Alexandre was born on 20 November 1753 at Versailles, France. Berthier followed in his father's footsteps, learning the craft of mapmaking, which he applied during his time in America with the French army officers, Rochambeau and Lafayette.
Berthier began his military training in 1777, at the age of twenty-four. Berthier missed sailing with Rochambeau's troops and proceeded to America by way of the West Indies, where he met the army on September 30, 1780 at Newport, Rhode Island.
His journals, in the form of letters to a friend, relate chronicle his experiences beginning with his departure from France in 1780 through his return to France in April 1783.
In January 1781, Berthier was assigned to the staff of General Rochambeau as aide marechal general des logis surnumeraire.
He accompanied the army as it marched from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia and back to Boston.
From Boston he continued on to the West Indies and then on to France.
He stayed in America from September 30, 1780 until December 24, 1782.
Berthier prepared at least 111 known maps, from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia on a southward march and a second set describing the daily marches from Newport to Elkton, Maryland in 1781.
Both Berthier and one of his younger brothers, Charles-Louis, are credited with providing the excellent maps of the American Revolution that survive today.
Berthier earned frequent promotions throughout his military career.
In 1783, after his return to France, he was sent to Prussia on a military mission.
In 1793, Berthier was sent to fight royalists in western France, but was recalled after four months of dangerous service, when he was driven underground by the Revolutionary Terror. Berthier met Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796, and they developed a close and trusting relationship.
That same year, Berthier accompanied Bonaparte during the Italian campaign, occupying Rome in February 1798.
He later joined Bonaparte in Egypt. Berthier was established himself as a strong administrator and diplomat.
In 1799, he participated in the coup d'etat of the 18th Brumaire, which established the Consulate.
In this role he demonstrated his expertise in organizing the military.
Not considered by most to have been a great commander in the field, he did not conduct the campaign well and had to be rescued by Napoleon.
Still, Napoleon liked and trusted Berthier and named him chief of staff of the Grande Armee, a position he held from 1808 to 1814.
Berthier's devotion to Napoleon was never in question.
He remained loyal through many campaigns, including Austerlitz, Jena and Fried land; the Peninsular campaign (1808), the Austrian campaign (1809), in Russia (1812), Germany (1813) and France (1814).
As Napoleon began to experience one defeat after another, Berthier's loyalties began to waver.
In 1814, when Bonaparte abdicated, Berthier accepted the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, submitting to the cause of Louis XVIII.
He was named a peer of France.
But the relationship with the Bourbons was short-lived when, in 1815, Napoleon returned from exile on Elba.
His power of work, accuracy and quick comprehension, combined with his long and varied experience and his complete mastery of detail, made him the ideal chief of staff to a great soldier; and in this capacity he was Napoleon's most valued assistant for the rest of his career.
On 9 March 1808 Berthier married Duchess Maria Elisabeth in Bavaria. They had one son and two daughters. In 1796, he fell in love with the Marquise Visconti, who was to be his mistress for the duration of the Empire, despite the Emperor's disapproval. And even if Napoleon forced him to marry a Bavarian princess in 1808, Berthier made it so that his mistress and wife could get on and live under the same roof, to the Emperor's fury.
(1721 – 1804)
(22 August 1812 – 1905)
(19 February 1816 – 23 July 1878)
2nd Duke
