Étienne Macdonald

Marshal of the Empire

Étienne Macdonald

duc de Tarente
Marshal of the Empire; Étienne Macdonald; duc de Tarente
	Portrait by Antoine-Jean Gros, 1817
Birth name	Étienne Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre Macdonald
Born	17 November 1765; Sedan, France
Died	25 September 1840 (aged 74); Beaulieu-sur-Loire, France
Branch	French Army
Service years	1785–1830
Rank	Marshal of the Empire
Conflicts	French Revolutionary Wars War of the First Coalition Battle of Jemappes; ; War of the Second Coalition Battle of Civita Castellana; Battle of Otricoli; Battle of Modena; Battle of Trebbia; ; ; Napoleonic Wars War of the Fifth Coalition Battle of Wagram; ; Peninsular War Battle of El Pla; Siege of Figueras; Battle of Cervera; ; French invasion of Russia Siege of Riga; ; War of the Sixth Coalition German campaign of 1813 Battle of Lützen; Battle of Bautzen; Battle of the Katzbach; Battle of Leipzig; ; Northeast France Campaign Battle of Bar-sur-Aube; Battle of Laubressel; ; ; ;
Awards	Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Other work	Chancellor of the Legion of Honour
Signature

Étienne Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre Macdonald, 1st duc de Tarente (French pronunciation: [etjɛn ʒak ʒozɛf alɛksɑ̃dʁ makdɔnald]; 17 November 1765 – 25 September 1840), was a Marshal of the Empire and military leader during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars. While not as famous as the other marshals of Napoleon, he was nonetheless a first-rate and successful general.

Macdonald distinguished himself during the War of the First Coalition, with Macdonald being instrumental in the French victory during the Flanders campaign. He saw service in the Low Countries, Germany and Italy. He was one of the most successful Republican generals, playing an important role in extending French control over Europe during the French Revolutionary Wars.