Following the outbreak of the French Revolution , he exhibited great military talent, rapidly rising through the ranks, and was made a brigadier general by He served with distinction in Italy and Germany, and was briefly Minister of War. His relationship with Napoleon was turbulent; nevertheless, Napoleon named him a Marshal of the Empire on the proclamation of the French Empire. Bernadotte played a significant role in the French victory at Austerlitz , and was made Prince of Pontecorvo as a reward.
In , following the sudden unprovoked French invasion of Swedish Pomerania , Crown Prince Charles John was instrumental in the creation of the Sixth Coalition by allying with Alexander I of Russia and using Swedish diplomacy to bring warring Russia and Britain together in alliance. The Swedish—Norwegian war is viewed as Sweden's last direct conflict and war. He presided over a period of peace and prosperity, and reigned until his death in The family name was originally du Poey or de Pouey , but was changed to Bernadotte — a surname of an ancestress at the beginning of the 17th century.
Bernadotte himself added Jules to his first names as a tribute to the French Empire under Napoleon I. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a local attorney. Aged 17, his father's death dissuaded him from following in his career. Following the outbreak of the French Revolution , his eminent military qualities brought him speedy promotion. It was during this period of rapid advancement that the military qualities he became known for, daring assaults and gasconades , came to the fore.
Of the latter, Bernadotte was gifted in his ability to inspire his men to prodigious feats of valor. He has been compared by historians to fellow Gascon, D'Artagnan. One of his biographers asserts [ 15 ] that Dumas used Bernadotte as the model for his D'Artagnan. By he was promoted to brigadier, attached to the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse.
Bernadotte played key roles throughout the next 18 months during the three French invasions into Germany; often employed in the place of honor during offensives leading the vanguard, and in retreat as a defensive specialist commanding the rearguard. At the beginning of he was ordered by the Directory to march with 20, men as reinforcements to Napoleon Bonaparte 's army in Italy.
