French General, Marshal of France, 1st Duke of Ragusa, and Author. Born Auguste Frederic Louis Viesse de Marmont, his father served as an officer in the French Army. He followed his father's footsteps and became an officer in the French Artillery, where he became acquainted with Napoleon Bonaparte. He served with him during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792 until 1802) and as his aide-de-camp in the Napoleonic Wars that followed, during which he was promoted to the military rank of general and governor-general of all the Illyrian provinces. When Napoleon was defeated in 1814 and exiled to the Island of Elba, he switched allegiances to the newly installed Bourbon King Louis VIII and remained loyal to him when Napoleon escaped from Elba and regained control of France during the Hundred Days. When the House of Bourbon was overthrown during the French Revolution of 1830, he accompanied the deposed King Charles X to exile in Austria. He travelled throughout Europe, desiring to return to France, but was never permitted and he ended up settling in Vienna, Austria. While in exile, he wrote books describing the historic events that he experienced, including "Voyage en Hongrie" (1837, 4 volumes), "Voyage en Sicile" (1838), "Esprit des institutions militaires" (1845), and "Cesar; Xenophon; and Memoires" (1856, 8 volumes, published after his death). Among his honors include Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (1804), and in 1820 a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit and a Grand Officer of the Order of St Louis. He died at the age of 77.
French General, Marshal of France, 1st Duke of Ragusa, and Author. Born Auguste Frederic Louis Viesse de Marmont, his father served as an officer in the French Army. He followed his father's footsteps and became an officer in the French Artillery, where he became acquainted with Napoleon Bonaparte. He served with him during the French Revolutionary Wars (1792 until 1802) and as his aide-de-camp in the Napoleonic Wars that followed, during which he was promoted to the military rank of general and governor-general of all the Illyrian provinces. When Napoleon was defeated in 1814 and exiled to the Island of Elba, he switched allegiances to the newly installed Bourbon King Louis VIII and remained loyal to him when Napoleon escaped from Elba and regained control of France during the Hundred Days. When the House of Bourbon was overthrown during the French Revolution of 1830, he accompanied the deposed King Charles X to exile in Austria. He travelled throughout Europe, desiring to return to France, but was never permitted and he ended up settling in Vienna, Austria. While in exile, he wrote books describing the historic events that he experienced, including "Voyage en Hongrie" (1837, 4 volumes), "Voyage en Sicile" (1838), "Esprit des institutions militaires" (1845), and "Cesar; Xenophon; and Memoires" (1856, 8 volumes, published after his death). Among his honors include Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (1804), and in 1820 a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit and a Grand Officer of the Order of St Louis. He died at the age of 77.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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