Jean-Andoche Junot
Jean-Andoche Junot was born on the 25th of September 1771 in Bussy-le-Grand, Burgundy. He entered a bourgeois family as the fifth son of Michel Junot and Marie Antoinette Bienaymé. His early education took place in Montbard and Châtillon before he studied law in Dijon. By the start of the French Revolution, he worked as a law clerk in Chaumont. He embraced the revolutionary cause with fervor and attended the Fête de la Fédération in Paris on the 14th of July 1790. On the 9th of July 1791, he became a founding member of his hometown's National Guard. He served as captain of its 1st company that same year. Later in 1791, he enlisted as a grenadier in the 2nd Battalion of Volunteers of Côte-d'Or. During the War of the First Coalition, he received his first battle wound on the 11th of June 1792 at an unspecified location. He was promoted to sergeant shortly after this injury. A second wound occurred on the 16th of May 1793 while serving in the Army of the Rhine. His comrades gave him the nickname "the Tempest" during these early conflicts.
Junot was one of the first to be informed of Bonaparte's planned expedition to Egypt. He left for Egypt along with Bonaparte aboard the flagship l'Orient in May 1798. They took part in the capture of Malta during this journey. Junot fought at the Battle of the Pyramids on the 21st of July 1798 as a chef de brigade. He was promoted to brigade general on the 9th of January 1799. On the 8th of April 1799, he led the vanguard of Kléber's division against an Ottoman relief force near Nazareth. The enemy force was five times larger than his own troops. He retreated only after capturing five enemy standards. His actions prevented the Ottomans from reaching the city of Acre. However, he was badly injured shortly afterwards in a duel with General François Lanusse. Lanusse had insulted Bonaparte, which initiated the conflict. In October 1799, he was captured by a British ship while returning to France. There he met Horatio Nelson before eventually making it back to France.
Napoleon appointed Junot commander-in-chief of the Corps d'observation de
la Gironde on the 29th of July 1807. This army was destined for an invasion of Portugal. It assembled in Bayonne over the next two months and received Spanish reinforcement under the Treaty of Fontainebleau on the 27th of October 1807. Departing on the 17th of October at the head of about 26,500 soldiers, Junot led his troops through Spain. They crossed into Portugal at Segura on the 19th of November. Facing little resistance, his army advanced towards Lisbon. They seized Castelo Branco on the 20th of November and Abrantes two days later. On the 24th of November, he learned that Prince João was preparing to flee to Brazil. Junot entered Lisbon without a fight on the 30th of November, three days after the royal family's departure. He set up headquarters at the Quintela Palace as head of military administration. From late December 1807 to March 1808, he enacted measures including disbanding the Portuguese Army. Around 9,000 soldiers joined the Grande Armée's Portuguese Legion during this period.
In 1811,
Junot was shot in the face while commanding the VIII Corps under Marshal André Masséna. This caused serious damage requiring surgery. Complications related to this injury were blamed for his later mental decline. At the beginning of 1812, he took leave to restore his ill health. He rejoined the army upon announcement of the Russian campaign. He was blamed for allowing the Russian army to retreat following the Battle of Smolensk on the 17th of August. However, at the Battle of Borodino on the 7th of September 1812, he commanded competently. His performance at Smolensk led to removal from command and infuriated Napoleon. In May 1813, he became Governor of the Illyrian Provinces. His mental state deteriorated rapidly there. On one occasion, he attended a ball held by Auguste de Marmont in Ragusa fully nude except for dancing shoes. Later, he suffered a sudden attack of inflammation to the brain. This left him incapacitated and likely resulted from long-term consequences of numerous head injuries.
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Common questions
When and where was Jean-Andoche Junot born?
Jean-Andoche Junot was born on the 25th of September 1771 in Bussy-le-Grand, Burgundy. He entered a bourgeois family as the fifth son of Michel Junot and Marie Antoinette Bienaymé.
What nickname did comrades give Jean-Andoche Junot during early conflicts?
His comrades gave him the nickname the Tempest during these early conflicts. This occurred while he served in the Army of the Rhine and received wounds on the 11th of June 1792 and the 16th of May 1793.
How did Jean-Andoche Junot die according to historical records?
Jean-Andoche Junot died from a sudden attack of inflammation to the brain which left him incapacitated. This condition likely resulted from long-term consequences of numerous head injuries sustained throughout his military career.
Why was Napoleon furious with Jean-Andoche Junot after Smolensk?
Napoleon became infuriated because Jean-Andoche Junot was blamed for allowing the Russian army to retreat following the Battle of Smolensk on the 17th of August. His performance at this battle led to removal from command despite competent actions later at Borodino.
When did Jean-Andoche Junot enter Lisbon without a fight?
Jean-Andoche Junot entered Lisbon without a fight on the 30th of November 1807. He set up headquarters at the Quintela Palace as head of military administration three days after the royal family's departure.