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Note:  Do not rely on this information. It is very old.

Bessieres

Bessieres, Jean Baptiste, Duc d'Istria and Marshal of France, was born of humble parentage in 1768, and entered the army as a private soldier. In the battles of Roveredo and Rivoli his courage was witnessed by Bonaparte, who advanced him rapidly and took him to Egypt in command of a brigade. In the second Italian campaign he won the battle of Marengo by a well-timed cavalry charge. After serving honourably at Austerlitz, Jena, Eylau, and Friedland, he was sent to Spain in 1808, won several engagements against the Spaniards, and was recompensed with a dukedom. He commanded the cavalry of the Guard in the beginning of the Leipsic campaign of 1813, and was killed the day before the battle of Lutzen.