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Questions about Jean-Andoche Junot

Short answers, pulled from the story.

How did Jean-Andoche Junot first meet Napoleon Bonaparte?

Junot met Bonaparte at the Siege of Toulon in late 1793. Bonaparte needed someone with good handwriting to write a letter, and Junot volunteered. A cannonball narrowly missed Junot during the encounter, and he responded with jokes, making a lasting impression.

What was the Convention of Cintra?

The Convention of Cintra was an agreement signed in 1808 after the French defeat at the Battle of Vimeiro. It allowed Junot's army to evacuate Portugal with their weapons, baggage, and the loot they had gathered, rather than being captured. The terms caused significant outrage in Britain.

Why did Junot never become a Marshal of the Empire?

Napoleon chose not to make Junot a Marshal despite his loyalty and service. After Junot was blamed for allowing the Russian army to escape at the Battle of Smolensk in August 1812, Napoleon vowed never to grant him a marshal's baton. Junot argued he had been unfairly blamed by Joachim Murat.

What title did Napoleon give Junot after the Portuguese campaign?

Napoleon granted Junot the victory title of Duke of Abrantes (Duc d'Abrantès) following his successful seizure of Lisbon in 1807.

What caused Junot's mental decline in his final years?

Medical opinion at the time attributed his deteriorating mental state to inflammation of the brain, believed to be a long-term consequence of the numerous head injuries he had sustained throughout his military career, including sabre cuts at Lonato, a face wound in 1811, and a serious injury in a duel during the Egyptian campaign.

Who was Laure Junot?

Laure Martin de Permond was Junot's wife, whom he married in 1800. She was a long-time friend of the Bonaparte family. Napoleon paid most of the wedding expenses, provided her dowry, and gave lavish gifts to the couple.