The Call to Adventure: Murat Joins the Egyptian Expedition

In March 1798, Joachim Murat, a rising star in Napoleon Bonaparte’s army, received urgent orders from General Louis-Alexandre Berthier. The directive, dated March 11 from Milan, instructed Murat to depart immediately for Genoa to join General Baraguay d’Hilliers’ division as part of the “Army of the Orient.” The mission was shrouded in secrecy—France’s true target, Egypt, was concealed to avoid alerting Britain’s formidable navy.

Murat’s journey began with a ceremonial gift—an ornate saber from the Brescia government, honoring his frequent visits to the city. By late April, the expedition faced delays as Admiral Nelson’s fleet blockaded Toulon. Finally, on April 28, the fleet set sail, only to retreat days later due to rumors of Austrian mobilization. But by mid-May, favorable winds scattered Nelson’s ships, allowing the French to embark. The campaign’s first victory came bloodlessly: Malta surrendered without resistance on June 10, its knights yielding gracefully to the tricolor flag.

Trials in the Desert: The March to Cairo

The Egyptian campaign tested Murat’s endurance. Crowded transports and scorching heat left him ill and homesick. In a poignant letter to his father on June 15, he confessed his suffering but resolved to press on. By July, the army reached Alexandria. Murat’s cavalry, delayed in landing, joined General Dugua’s division for the grueling march toward Rosetta.

The desert proved merciless. Soldiers collapsed under the sun, their European uniforms unbearable. Murat’s dragoons, some dismounted due to lack of horses, trudged through sand and salt marshes. Yet they seized key positions—Abu Qir’s fort fell without resistance, its outdated cannons useless. Rosetta, too, capitulated as Mamluk commanders fled.

The Battle of the Pyramids: Triumph and Tactics

On July 21, 1798, the decisive Battle of the Pyramids unfolded near Embabeh. Murat, commanding the cavalry under Dugua, played a pivotal role. Earlier that morning, he narrowly escaped death during reconnaissance when Mamluk lancers charged. A feigned retreat into a palm grove saved him—the enemy, suspecting an ambush, withdrew.

In the battle, Murat’s forces anchored the center. The Mamluks’ reckless charges shattered against French squares, and Cairo fell. Murat’s reward was governance of Kelioub, where he quelled rebellions and secured supply lines. His boldness earned praise: Napoleon reported to the Directory that Murat’s actions were “indispensable to our victory.”

The Syrian Campaign: From Gaza to Acre

By 1799, the Ottomans struck back. Murat led cavalry in Napoleon’s preemptive invasion of Syria. At Gaza, his 900 horsemen faced 6,000 Mamluk riders. Outnumbered, he relied on infantry support to scatter the enemy. The campaign climaxed at Acre, where British naval support stiffened Ottoman resistance.

Murat’s reconnaissance near Safed missed critical Ottoman movements, a rare misstep. Yet his lightning assault on Tiberias cut off fleeing Turks after the Battle of Mount Tabor. Despite near-fatal wounds during Acre’s siege—saved by aide Auguste de Colbert—Murat’s reputation for bravery grew.

The Legend of Aboukir: A Duel for Glory

The campaign’s crowning moment came at Aboukir on July 25, 1799. Facing 18,000 Ottomans, Murat’s cavalry exploited a gap in their lines. In a cinematic duel, he clashed with Grand Vizier Saïd Mustafa Pasha. A pistol shot tore through Murat’s jaw, but he severed two of Mustafa’s fingers, capturing him. The victory sealed Napoleon’s decision to return to France, with Murat among his chosen retinue.

Promoted to général de division on the battlefield, Murat embodied the Revolution’s meritocratic ideal. His wounds, he joked, might “diminish his charm for ladies” but not his courage.

Legacy: The Making of a Marshal

Murat’s Egyptian exploits cemented his place in Napoleon’s inner circle. By 1804, he would become a Marshal of France and later, King of Naples. His campaigns demonstrated the power of audacity—whether in cavalry charges or governance. Modern historians debate his tactical flaws, but none deny his flair. As Napoleon’s cavalry hammer, Murat’s name remains etched on captured British cannons at Aboukir, a testament to his indelible role in reshaping Europe.

From the sands of Egypt to the halls of power, Joachim Murat’s journey epitomized the chaos and glory of the Napoleonic era—a blend of brilliance, bravado, and the unyielding will to conquer.