Wednesday 16 January 2008

More Marshals

Yes, you guessed it – still no new painting so here are a couple more French Marshals instead. As with the others I will eventually strip the old paint from these figures and give them a new lease of life, just not sure when.

The chap on the left is General Dorsenne (FN360 on horse FNH10) not a Marshal strictly speaking but he did rise to command the Imperial Guard in 1809 so that’s good enough for me.

On the right is Marshal Massena (FN356 on horse FNH10) who was certainly one of Napoleon’s most able commanders. He performed brilliantly at Aspern-Essling in 1809 despite the fact that the Emperor had shot out one of his eyes in a hunting accident the previous year. In 1810 he drew the short straw being given command of the Army of Portugal. He actually did incredibly well against Wellington under the circumstances but Napoleon didn’t think so and forcibly retired him. Apparently he never forgave Napoleon for this although you think he would have been more miffed about the eye.

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