MURAT, mu-ri, Joachim, French mar shal and some-time king of Naples: b. Bastide, Lot, France, 25 March 1771; d. Pizzo, Calabria, Italy, 13 Oct. 1815. He was the son of a pros perous innkeeper of La-Bastide-Fortuniere, near Cahors, France, and had a remarkable career. While studying for the priesthood at Toulouse he enlisted in a cavalry regiment but was soon dismissed for insubordination. He served in the constitutional guard of Louis XVI; then entered the 12th regiment of mounted chasseurs and rose by his zealous Jacobinism to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He attached himself to Napoleon in 1795, and followed him to Italy and to Egypt. In these campaigns he frequently distinguished himself, and in 1799 Napoleon ap pointed him general of division. He clung close to the great leader and returned to France with him from the disastrous Egyptian campaign. Ata time when everything depended on prompt action he rendered Napoleon most valuable serv ice by dispersing the Council of Five Hundred at Saint Cloud, on the memorable 18th Bru maire. In gratitude and as a reward Napoleon entrusted him with the command of the Con sular Guard, and shortly after (20 Jan. 1800) gave him his youngest sister, Caroline, in mar riage.
Murat had command of the cavalry at the battle of Marengo and expelled the Neapolitans from the Papal States. In 1803 he was made a member of the Corps Legislatif, and in 1804 was the governor of Paris. On the establish ment of the Empire Murat became one of the popular idols, and was showered with honors. He was made marshal of the empire, grand admiral, and prince of the imperial house. His services in the campaign of 1805 against Aus tria, in which he entered Vienna at the head of the army, were rewarded in 1806 with the grand-duchy of Cleves and Berg. He partici pated in the battles of Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau and Friedland. In the war of 1806 with Prussia, and of 1807 with Russia, he commanded the cavalry, and in 1808 he commanded the French army which occupied Madrid, and quelled the insurrection there in May. He expected to re ceive the crown of Spain, as Charles IV had invested him with royal authority; but Na poleon, who destined Spain for his brother Joseph, placed him on the throne of Naples, 15 July 1808. He then took the title of Joachim I.
Ferdinand IV (q.v.), however, continued to rule in Sicily tinder English protection. Murat proved a beneficent king and instituted some reforms, hut he was, after all, but the tool of Napoleon. He shared the hardships and re verses in the disastrous Russian campaign of 1812, and returned to Naples discouraged and discontented. In 1813 he again fought for Na poleon, whose cause he deserted after the battle of Leipzig. He entered into a treaty with Eng land and Austria in 1814 which guaranteed him his throne on condition that he would join the coalition against Napoleon. He pretended to keep this treaty by attacking Eugene Beauhar nais in a half-hearted manner. He took up arms again in 1815 for Napoleon; but being defeated by Generals Neipperg and Bianchi he was forced to leave Italy, and took refuge in Toulon. His offers of aid were spurned by Napoleon. After the overthrow of Napoleon he escaped to Corsica, declining the offer of an asylum in Austria which was made to him by Metternich, and set sail for the Neapolitan territory with a view to the recovery of his kingdom. He foolhardily landed at Pizzo on 8 October, .but was immediately captured, tried by court-martial, condemned and shot. Murat was vain, unstable and full of ambition. As a cav alry leader his dashing bravery inspired his men with almost superhuman courage. As king, he proved himself sincerely eager to initiate genuine reforms, and did much to abolish banditry. Consult Attridge, A. H.,
Murat' (New York 1911) ; Espitaher, A., (Napoleon and King Murat, 1808-15' (New York 1911) ; Helfert, 'Joachim Murat, seine letzten Kampfe and seine Ende' (Vienna 1878) ; Johnston, C. H. L., (Famous Cavalry Leaders' (Boston 1908); Johnston, R. M., (Napoleonic Empire in Southern Italy' (2 vols., New York 1904) • Lumbroso, A., (Correspond ance de Joachim Murat' (Milan 1899) ; Murat, Count,
lieutenant de l'empereur en Espagne' (Paris 1897) •, Romano, G.,
muratiani' (Pavia 1890) ; Sorel, A.,