André Masséna

André Masséna was born at Nice on 6 May 1758 — the city was then Savoyard. His father, Jules Masséna, a tanner, died when André was six. The family lived in poverty. In 1775, the young man enlisted in the Royal-Italian regiment and served until 1789. He left the army with the rank of sergeant, opened a shop in Antibes — he sold hardware — and married a woman of modest condition. The Revolution changed everything. In 1791, he enlisted in the Var volunteers. In 1792, he was a captain; in 1793, brigadier general. War opened careers; Masséna climbed them at the point of his sword.

He served in Italy under Schérer, then under Bonaparte. At Loano in November 1795, he led a decisive attack that opened the road to Genoa. In 1796-1797, during the Italian campaign, he distinguished himself at Lodi, at the bridge of Arcola — where Bonaparte cited him in the bulletins —, at Rivoli. The Battle of Rivoli, on 14 January 1797, was his masterpiece: he held Alvinzy's Austrians, enabling Napoleon to concentrate his forces and crush the enemy. Napoleon dubbed him « the Darling Child of Victory ». In 1799, during the Second Coalition, Masséna commanded the Army of Switzerland. At Zurich, on 25 and 26 September, he defeated Korsakov's Russians and the Austrians, saving France from invasion. The victory was decisive; Masséna became a legend.

In 1800, he defended besieged Genoa for two months. The Austrians blockaded the city; famine decimated the garrison and population. Masséna capitulated on 4 June — two weeks before Marengo. Had he held a few days longer, the campaign might have taken another course. Napoleon held it against him for a time, but the Consulate consecrated him: marshal in 1804, Duke of Rivoli in 1808 after the title was revived during the 1805 Italian campaign. Masséna was a soldier by instinct, brave, tireless — and greedy. He accumulated a fortune through « regulated » plunder of conquered territories. Contemporaries portrayed him as avaricious, brutal, but irresistible in battle.

In 1809, Masséna commanded the 4th Corps during the Austrian campaign. At the Battle of Essling, on 21 and 22 May, the French attempted to cross the Danube facing Archduke Charles. The bridges gave way under the floods; Masséna, commanding the left wing, held the Austrian assaults in the village of Essling. Lannes died at his side. The battle was indecisive; Napoleon had to evacuate the north bank. In July, at Wagram, Masséna held the left wing and enabled victory. Napoleon made him Prince of Essling. But Masséna was fifty-one; his wounds, his excesses, his poor health were beginning to tell.

In 1810, Napoleon entrusted him with command of the Army of Portugal. The objective: drive out Wellington and take Lisbon. Masséna invaded Portugal in September, repulsed the British at Busaco, but Wellington withdrew behind the Lines of Torres Vedras — a system of fortifications that French intelligence had not identified. Masséna halted. Rain, lack of supplies, British raids exhausted the army. In March 1811, after five months of immobility, Masséna ordered the retreat. It was a failure. Napoleon dismissed him. « Masséna has lost his energy. He no longer sees except through his mistress's eyes. » The remark was cruel; the marshal would never receive an important command again.

He withdrew to his estates — he owned the Château de Rueil, properties in Italy. In 1814, he rallied to the Bourbons. Louis XVIII made him a peer of France, governor of the 8th military division (Marseille). He did not take part in the Hundred Days. He died in Paris on 4 April 1817, aged fifty-eight, from liver disease. His funeral was a state occasion. Napoleon, on Saint Helena, had said of him: « Masséna was the first of the marshals for boldness, perseverance, strength of character. » The judgment paid tribute to the soldier while recalling that Napoleonic glory knew how to reward — and break — its bravest servants.

The Battle of Zurich, on 25 and 26 September 1799, remains one of Masséna's finest feats of arms. France was threatened: Suvorov's and Korsakov's Russians were converging on Switzerland; the Austrians occupied the north. Masséna received command of the Army of Switzerland in desperate conditions. The troops were exhausted, poorly equipped, demoralised. In two days, he concentrated his forces, attacked Korsakov at Zurich and crushed him. Suvorov, hurrying to the scene, had to turn back. Switzerland was liberated. The Directory awarded him a sword of honour; contemporaries compared the victory to Marignano.

The following year, in 1800, Masséna endured the opposite ordeal. At Genoa, he was besieged by General Melas's Austrians. The city lacked supplies; the starving population demanded surrender. Masséna imposed iron discipline, had minimal rations distributed, organised sorties to recover provisions. Street fighting against the Austrians who had breached the walls was extremely violent. On 4 June, after sixty days of siege, he capitulated — with the honours of war. Two weeks later, Bonaparte won at Marengo. History would record that had Masséna held a few days longer, Melas might have abandoned the siege to face the reserve army. The Nice « ironmonger » had proved he knew how to defend as well as attack — and that glory could be as cruel as it was magnificent.