The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-09-05
The Murats.

Paris. Prince Luccn Charles Murat, the
last surviving son Of Joachim Murat,
who was once King Of Naples, died in
that city in the seventy fifth year of his
age, and was buried with due pomp and
honor from the church of St. Augustin.
The history IF this Murat family is full
OF strange incidents, of sudden ups and
downs" i'll life, and of those rapid
changes of fortune which follow an un-
settled state of society. Rising upon the
tide which carried Napoleon Bonaparte,
once an obscure lieutenant of artillery
first to the command of the army of Italy,
then to the consulship, and finally to an
imperial throne, the Murats also shared
IN the calamity of his fall, came to the
surface again when another Napoleon
raised second empire on the ruins of
the Republic, and reapsed once more
into obscurity after the fatal disaster of
Sedan.
The founder of the family, Joachim
Murat, was one of the most interesting
as well as conspicuous figures of the
stirring times of the first Napoleon. His
dash and bravery, his vanity and foppish-
ness, his fondness for show, and hand
some face and figure were remarked by
the army, and were the talk of the
European courts.
To this height he had risen from the
humblest beginnings. Murat's father
was a modest inn-keeper in the remote
district of Provence; and he himself.
when boy, used to serve his fathers
guests with their wine and sour bread.
When youth of fifteen, he had reached
the dignity Of a position, and might
have been seen, in high jack boots, and
close fitting cap, and with sharp cracking
whip, galloping gayly over the Proven
cal road, in front of the rumbling old
coaches of that day.
When Murat, years after, had become
ii royal parsonage, he used to keep in one
of the drawing-rooms of his palace, on a
crimson cushion, carefully covered by
glass case, IA Positions whip This he
was not too proud to point out to his
visitors, with the laughing remark,
"There, that is where came from"
He joined the army, rose rapidly in
the ranks, and soon attracted the atten-
ton of Napoleon; for he was as fearless
as lion, and his long black hair, falling
in clusters of curls to his shoulders, his
bright, merry black eyes, and his rollick-
ing good humor and fun, made him a
marked man wherever he was seen.
Napoleon took SO great fancy to him
that he made him first General, then a
Grand Duke, and finally, King of the
Two Sicilies and Naples, from which
throne the French conqueror had driven
its Bourbon occupants. More than this,
N nfa
of his own beautiful sister Caroline as
his wife, thus marrying an Imperial prin-
cess to the son of an innkeeper.
Murat had brief but brilliant reign
at Naples. He was extravagant and
fond of display. Old Neapolitans still
speak admiringly Of the luxury, hospital
ity and pageaatry of his court, and with
feeling of his kindness and generosity
towards all who came in contact with
him. He dressed gorgeously, wearing a
purple velvet cap with snow-white
plume, fastened with a star Of diamonds,
a gold embroidered coat, white buckskin
trousers, crimson leathered boots, and
gold-fringed gauntlets; while as soldier
he bad, as has been said, "a hand of iron,
the eye of an eagle, and the heart of
lion"
When Napoleon fell, "King Joachim"
was forced to fly from Naples, and for
some time wandered as an exile. At last,
he made an attempt to regain his throne.
With few bold spirits, he made an as
'ault upon Naples but was captured and
shot.
In lesser degree, both of his sons,
Achille and Lucien, suffered similar
changes of fortune. After his fathers
ieath Lucien-the one who has just died
At Paris-resolyed TO make the United
States his home. Setting sail for this
he suffered shipwrcck ON the
coast of Spain; where, on getting ashore
rs best he could, he was seized by order
Of the Spanish King, and cast into Jail.
lie was released after while, came to
married an English lady here,
and studied law. lie tried TO practice
than profession, but few clients sought
his services, and he WAS soon reduced TO
extreme poverty; sad fate for one who
lad been brought up as the pet of
brilliant and luxurious royal court. For
some time, he depended for a living on a
young ladies' boarding school, kept 10y
ais wife.
In 1913, he returned to France, and
was elected n deputy, and when his
cousin, Louis Napoleon, became Presi-
lent, Lucien Murat was sen; as ambas-
'ador to the court of Piedmont. When
he empire was restored, Lucicn became
prince again, received an ample pension,
md long basked in the sunshine of his
imperial cousins prosperity. Since the
ALL of the empire, he has lived
quietly in Paris, aud died-after going