Main Characters

Louis Charles Desaix (1768-1800). A member of a minor noble family, he was first commissioned into the royal French army in 1783. He served along the Rhine from 1791 to 1796, but the next year attached himself to Napoleon because he believed the Corsican was a man destined to win both battles and great glory. Desaix lived only for war, and constantly studied military science. His campaign against Murad Bey on the upper Nile demonstrated both his skill and tenacity. He fled Egypt before the end. His timely arrival at Marengo (14 June 1800), helped save the day for Napoleon, While his death in that battle helped the dictator take all the credit for the victory.

Jean Baptiste Kleber (1753-1800). The son of a mason, he had served in the Bavarian army and was a building inspector when the revolution came. By 1793 he was a general of brigade, and a year later in command of a division. Wound- ed at Alexandria, he later fought well at Mount Tabor. He took command in Egypt upon Napoleon's departure, later winning a victory of his own at Heliopolis on 20 March. Never a real admirer of Napoleon, he sometimes referred to him sardonically as "the hero" or "the Almighty." He also felt Napoleon was too bloody in his generalship, seeming to need to kill thousands of soldiers each month. He ruled Egypt well until his assassination on 14 June 1800 (the same day Desaix died at Marengo).

Jacque Francois de Boussay, Baron de Menou (1750- 1810). The son of an officer, he also began his career in the royal army. Already a lieutenant colonel in 1787, he served on the Rhine, becoming a general of division by 1793. Arrested for "intrigue" in 1795, he was thereafter unemployed until given the chance to join the Egyptian expedition. After Kleber's death he assumed command in Egypt until defeated by the British counter-invasion and forced to surrender. Not a brilliant general, he became best known for having married an Egyptian woman and converting to Islam. Later he also became a count of the empire and governor general of Venice.

Jean Lannes (1769-1809). Originally an apprentice dyer, he joined the army in 1792. He served first against the Spansh, then transferred to Italy, where he came to Napoleon's attention. He saved his future emperor's life at Arcola. In Egypt he rose to command a division and was wounded while leading one of the assaults on Acre. Because he'd become a close friend, Napoleon took Lannes with him when he departed Egypt. Later a marshal, he was mortally wounded at Aspern-Essling.

Joachim Murat (1767-1815). He became another close friend of Napoleon, and had a large boost given to his career in Egypt. Napoleon had known him since 1795, when it was Murat who fetched the artillery he used to destroy the insurgents trying to overthrow the directory (the famous "whiff of grapeshot" episode). Murat led the cavalry in Egypt, and his decisive charge at Abu Qir was the first of many such. He eventually became Napoleon's brother in law and king of Naples. His life ended in front of a firing squad.