Armand Augustin Louis Caulaincourt

Born Dec. 9, 1773, at Caulaincourt; died Feb. 19, 1827, in Paris. Marquis; French statesman.

Caulaincourt was one of the few members of the old aristocracy who supported Napoleon Bonaparte. Enjoying Napoleon’s complete confidence, he fulfilled a number of highly complicated political and diplomatic missions. In 1801 he was part of the honorary legation sent to St. Petersburg to congratulate Alexander I on his accession to the throne. In 1808, Caulaincourt received the title of duke of Vicenza from Napoleon. From 1807 to 1811 he was French ambassador to Russia; he advocated the development of the Franco-Russian alliance and attempted to dissuade the emperor from invading Russia. In the campaign of 1812, Caulaincourt was continually at Napoleon’s side. During the Hundred Days, he was Napoleon’s foreign minister. After the restoration of the Bourbons, Caulaincourt was barred from state activity. His Mémoires (abridged Russian translation, 1943), although apologetic in their attitude toward Napoleon, are of value because of the great amount of factual material.