The Brave Among the Braves in Moscow and Waterloo
Michel Ney was a legendary French military officer named Marshal of the Empire in 1804. Renowned for his extraordinary courage at Elchingen, Jena, Eylau, and Friedland, Ney earned the moniker "The Bravest of the Brave" from Napoleon. During the disastrous 1812 retreat from Moscow, he personally commanded the rear guard, holding off Russian forces to protect the army's escape. Although he urged Napoleon to abdicate in 1814 and swore loyalty to the restored Bourbon monarchy, Ney rallied back to Napoleon's side during the Hundred Days. He led cavalry charges at the Battle of Waterloo, but following the Emperor's final defeat, Ney was tried for treason by the Restoration government and executed.
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