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André Masséna

Il generale Massena
Il generale Massena

Of modest origins, André Masséna (Nice, 6 May 1758 – Parigi, 4 April 1817) enrolled in the Royal Italian regiment at seventeen years old, later moving to the National Guard and then the National Volunteers. He was promoted to brigade general after the siege of Toulon in December 1793, fighting together with the young artillery colonel Bonaparte. He rose to a major role throughout the entire first Italian Campaign, beginning with the Battle of Loano of 1795 and then, together with general Bonaparte, appointed by the Directorate for all of 1796 in the important clashes in Montenotte  and those that followed in Liguria and Piedmont.
He carried off the grand victory of Zurich (25–28 September) and, named commander of the Italian army, defended Genoa up through the Battle of Marengo. During the Consulate and the Empire, he participated in almost all of the campaigns, becoming Marshal and Prince of Essling and French peer with the return of the monarchy.