ABSTRACT

Commander of Napoleon’s III Corps during the Waterloo campaign. Born near at Cassel near Dunkirk, Vandamme entered the French Army in 1786. An able and courageous soldier, Vandamme’s career was fast-tracked by the Revolution of 1789, and within 10 years he was a general of division. A loyal Bonapartist, Vandamme was selected by Napoleon to mentor his youngest brother Jérôme during the Polish campaign of 1806-7. Talented, brave, audacious, Vandamme’s career was blighted by two failings: a love of loot and a loathing of authority. The first character flaw led to instances of brigandage and embezzlement, punished by periods of suspension. The second fault led to numerous quarrels with superiors and a reputation for insubordination. Thus, although he worked hard for a marshal’s baton, Vandamme

was dogged by ‘financial irregularities’ and the unpleasant consequences of an uncontrollable temper.