44 Facts About Michel Ney

The son of a cooper from Saarlouis, Ney worked as a civil servant until 1787 when he enlisted in a cavalry regiment, right before the outbreak of French Revolution.

On Napoleon's proclamation of the French Empire, Michel Ney was named one of the original 18 Marshals of the Empire.

Michel Ney played an instrumental role during Napoleon's subsequent campaigns, seeing action at Elchingen, Jena and Eylau.

Michel Ney commanded the French rearguard during the disastrous invasion of Russia, for which he was lauded as "the bravest of the brave" by the emperor.

Michel Ney rejoined Napoleon during the Hundred Days but met defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, after which he was charged with treason by the restored monarchy and executed by firing squad.

Michel Ney was the second son of Pierre Ney, a master cooper and veteran of the Seven Years' War, and his wife Marguerite Greiveldinger.

Michel Ney's hometown at the time of his birth was a French enclave in the predominantly German region of Saarland, and Ney grew up bilingual, due to his German roots.

The lancers were beaten back, but Michel Ney's cavalry were counter-attacked by heavy cavalry.

Later in 1799, Michel Ney commanded cavalry in the armies of Switzerland and the Danube.

At Winterthur, Michel Ney received wounds in the thigh and wrist.

From September 1802, Michel Ney commanded French troops in Switzerland and performed diplomatic duties.

On 19 May 1804, Michel Ney received his marshal's baton, emblematic of his status as a Marshal of the Empire, the Napoleonic era's equivalent of Marshal of France.

In November 1805, Michel Ney invaded Tyrol, capturing Innsbruck from Archduke John.

Later in the campaign, Michel Ney fought at Guttstadt and commanded the right wing at Friedland.

In 1810, Michel Ney joined Marshal Andre Massena in the invasion of Portugal, where he captured Ciudad Rodrigo and Almeida, and saw further action on the River Coa, and a defeat at the Bussaco.

Michel Ney engaged Wellington's forces in a series of rearguard actions through which he managed to delay the pursuing Coalition forces long enough to allow the main French force to retreat in 1811.

Michel Ney was ultimately removed from his command for insubordination.

Michel Ney was given command of the III Corps of the Grande Armee during the invasion of Russia in 1812.

At Smolensk, Michel Ney was wounded in the neck but recovered enough to later fight in the central sector at Borodino.

Michel Ney lost more than half his strength; almost all the cavalry and all the artillery, with the exception of two guns, had disappeared.

Michel Ney ordered everyone to move to the Dnieper in the hope of crossing to the opposite bank on the ice.

Michel Ney fought at the Berezina and helped hold the vital bridge at Kovno, where legend portrays Michel Ney as the last of the invaders to cross the bridge and exit Russia.

On 25 March 1813, Michel Ney was given the title of Prince de la Moskowa.

Michel Ney later fought at Dennewitz and Leipzig, where he was again wounded.

At Fontainebleau, Michel Ney became the spokesperson for the marshals' revolt on 4 April 1814, demanding Napoleon's abdication.

When Paris fell and the Bourbons reclaimed the throne, Michel Ney, who had pressured Napoleon to accept his first abdication and exile, was promoted, lauded, and made a Peer of France by the newly enthroned King Louis XVIII.

Michel Ney pledged to bring Napoleon back alive in an iron cage.

Michel Ney's reconciliation with Napoleon was a body blow to the monarchy's hopes of retaining control of the army and with it, France, and the King abandoned Paris just two days after Michel Ney's 'treason' became known in the capital.

Michel Ney attacked the Duke of Wellington at Quatre Bras while Napoleon attacked Marshal Blucher's Prussians at Ligny.

The reason for the sudden change in movement is that Michel Ney had ordered d'Erlon to come to his aid at Quatre Bras.

Michel Ney's cavalry failed to spike the enemy cannons while they were under French control.

Michel Ney's cavalry carried the equipment needed to spike cannons, and spiking the cannons would probably have made them useless for the rest of the battle.

Michel Ney was seen during one of the charges beating his sword against the side of a British cannon in furious frustration.

When Napoleon was defeated, dethroned, and exiled for the second time in the summer of 1815, Michel Ney was arrested on 3 August 1815.

Bourmont testified that Michel Ney had been a keen supporter of Napoleon and gave evidence such as the accusation that Michel Ney was wearing an Imperial Eagle decoration minutes after his decision to switch sides, suggesting some element of planning.

Michel Ney flattered himself perhaps that we would never meet again face to face.

Michel Ney thought I would have short shrift like Labedoyere.

On 6 December 1815, Michel Ney was condemned, and on 7 December 1815 he was executed by firing squad in Paris near the Luxembourg Gardens.

Michel Ney refused to wear a blindfold and was allowed the right to give the order to fire, reportedly saying:.

Michel Ney married Aglae Auguie, daughter of Pierre Cesar Auguie and Adelaide Henriette Genet, at Thiverval-Grignon on 5 August 1802.

Peter Michel Ney served as a school teacher in Rowan County until his death on 15 November 1846.

However, there was evidence contradicting this legend, the main being that the execution of Michel Ney is well documented and verified.

One researcher claims evidence exists that Peter Stewart Michel Ney was one Peter McNee, born in 1788 in Stirlingshire, Scotland.

Peter Stewart Michel Ney's body was exhumed twice, in 1887 and 1936, but both times no conclusive proof emerged.