WRITING CASE OF GENERAL MARTEL, First Empire. 29846

WRITING CASE OF GENERAL MARTEL, First Empire. 29846

In green Morocco leather, including the interior linings, gold embossed. Lid with closure and silver clasp opening to reveal a pen holder. Glass inkwell with silvered metal stopper. Inscription on the lid "GENERAL MARTEL".

Dimensions 32 cm x 29.5 cm, maximum thickness 6 cm.

France.
First Empire.
Very good condition, key missing.

Provenance: former collection of Raoul and Jean Brunon.

BIOGRAPHY:
Philippe André Martel, born on July 21, 1771 in Rives (Isère), died on September 6, 1849 in Lyon (Rhône), was a French general of the Revolution and the Empire. After his studies at the military school, he joined the service on November 13, 1791, as a lieutenant in the 4th battalion of volunteers from Isère.
He participated in the campaigns of Savoie in 1792, then in the Alps, and in 1793, he was at the siege of Toulon where he met Napoleon Bonaparte, then a captain of artillery. He was later incorporated with his battalion into the 46th infantry demi-brigade on February 27, 1794. He took part in the campaigns in Italy from 1794 to 1799. He received his captain's commission on August 17, 1796, and in November 1797, he was attached to the staff of the 5th military division, known as Lombardie in Italy. He was captured in Turin on June 21, 1799, by the Russian army of Suvarov and taken to Austria.
Released on March 6, 1801, he became an aide-de-camp to General Fiorella on July 10 of the same year, and in 1802, he followed the latter to Italy. He was promoted to squadron leader on March 24, 1804, and from 1805, he served as chief of staff of General Fiorella's division. From 1806 to 1808, he was assigned to the Dalmatian army commanded by the Duke of Raguse, serving as chief of staff to General Laurisson, then to General Clauzel. On February 2, 1807, he was appointed adjutant-commander, and in 1809, he joined the Army of Italy as chief of staff of the Severoli division. On April 15, at the Battle of Sacile, he led the charge of the 1st Italian line regiment, and while leading the regiment in a bayonet charge against a much larger enemy threatening the French positions, he was hit by a bullet that shattered his frontal sinus. The bullet remained lodged in his head, and it was only 50 days later that it was extracted. He was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor on May 30, 1809.
Barely recovered, he served again as chief of staff to General Vial, leading the expedition to Tyrol, a region then in favor of Austria. Prince Eugene gave him command of the Adige Haut department, which he held until the end of 1810 when he was recalled to Milan to serve as chief of staff of the 1st military division.
He was promoted to brigadier general in the service of Italy on July 11, 1811, and took command of the Taglamento department. In February 1812, he returned to lead the Adige Haut department, which had become important due to the passage of troops heading to the Grand Army. On July 1, 1812, he was assigned as commander of the 1st brigade of the 2nd active division being organized in Ancona.
In 1813, he campaigned in Germany at the head of the 1st brigade of the Fontanelli division. He fought in Lützen on May 2 and in Bautzen on May 20 and 21. On September 6, he was at the vanguard of the 4th corps at the Battle of Dennewitz, and he was wounded by a gunshot in his left arm. On October 3, he was at Wartembourg, and on October 16, at the Battle of Leipzig. He was made an officer of the Legion of Honor and created a Baron of the Empire on October 24, 1813. On October 30, he participated in the Battle of Hanau, and he was captured during the Kinzig crossing along with one of his aides-de-camp who had been seriously wounded.
Returning to France in 1814, he was confirmed in his rank of brigadier general on December 30, 1814. Placed on non-activity during the first restoration, he resumed service on April 29, 1815, in the 6th corps of the Jura observation army, where he commanded the 2nd brigade of General Abbé's division. He was placed on non-activity on August 1, 1815. He was made a Knight of Saint-Louis on April 14, 1818, and placed on the list of available officers on April 1, 1820. He was admitted to retirement on December 1, 1824. He received a pension of 3,900 francs starting on January 1, 1825.
He died on September 6, 1849, in Lyon.

Years of service: 1791 – 1824
Distinctions: Baron of the Empire,
Officer of the Legion of Honor,
Knight of Saint-Louis