Photo 1/1 du lot
Premium OSENAT

154 - MURAT (JOACHIM). [THE DEFENCE OF CALABRIA] Letter signed "Jo…
See original version (French)

Estimate €500 - €600
Sale commission
Description
MURAT (JOACHIM). [THE DEFENCE OF CALABRIA] Letter signed "Joachim Murat" as king of Naples (one p. 3/4 in-4), with two apostilles, one autograph signed with his initials (one line 1/4), the other signed with his initials, addressed to general Jacques-David-Martin Campredon, chief of the Engineers of his army. commander in chief of the Engineers. "Royal Camp" at Piale [in Calabria, in front of the Straits of Messina], 10 August 1810. A DEFENSIVE SYSTEM BUILT AROUND THE ANCIENT TOWERS AND FORTRESSES ON THE STRAIT OF MESSINA FACING SICILY. "All that has been done to date for the defence of the coasts can only be considered as temporary; a permanent defence system must be adopted, and here are the works that I have decided to have built immediately, and on which I wish to have your opinion, as well as the estimate of expenditure. I have decided to have a battery built at Pezzo [near Scilla], closed at the throat, for 6 cannon and 2 mortars, with a guardhouse, gunpowder magazine, furnaces and so on. Another similar structure will be set up at a specific point from Zagarella [in what is now the municipality of San Giovanni] to the Torre del Cavallo [near Scilla]. The battery at the Cavallo tower is to be improved The Catona battery is also to be completed at the gorge: the Catona tower is to be repaired and a structure similar to the one built at the Faro tower [another name for the Pezzo tower] on the seafront is to be added, so as to accommodate 60 garrison men, 4 artillery pieces and to be able to defend itself and the lower battery. Scilla had to be protected from a coup de main so that the enemy would have to use cannon to take it. An entrenched camp for 8,000 men with a bastion should be established on the heights of Melia [on the heights of Scilla]; this post should be the protector of Scilla and all the other batteries from Bagnara to Reggio. The Pentimele battery [between Catona and Archi] must also be closed at the throat; perhaps it would be necessary to make two to complete the defence of this anchorage. Finally, I believe it is necessary to build an entrenched camp for 6,000 men on the heights of Monteleone [in the land to the south of the present-day municipality of Vibo Marina, the administrative capital of the province of Calabria], in the place where the barracks are now established; this work should be linked to the castle, which in the future should be used as a depot and magazi. This position completes the defence system of Calabria; it protects and defends the Gulf of St Euphemia [Sant Eufemia, to the north of Pizzo] and the Pizzo, which can also be used as a depot; it also protects Tropea [on the coast to the south-west of Pizzo] and is the key to later Calabria as it is its boulevard. [In Joachim Murat's handwriting:] Tiriolo [to the north-west of Catanzaro] can only be considered as a 2nd line position. I would like you to have your engineer officers reconnoitre all these positions and to present me with a report on all of them. But work must begin at the latest next Monday on the batteries of the Pizzo, Zagarella and Catona; give all your orders accordingly... P.S. The troops will provide 5 to 600 men a day, if necessary, and I will immediately make funds available to you...".
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale The Empire at Fontainebleau - Second day
Auction location
Auction time 06/21/2026 at 10:30 AM
Pictures credits:
Michel Bury and Henri du Cray
See original version (French)
You may also like