Captured at Pizzo and executed there 13 October, His ability initially as a simple cavalryman and later as a cavalry commander was prodigious. The only major battle he missed perhaps significantly, along with Berthier was Waterloo. He was in the end rewarded with the kingdom he so much sought after, namely that of the Two Sicilies, but not without strings attached.
The title King Joachim-Napoleon was imposed, as was the clause that on his death Caroline his wife would become sole ruler. Nevertheless, Murat threw himself heartily into the job of ruling Naples, modernising his kingdom with the bringing of the Code civil, the breaking up of the vast landed estates, with his foundation of a university and a naval academy, his encouragement of the cotton industry, and his effective solution to the problem of Brigands.
An unsuccessful treaty with Austria and the fact that he was not recognised as lawful ruler by the allies during the First Restoration led to his in the end fruitless attempts to rejoin Napoleon for the Hundred Days.
He tried to play the card of Italian unification in order to provide himself with a role and defence from Austria, but the defeat at Tolentino put an end to his hopes. Given the context, his landing at Pizzo almost seems like an attempt at suicide. Lacour-Gayet, M. Go to menu Go to content Go to search. Share it twitter facebook. Further reading Lacour-Gayet, M. Print Return to top.
