaume,

urns to Faris-His

on there-Receives the Command from the Directory on the 13th Vendemaire-His marriage with Josephine-Her History, and remarkable Adventure at the Fall of Robespierre-and Character- He marries her, and receives the command of the Army of Italy-State of Italian Military forceCalamities which the French Invasion brought on the Peninsula-State of the French Army when Napoleon assumed the command-Character of its OfficersBerthier-Massena-Augereau-Serrurier-Amount of the Allied Forces-Napoleon's first Proclamation to his Soldiers-His Plan of the Campaign-Battle of Montenotte-Heroic Conduct of Colonel Rampon-Success of the FrenchAction at Millesimo, and at Dego-Bold Advance of Wuckassowich to Dego, which, at first successful, being unsupported, at length fails-Arrival of the Republicans on the Heights of Monte Zemolo-Actions of Serrurier with Colli-Danger of Napoleon-Action at Mondovi-Immense Advantages gained to the French by these Operations-Consternation of the Court of Turin-They resolve to submit to France-Armistice-Its conditions, followed by a Treaty of Peace between France and Sardinia-Its immense importance to Napoleon-His triumphant Proclamation to his Soldiers-Intoxication at Paris on this Intelligence-Designs of NapoleonHe crosses the Po, and proceeds against Beaulieu-Action at Fombio-Capitulation of the Grand Duke of Parma-Commencement of Napoleon's System of levying Contribution of the Works of Art-Terrible Passage of the Bridge of Lodi-Napoleon enters Milan-His Proclamation there to his troops-Enthusiasm excited by VOL. III.

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HISTORY OF EUROPE.

CHAPTER XX.

CAMPAIGN OF 1796 IN ITALY.

ARGUMENT.

Birth and Parentage of Napoleon-His Character, Residence, and Habits when in Corsica-Removed to the Military School at Brienne-His Character thereIs sent to the Ecole Militaire at Paris-Progress and Developement of his Character-Enters the army-and with his Regiment espouses the cause of the Revolution-His first service in Corsica-and at the Siege of Toulon-His first acquaintance with Junot-Is attached to Dumerbion's Army in the Maritime Alps-Sent to Genoa, where he is arrested and liberated-Returns to Paris-His destitute condition there-Receives the Command from the Directory on the 13th Vendemaire-His marriage with Josephine-Her History, and remarkable Adventure at the Fall of Robespierre-and Character- He marries her, and receives the command of the Army of Italy-State of Italian Military forceCalamities which the French Invasion brought on the Peninsula-State of the French Army when Napoleon assumed the command-Character of its OfficersBerthier-Massena-Augereau-Serrurier-Amount of the Allied Forces-Napoleon's first Proclamation to his Soldiers-His Plan of the Campaign-Battle of Montenotte-Heroic Conduct of Colonel Rampon-Success of the FrenchAction at Millesimo, and at Dego-Bold Advance of Wuckassowich to Dego, which, at first successful, being unsupported, at length fails-Arrival of the Republicans on the Heights of Monte Zemolo-Actions of Serrurier with Colli-Danger of Napoleon-Action at Mondovi-Immense Advantages gained to the French by these Operations-Consternation of the Court of Turin-They resolve to submit to France-Armistice-Its conditions, followed by a Treaty of Peace between France and Sardinia-Its immense importance to Napoleon-His triumphant Proclamation to his Soldiers-Intoxication at Paris on this Intelligence-Designs of NapoleonHe crosses the Po, and proceeds against Beaulieu-Action at Fombio-Capitulation of the Grand Duke of Parma-Commencement of Napoleon's System of levying Contribution of the Works of Art Terrible Passage of the Bridge of Lodi-Napoleon enters Milan-His Proclamation there to his troops-Enthusiasm excited by VOL. III.

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CHAP.
XX.

these Successes among the Popular Party in Italy-Cruel dispelling of the illusion by the French Contributions-War made to support War-The Directory, jealous of his power, orders Napoleon to proceed to Rome-He refuses-Alarming Insurrection at Pavia-Storm and Sack of that City by the French Troops-Napoleon enters Brescia and the Venetian Territory-Debates in the Venetian Senate on what should be done-They merely deprecate the hostility of France-Massena enters Verona, and Napoleon is established on the Adige-Description and Blockade of Mantua-Napoleon resolves to proceed against Florence and Rome before the Austrian succours arrive-Castle of Milan taken-Genoese Fiefs subdued-Enters Modena and Bologna-Submission of the Pope-Violation of the neutral territory of Tuscany and seizure of Leghorn-Massacre of the Peasants at Lugo-Efforts of the Austrians for the relief of Mantua-Advance of Wurmser through the Tyrol with 30,000 men-Description of the Theatre of WarAustrian plan of attack, and great success in the outset-Extreme peril of Napoleon-He raises the Siege of Mantua-Napoleon resumes the offensive, and stops Quasdanowich-Wurmser enters Mantua-Battles of Lonato and Castiglione - Surrender of 4000 Austrians to Napoleon's Staff and 1200 men-Decisive Battle at Medola-Retreat of the Austrians-Blockade of Mantua resumedFormation of the Polish Legion-Wurmser again advances, and the French issue forth to meet him-Defeat of Davidowich near Calliano-Napoleon advances against Wurmser-Action near Primo Lano in the Val Sugana- Wurmser defeated near Bassano by Massena, and throws himself into Mantua-Results of these actions-Vast efforts of both sides to recruit their forces-Alvinzi again advances-Defeat of Vaubois by the Imperialists-Napoleon hastens in person to the Plateau of Rivoli-Returns to Caldiero, and is defeated there by AlvinziHis desperate situation-His new designs-He moves down the Adige to turn the position of Caldiero by Arcola-Dreadful struggle there-Operations of Davidowich-Result of these Actions-Extraordinary joy at Paris-Mission of Clarke to Negociate for Peace-Thwarted by Napoleon-Vast efforts of the Austrians-They make a fourth attempt to relieve Mantua-Advance to RivoliDecisive Victory of Napoleon-He hastens to the Lower Adige-Operations of Provera there, who is forced to surrender-Results of these Battles-Surrender of Mantua-Napoleon marches towards Rome-Treaty of Tolentino between France and the Pope-Retrospect of the Campaign-Extraordinary Composition of the French Army-Great Genius of Napoleon-His System of War-But it will not succeed against Troops equally brave and skilful-Causes of the Disasters of the Austrians-General Reflections on the result of the CampaignUnconquerable tenacity of the Austrians.

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE was born at Ajaccio, in Corsica, on the 15th August, 1769. The Duke of 1796. Wellington was born in the same month. "Providence," said Louis XVIII., "owed us that counterpoise." 1

'Bour. i. 18. Sherer, 1. Las Cas. i. 137.

1

His family, though noble, had not been distinguished; and had suffered severely from misfor

tune.

XX.

1796.

family of

Napoleon.

He was too great a man to attempt to derive CHAP. distinction from any adventitious advantages which did not really belong to him, and could afford to discard all the lustre of patrician descent. When the Emperor of Austria endeavoured, after he became Birth and his son-in-law, to trace his connexion with some of the obscure Dukes of Treviso, he answered that he was the Rudolph of Hapsbourg of his family; and when the genealogists were engaged in deducing his descent from an ancient line of Gothic princes, he 'Las Cas. i. cut short their labours by declaring, that his patent Bour. i. 23. of nobility dated from the battle of Montenotte. '

108, 112.

His mother, who was distinguished by great beauty, and no common firmness and intrepidity of mind, shared in the fatigues and dangers of her husband during the civil dissensions which distracted the island at the time of his birth, and had recently before been engaged in some expeditions on horseback with him. His father died at the age of thirtyeight, of a cancer in his stomach, a complaint hereditary in his family, and which also proved fatal to Napoleon himself; but the want of paternal care was more than supplied by his mother, to whose early education and solicitude he, in after life, mainly ascribed his elevation.* Though left a widow in the Las Cas. i. prime of life, his mother had already born thirteen children, of whom five sons and three daughters sur-i. 100. vived their father. She lived to see one of them D'Abr. ii. wearing the crown of Charlemagne, and another seated on the throne of Charles V.2

On the day of his birth, being the Festival of the Assumption, she had been at church, and was seized with her pains during high mass. She was brought

"My opinion," said Napoleon, “is, that the future good or bad conduct of a child depends entirely on the mother."-O'Meara, ii. 100.

117, 119,

120.

O'Meara,

376-377.

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