MURAT, JOACHIM, king of Naples, was the son of an innkeeper at La Bastide-For tnniere, near Cahors, in France, and was born there March 25, 1767 or 1768. Ile was at first intended for the priesthood, and actually commenced the study of theology and canon law at Toulouse, but entered the army, and being threatened with punishment for insubordination, deserted, and after spending some time at home, proceeded to Paris, where, it is said, he was for some time a waiter at a café, but soon obtained admission into the constitutional guard of Louis XVI. On the outbreak of the revolution, he was made a sub-lient. in a cavalry regiment. his gallantry and his extreme republicanism soon won him the rank of colonel. Re attached himself closely to Bonaparte, under whom he served in Italy and in Egypt, signalizing himself in many battles; rose to the rank of of division (1799); returned with Bonaparte to France; and tendered him most important assistance on the 18th Brumaire, by dispersing- the council of five hundred at St. Cloud. Bonaparte now intrusted him with the command of the consular guard. and gave him his youngest sister, Caroline, in marriage. Murat commanded the cavalry at Marengo, where he greatly distinguished himself. On the establishment of the French empire, he was loaded with honors. lie continued to command the cavalry in the armies led by the emperor, and contributed not a little to the victory at Austerlitz, and to many other victories. In 1806 the newly-elected grand duchy.of Berg (q.v.) was bestowed upon him. On Aug. 1, 1808, lie was proclaimed king of the Two Sicilies by the style of Joachim I. Napoleon. He took possession of Naples, but the Bourbons, through the support of Britain, retained Sicily.
Murat possessed the qualities requisite for a gen. of cavalry rather than those of a king. He was very deficient in political skill and energy; but by the moderation of his government. he won the hearts of his subjects. Even his love of pomp and show, and the theatrical splendor of his equipment., which were a subject of mirth in France and Germany, rather gratified the Neapolitans. He endured with difildnity,the yoke of Napoleon, which left him little but the outward show of royalty. In the expedition against Russia, he commanded the whole cavalry, but on its failure, he returned to Naples, anxious and discontented. He joined the French army again in 1813, but after the battle of Leipzig, withdrew to his own dominions, determined on breaking the French fetters with which lie was bound. He concluded a treaty with Austria, and a truce with the British admiral,
and promised the allies an auxiliary corps. He hesitated, however, even after his new course seemed to have been decisively adopted; and finding his position insecure after Napoleon's overthrow, he entered into private communications with him at Elba. On the emperor's return to France, Murat placed himself at the head of an army of 40,000 men. and commenced a hasty war against Austria. He was defeated at Ferrara, April 12, 1815, and again at Toleutino, May 2. With a few horsemen he fled to Naples, where all was insurrection and commotion; thence to the island of Ischia, and found his say to France, whilst his wife and children took refuge in the British fleet. After Napoleon's final overthrow, he found refuge in Corsica, from which he proceeded in a foolhardy manner with a few followers to the coast of Naples, and proclaimed himself king and liberator, but was presently taken prisoner, and after trial by a court-martial, was shot in a hall of the castle of Pizzo, Oct. 13, 1815. See Leonard Gallais, Histare de Joachim. Murat (Paris, 1828), and Coletta, Histoire des Six derniers awls de la Vie de Jofichim Murat (Paris, 1821). His widow assumed the title of countess of Lipona, and resided in the neighborhood of Trieste, where she died in 1839. His two sons went to the United States, where the elder, NAPOLEON ACHILLE Mum&'r, settled in Florida, and published a number of works on the constitution and politics of his adopted country. He died April 15, 1847. The younger, NAPOLEON LUCrEN CHARLES, married an American lady in 1827, but suffered several reverses in fortune, and madame Murat was obliged to open a boarding-school for the support of herself and her husband. Twice he attempted to return to France secretly (iu 1837 and 1844), but failed on both occasions. The revolu tion of 1848, however, opened the country to him. He attached himself closely to prince Louis Napoleon; and was in 1849 French ambassador extraordinary at Turin. In 1852 he was made a senator; and in 1853 he received the title of prince. The Italian revolu tion appeared to present some chances for him, but nothing came of these. He was made prisoner by the Germans at Metz in 1870.