Napoleon's Enfant Terrible

A dedicated career soldier and skilled division and corps commander, Dominique Vandamme was often a source of frustration for his fellow officers. His outspoken nature led him to criticize even Napoleon, whom he never forgave for not making him a marshal. Despite this, Vandamme's military capabilities earned him repeated commands from the emperor. In this first comprehensive study of Vandamme in English, John G. Gallaher chronicles the journey of one of Napoleon's most effective midrank officers, detailing his rise from a provincial youth lacking fortune or influence to a high-ranking officer in the French army. Gallaher provides a unique perspective on a general who served for twenty-five years during the tumultuous wars of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Empire, a period when failure in battle could lead to dire consequences. Despite Vandamme's contentious demeanor, Gallaher illustrates the mutual dependence between him and Napoleon for career advancement. Drawing from extensive archival resources, particularly the Vandamme Papers in Lille, Gallaher offers a comprehensive portrait of the general and uncovers new insights into military events like the Silesian campaign of 1807 and the disaster at Kulm in 1813. The study places Vandamme within the Napoleonic command structure, highlighting his relationships with both subordinates and superiors, presenting him as a complex figure crucial to the empire's military successes.