A Pre-professional Institution: Napoleon’s Marshalate and the Defeat of 1813 Metadata

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Title

  • Main Title A Pre-professional Institution: Napoleon’s Marshalate and the Defeat of 1813

Creator

  • Author: Smith, Eric C.
    Creator Type: Personal

Contributor

  • Chair: Leggiere, Michael V.
    Contributor Type: Personal
    Contributor Info: Major Professor
  • Committee Member: Lowe, Richard G.
    Contributor Type: Personal
  • Committee Member: McCaslin, Richard B.
    Contributor Type: Personal

Publisher

  • Name: University of North Texas
    Place of Publication: Denton, Texas
    Additional Info: www.unt.edu

Date

  • Creation: 2014-08

Language

  • English

Description

  • Content Description: Napoleon’s defeat in 1813 generates a number of explanations from historians regarding why he lost this epic campaign which ultimately resulted in France losing control over the German states. Scholars discussing the French marshalate of the Napoleonic era frequently assert that these generals could not win battles without the emperor present. Accustomed to assuming a subordinate role under Bonaparte’s direct supervision, these commanders faltered when deprived of the strong hand of the master. This thesis contributes to this historiographical argument by positing that the pre-professional nature of Napoleon’s marshalate precluded them from adapting to the evolving nature of warfare during the First French Empire. Emerging from non-military backgrounds and deriving their capabilities solely from practical experience, the marshals failed to succeed at endeavors outside of their capacity. An examination of the military administration of the Old Regime, the effects of the French Revolution on the French generalate, and the circumstances under which Bonaparte labored when creating the imperial marshalate demonstrates that issues systemic to the French high command contributed to French defeat in 1813. This thesis also provides evidence that Napoleon understood this problem and attempted to better prepare his marshals for independent command by instructing them in his way of war during the 1813 campaign.
  • Physical Description: vi, 195 pages : color illustrations, color maps

Subject

  • Keyword: Napoleon
  • Keyword: First French Empire
  • Keyword: Marshalate
  • Keyword: independent command
  • Keyword: 1813 campaign
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings: Napoleon -- Emperor of the French -- 1769-1821 -- Military leadership.
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings: France -- History, Military -- 19th century.
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings: France -- History, Military -- 1789-1815.
  • Library of Congress Subject Headings: Napoleonic Wars, 1800-1815 -- Campaigns.

Coverage

  • Place Name: France
  • Start Date: 1789
  • End Date: 1815

Collection

  • Name: UNT Theses and Dissertations
    Code: UNTETD

Institution

  • Name: UNT Libraries
    Code: UNT

Rights

  • Rights Access: public
  • Rights Holder: Smith, Eric C.
  • Rights License: copyright
  • Rights Statement: Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Resource Type

  • Thesis or Dissertation

Format

  • Text

Identifier

  • Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc699890

Degree

  • Academic Department: Department of History
  • Degree Discipline: History
  • Degree Level: Master's
  • Degree Name: Master of Arts
  • Degree Grantor: University of North Texas
  • Degree Publication Type: thesi

Note

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