"The White Terror of 1815: Royalist reprisals against" Topic

…Napoleon's generals

"Despite the loss of the Battle of Waterloo, the French army could still be rallied to defend Paris but the politicians in Paris sensed the shift in fortunes and began calling for a change in government. Napoleon ignored the advice of such diverse political figures as Marshal Davout, General Carnot, and his brother Lucien Bonaparte and abdicated rather than using the military to repress any political opponents. Davout, as Minister of War, still controlled the army and was determined to protect the French army to prevent civil war and give the new government a stronger negotiating position with the Allies.

The French provisional government and Marshal Davout opened negotiations with the Duke of Wellington and Field Marshal Blücher to surrender Paris to the Allied armies. As part of this agreement, the French army would be ordered south of the Loire where they would stand down and not resist. A French victory at Rocquencourt on July 1st bloodied the Prussians and helped to show the Allies that France was far from defeated. As part of the terms, the French citizens who had supported Napoleon during the Hundred Days would not be punished for their actions during the Hundred Days. The Convention of Saint-Cloud was signed on July 3rd, 1815…"

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Armand

A grim business and a mark against the Allies for not enforcing their agreement. On the other hand one can understand the White's fear, shame, and anger at their humiliation from loss of authority during the 100 Days.

I thought it was remarkable how the most senior officers were rehabilitated and subsequently rose further through the ranks, even the odd Marshalate or two. Legally, I think, for them, the crucial point was when did they declare for Napoleon.

If Louis was still in Paris as the king, then Ney, la Bedoyere etc would face a firing squad. Once he had fled and left France in a vacuum, the higher ranks had that excuse of necessity. The White Terror seems to have hit the middle ranking officers worse.

Thanks

Armand

Just a few who ended up as Marshals of France, despite serving Napoleon in 1815. d'Erlon, Gerard, Reille, Lobau, Grouchy kept his title and more.

And mostly of them condemned Ney…

Armand