Born as the son of an innkeeper, he rose in the French army to the rank of a general. He married Napoleon Bonaparte's sister Caroline in 1800, and was made a Marshal of France on May 18, 1804. Napoleon also granted him the title of, "First Horseman of Europe". He was appointed grand duke of Berg in 1806, and in 1808 to king of Naples.
A brilliant and dashing cavalry leader, Murat played an important part in Napoleon's victories. During Napoleon's defense of Tuileries (1795), Murat was successful in stealing forty cannon from the French National Guard. Without these cannon, Tuileries would have fallen, and the Directory would not have become the offical government of France. Murat was equally useful in the Russian campaign (1812), and in the Battle of Leipzig (1813). After Leipzig, however, he reached (1814) an agreement with Austria in order to save his own throne. During the Hundred Days he deserted his new allies and re-joined Napoleon. Defeated by the Austrians at Tolentino, he fled to Corsica after Napoleon's fall. In an attempt to regain Naples he was arrested and executed.
"When the fatal moment arrived, Murat walked with a firm step to the place of execution, -- as calm, as unmoved, as if he had been going to an ordinary review. He would not accept a chair, nor suffer his eyes to be bound. "I have braved death (said he) too often to fear it." He stood upright, proudly and undauntedly, with his countenance towards the soldiers; and when all was ready, he kissed a cornelian on which the head of his wife was engraved, and gave the word -- thus, "Save my face -- aim at my heart -- fire!""
References
Information about Murat's work in Tuileries found inBlundering to Glory by Owen Connelly. pg.20-21.
See also
Marshal Michel Ney who also gave the command to fire at his execution in 1815
Murat married Caroline Bonaparte on January 20, 1800 thus becoming a son-in-law of Letizia Ramolino as well as brother-in-law to Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon I of France, Lucien Bonaparte, Elisa Bonaparte, Louis Bonaparte, Pauline Bonaparte and Jérôme Bonaparte.
Murat was equally useful in Napoleon's invasion of Russia (1812), and in the Battle of Leipzig (1813).
With his courage and dash, and the marriage to Caroline Bonaparte, it was a certainty he'd become a marshal in 1804.
An important part of the French army's command, Murat was the perfect harasser of retreating enemies, but his intervention at Eylau saved the battle for Bonaparte and was arguably the high point of his military career.
Journeying to Spain in 1808, Murat was partly responsible for the uprising in that country, as his repression of the Madrid insurrection was harsh.
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