Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-02
BY THE MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoY

DA I1E hAh6SISE DE FONIENO1.
When the fourth Prince and Duke
of Wagram, one of the most gallant
officers of the French army, succumb-
ed in German ambulance to the NOR
tai wounds which he had received in
the fighting at Condo Fort in May,
1918. his identity was at first I'M
known. For he had insisted on doff-
ing his titles while serving at the
front and was known by his regi-
ment Of chasseurs merely as Capt.
Berthier. his patronymic 1t was not
until a week after his death that his
identity became known and it was
generally assumed that the name
Berthier de Wagram had become ex-
tinct. since he had died unmarried
without leaving any male relatives,
leaving the bulk of his very consider
able property to his two sisters, one
of them married to Prince Henri de
La Tour D'Auvergne, while the other,
Daisy by name, Is the wife of Prince
jacques de Broglie. of the Ducal
House of that Xix. He was of royal
descent on the distaff side of the
house.
Inc NrSG Prince OF "dSTdHl was
Alexandra de Berthier, whose father
had been enobled by King Louis XIV
in 1863. He was the most famous of
all the marshals of the first En-
peror Napoleon, who created him not
recognition of his share in the French
victory of Wagram in lower Aus
tria, but also made him in 1906
Sovereign Prince of Neuchatel, now a
canton OF the Swiss republic. Napoleon
Rprthipr
particular favorite, royal bride in
the person of Duchess Marie of
Bavaria, of that ducal branch OF the
reigning house of Wittelsbachs., to
and the late Duchess of Alencon be-
longed. So high was the opinion
which Napoleon entertained OF de
Berthier, that in speaking afterwards
at St Helena of the fateful battle
of Waterloo. he remarked: "Ah, IL I
had only had Berthier there" inti-
mating that with him, in lieu of
Grouchy and Of Marshal Ney, brave
the battle instead of being defeated
by the Duke of wellington.
Marshal de Berthier. however, had
killed himself just three days before
the battle Of Waterloo. His was
tragic end On the overthrow of
Napoleon in 1914, and his exile to
Eliza. the marshal allowed himself to
be persuaded by his Bavarian wife
and by her royal relatives at Munich.
to abandon the cause of his emperor
and to make his peace with Louis
XVIII, who bestowed upon him the
highest honors. Napoleon resented
this more bitterly than any
thing else in connection with his
overthrow. When he quilted Elba
wear later and resumed for a hundred
DAYS the possession of his throne IN
paris. Berthier, who was in Bavaria
at the time, felt unable to resist
the longing to rejoin his old friend
and master, and sent message 10
ask whether he would receive him :,
While Napoleon gladly welcomed all
his former officers without reproacni- n
ing them for their desertion of his
cause. which led him to abdicate at
Fontainbleau in 1914. he sent BACK
an intimation to Berthier that ne
would only consent TO receive MN II
he would appear before him arrayed
In the uniform of the rank, and
adorned with the insignia of the va
rious orders. of knighthood bestowed
,,non him by King Louis XVIII. On
receiying this message at his BaVarlan
castle Of Bamberg, Berthier was SO
overcome by remOrse IHdl, al ter re-
firing to the nursery to give farewell
embraces to his little children, he
threw himself before their eyes out
Of one of the windows. killing himself
Instantly on the rocks over 100 feet
below. Thanks to the influence OF
the thus widowed duchess royal rela-
tiyes. her husbands titles Of prince
and duke of Wagram were confirmed
as French peerages upon her boy
Alexandra. a godson of Gear Alex
andre I of Russia, though. Of course,
there was no question of his being
continued as sovereign prince of Neu-
ohatel a. principality which was
handed over by the congress of
Vienna to the then King of Prussia.
and which now belongs to the Swiss
republic.
" X
Marshal Berthier's son and name
sake, the second prince and second
duke of wagram, on growing up mar
ried Zenaide Clary, nieoe of Queen
Desiree of Sweden. also of the consort
Of King Joseph Bonaparte. who lived
SO many years at Bordentown. N, J..
Their son, the third duke. was the
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