Rapp

The career of a great French soldier of Napoleon

Jean Rapp was the epitome of the best of Napoleon's soldiers. The son of a janitor, bound for the clergy, Rapp found his own temperament and the spirit of his times drove him instead to the military. A man of undoubted courage, championed by Desaix, he captured a battery during the Egyptian campaign-an act which propelled him to the attention of Napoleon and set him on the path to high rank. Rapp fought at Marengo, memorably at Austerlitz, at Jena, at Golymin were he was wounded, at Essling and during the campaign to and retreat from Moscow. This giant personality of the First Empire fought by Ney's side with the rear guard and personally saved Napoleon's life-twice! Rapp rallied to his master during the 100 days but did not accompany him to the fateful field of Waterloo. He was given command of V Corps to defend the Vosges. Hardly commemorated by many, some ten days after the defeat of the French at Waterloo, Rapp engaged Coalition forces at the Battle of La Suffel and decisively beat them. This was effectively the last full scale engagement-and a French victory-of the Napoleonic epoch. A nation that had set the globe aflame had come to ruin, but its last victor was Jean Rapp. Available in soft cover and hard back with dust jacket.