Joachim MURAT (1767-1815), - Lot 271

Lot n° 271
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3000 - 4000 EUR
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Result : 7 150EUR
Joachim MURAT (1767-1815), - Lot 271
Joachim MURAT (1767-1815), Marshal, King of Naples, (attributed to). Kingdom of Naples, created by King Murat on November 1, 1814. Medal of honor of Naples. In gold, flanked by two detached enameled flags; surmounted by a ribbon bow, crowned with a crown of fleurons. Center with left profile of King Murat on obverse and "Gioacchino Re Di Napoli" legend; white enameled reverse with "Onore E Fedelta" legend in black. Red ribbon with bouffette (insolate). Size: 32 x 25 mm. Gross weight: 6.12 g. T.T.B. First Empire period. Bearing the aluminum pastille from the collections of Prince Victor NAPOLEON stamped "1724" (detached). Provenance : -King Joachim MURAT -Marquise PEPOLI -Prince Victor NAPOLEON Collection n°1724 -Princess Marie-Clotilde, Count Jérôme de WITT -Acquired by Countess Viviane de WITT. Marquise PEPOLI, probably Letizia Murat, (1802-1859), daughter of Joachim and Caroline Murat. Historical background: In the summer of 1808, Joachim Murat, Grand Duke of Berg, replaced his brother-in-law Joseph Bonaparte on the throne of the Kingdom of Naples (1806-1815). In October, he took Capri, but failed to drive the Bourbons out of Sicily once and for all. After the defeat at Leipzig (Oct. 1813), Murat distanced himself from Napoleon and joined the coalition party. In January 1814, he allied himself with Austria, while continuing to deal with Napoleon. But the fall of the Emperor and Austrian pressure forced him to return to Naples in May. On November 1, 1814, Murat instituted the Medal of Honor to reward the loyalty of Neapolitans and the capital's internal security guards during the king's absence. Initially reserved for high-ranking military, civil and ecclesiastical dignitaries, the medal was extended by a new decree on December 1. It was discontinued after the King's departure in May 1815. The present insignia is said to have been worn by Murat himself. Prince Victor received it, along with others of similar provenance, from the Marquise Pepoli. According to the typed inventory book of Prince Victor Napoleon's collection, n°1724 is described as follows: Decoration awarded to the LEGIONS PROVINCIALES of the Kingdom of Naples, with red ribbon Biography: KING JOACHIM MURAT (1767-1815 Joachim Murat (1767-1815). Marshal of France, King of Naples Officer (1792) and aide-de-camp to Bonaparte in Italy (1796), he later took part in the 18 Brumaire and married Caroline Bonaparte (January 1800). Member of the Corps Législatif (1803), Governor of Paris (1804), Marshal (1804), Grand Admiral and Prince of the Empire (1805), Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves (March 1806-July 1808), he took part in the German campaign of 1806-1807 (surrender of Lübeck, Eylau, capture of Königsberg). Commander-in-chief of the Spanish army, he suppressed the Madrid insurrection (May 2, 1808). Becoming King of Naples (July) under the name of Joachim Napoleon, he seized Capri and carried out major reforms in his kingdom, including tax relief and the abolition of feudalism. Despite having conspired with Talleyrand and Fouché (1809), he escaped disgrace and took part in the Russian campaign, where he distinguished himself at Moskova. Put in charge of the army after Napoleon's departure (December 1812), he left his post to Prince Eugène (January 1813) and returned to Naples. After fighting at Dresden and Leipzig, he signed a treaty with Vienna and London guaranteeing his States (January 11, 1814). He tried to rally to Napoleon during the Hundred Days and, after Waterloo, took refuge in Corsica, from where he attempted to reconquer his kingdom. Captured in Calabria, he was shot (October 13).
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