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Joachim Murat, (March 25, 1767 - October 13,
1815), a marshal of France, was King of Naples
from 1808 to 1815.

== Life Account ==

He was born to Pierre Murat-Jordy (1721 - 1799)
and Jeanne Loubieres (1721 - 1806). His father was
an innkeeper. 

Joachim rose in the French army to the rank of a
general. He married Napoleon Bonaparte's sister
Caroline Bonaparte|Caroline in 1800, and was made
a Marshal of France on  May 18, 1804.  Napoleon
also granted him the title of "First Horseman of
Europe". He was appointed duke of Berg (German
region)|Berg (in 1806 promoted to Grand
duke)(until 1808) in 1806, and in 1808 to king of
Naples.



A brilliant and dashing cavalry leader, Murat
played an important part in Napoleon's victories.
During Napoleon's defence of Tuileries (1795),
Murat was successful in stealing forty cannon from
the French National Guard. Without these cannon,
Tuileries would have fallen, and the French
Directory|Directory would not have become the
official government of France.  Murat was equally
useful in the Russian campaign (1812), and in the
Battle of Leipzig (1813). After Leipzig, however,
he reached (1814) an agreement with Austria in
order to save his own throne. During the Hundred
Days he deserted his new allies and re-joined
Napoleon. Defeated by the Austrians at Battle of
Tolentino|Tolentino, he fled to Corsica after
Napoleon's fall. In an attempt to regain Naples he
was arrested and executed.

:"When the fatal moment arrived, Murat walked with
a firm step to the place of execution, -- as calm,
as unmoved, as if he had been going to an ordinary
review. He would not accept a chair, nor suffer
his eyes to be bound. "I have braved death (said
he) too often to fear it." He stood upright,
proudly and undauntedly, with his countenance
towards the soldiers; and when all was ready, he
kissed a cornelian on which the head of his wife
was engraved, and gave the word -- thus, "Save my
face -- aim at my heart -- fire!""

== Children ==

He and Caroline were parents to four children:

*Napoleon Achille Murat (1801 - 1847). He was
married to Catherine Willis in 1826.
*Laetitia Josephine Murat (1802 - 1859). She was
married to Guido-Taddeo, Marquess Pepoli in 1823.
*Prince Napoleon Lucien Charles Murat (May 16,
1803 - April 10, 1878). He was an associate of his
first cousin Napoleon III of France. He married
Caroline Georgina Fraser in 1831. 
*Louise Julie Murat (March 22, 1805 - 1889). She
married Giullio, Count Rasponi.

==References==
Information about Murat's work in Tuileries found
in Blundering to Glory by Owen Connelly. 
pg.20-21.
==See also== 
* Marshal Michel Ney who also gave the command to
fire at his execution in 1815
* Neapolitan War

==Trivia==

One of his descendants is Rene Auberjonois
(actor)|Rene Auberjonois.

==External link==
*http://napoleonic-literature.com/Book_23/Chapter4
0-Murat.htm Napoleonic Literature

{| align="center" cellpadding="2" border="2"
|- align="center"
| width="30%" | Preceded by:
Joseph
Bonaparte|Joseph I
| width="40%" | List of monarchs of Naples and
Sicily|King of Naples
| width="30%" | Succeeded by:
Ferdinand I of
the Two Sicilies|Ferdinand IV
|}