Napoleon for all his faults and final defeat at Waterloo remains in military history a great general. He is a man credited for having mastered the principles of war. Naploeon was not alone in his sucess and along with him were a string of generals who executed his plans. One of the most famous of his commanders  was Marshal  Michel Ney. No victory or defeat of Naploeon is complete without a reference to Ney. One can say that he was an opportunist, but for long he was a strong supporter of Naploeon.

Michel Ney was born in 1769.  When Ney was in his teens, France was agog with revolutionary ferver and the famous French revolution of 1789  took place.  He thought it fit to enlist in the army. At about this time he came into contact with Napoleon and he joined him. This was a wise step as Naploeon overthrew the established powers and himself became supreme ruler of France. All along Ney was beside Naploeon.

When Naploeon unleashed his military campaigns, Ney was along with him and played no mean part in the victories. Napoleon once referred to him as the "bravest of the brave".  Ney's rise in the army was swift and in 1804 he was made a marshal of the French army. This was a reward for his military genius which was recognised by Napoleon.

Ney was part of the French army that invaded Russia in 1812. But the " scorched earth policy"  followed by the Russians ultimately led to a French retreat from Moscow. Ney led the rear guard action and tried to make the retreat an orderly affair. He is credited as the last man to leave Russian soil.

Ney now realized that Naploeon must be overthrown  as he felt that too many wars were  going on. The defeat in Russia had a great effect on his thinking. In 1814 he sided with other Marshals against Naploeon. The famous "revolt of the Marshals" led to the abdication of Naploeon. Ney was the most prominent member of this group.  

Naploeon was exiled to the island of Elbe and the allies restored Louis XVII to the throne of Paris.. The new king realized the military genius of Ney and promoted him. Despite his connection with Napoleon the king took Ney in his court. Here Ney displayed his opportunistic streak as he joined the king against Napoleon.

Naploeon escaped from Elbe and landed in France. A perturbed king asked Ney to lead a force against Napoleon and capture him. The troops under Ney marched and met Napoleon who was alone on a horse at Auxerre. This is one of the great moments of history as Naploeon opened the buttons of his coat and shouted at the troops" Would you shoot your own emperor?"

Ney immediately swore  allegience to Napoleon and joined him and the entire army turned back and headed for Paris. The King ran away and  Napoleon was once again ruler of France.

Ney was with Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo. Providence took a hand and heavy rain and a late decision by Napoleon to charge  led to defeat. Ney was captured and tried by court martial. His role in betraying the king was highlighted and he was sentenced to be executed bya firing squad. Records indicate he was exceuted almost immediately, but he was given the honor of ordering his own execution and the final order to fire was given by him.

There is another twist to the tale. Many people feel that Marshal Ney was not executed and the firing squad fired only blanks.  Ney is supposed to have escaped to America and lived there as  Peter Stuart Ney.  Whatever happened , the glorious victories of Napoleon will alway find Ney alongside.  His name is part of French history.