Andre Masséna Biography

Dromo's Den

MASSÉNA, Andre, Duke of Rivoly, Prince of Essling (1758-1817). A marshal of France, born at Nice, May 6, 1758. In his youth he was a ship boy in a small vessel and afterward for 14 years served in an Italian regiment in the pay of France, but left the service in 1789 because his birth precluded him from promotion. He was married and settled at Nice when the French revolutionary wars began, but he at once volunteered and soon rose to be chief of battalion. In December, 1793, he was made a general of division. He distinguished himself in the Italian campaigns of 1794-95, particularly at Loano (Nov. 23, 1795), and in 1796 was put in command of the advance guard of the Army of Italy. He won renown at Arcole (Nov. 15-17, 1796) and Rivoli (Jan. 14, 1797). Bonaparte called him "the favorite child of victory." Masséna resigned his command on account of charges of rapacity, but at the close of 1798 he was put in command of the Army in Switzerland, which operated against the allied Austrian and Russian forces. He defeated the Russians under Korsakoff at Zurich, Sept. 25-26, 1799. In 1800 he was charged with the defense of Genoa, but after an heroic resistance of nearly two mouths was compelled to surrender the city to the Austrians in June. After the battle of Marengo Bonaparte gave him the command of the Army` of Italy. In 1804 he was made a marshal of the Empire. In 1805 he again commanded in Italy, ably manœuvring against Archduke Charles. In 1806 he compelled the surrender of Gaeta, and was largely instrumental in placing Joseph Bonaparte on the throne of Naples. After the battle of Eylau (Feb. 7-8, 1807) Masséna commanded the right wing of the French army, and after the Peace of Tilsit (q.v.) he was made Duke of Rivoli. He subsequently distinguished himself in the sanguinary battle of Aspern (Essling), in 1809, and at Wagram (q.v.) he commanded the left wing of the French army. For these services he was created Prince of Essling. In 1810 he was intrusted with the chief command in Portugal, and compelled the British and their allies to fall back to Lisbon; but, being unable to make any impression on Wellington's strong position at Torres Vedras, he resigned his command and retired in partial disgrace. His failure he attributed to the disobedience of his lieutenants Ney, Regnier, and Junot. During the Restoration he gave his adhesion to the Bourbons. He died April J, 1817. His Mémoires (7 vols., Paris, 1848-50) , edited by General Koch, contain historical matter of interest and value. Consult also: Toselli, Notice biographique sur Masséna (Nice, 1869); Edouard Gachat, Histoire militaire de Masséna (Paris, 1908); G. Fitzmaurice, "Masséna," in Royal United Service Association, Journal, vol. lvii (London, 1913).

The New International Encyclopaedia, Vol. XV (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1920) 228-229.