The Prince of Essling () was a title of
French nobility
The French nobility (french: la noblesse française) was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on June 23, 1790 during the French Revolution.
From 1808 to 1815 during the First Empire the Emperor Napoléo ...
which was granted to Marshal
André Masséna
André Masséna, Prince of Essling, Duke of Rivoli (born Andrea Massena; 6 May 1758 – 4 April 1817) was a French military commander during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars.Donald D. Horward, ed., trans, annotated, The Fre ...
in 1809. The title was created as a '
victory title
A victory title is an honorific title adopted by a successful military commander to commemorate his defeat of an enemy nation. The practice is first known in Ancient Rome and is still most commonly associated with the Romans, but it was also adop ...
' by Emperor
Napoléon I
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
after the
Battle of Essling
In the Battle of Aspern-Essling (21–22 May 1809), Napoleon crossed the Danube near Vienna, but the French and their allies were attacked and forced back across the river by the Austrians under Archduke Charles. It was the first time Napoleon ...
. The title was finalised by patented letters of 31 January 1810.
[Révérend pp. 200–201]
As of 2021, the title along with the cadet title,
Duke of Rivoli
The Duke of Rivoli () was a title of French nobility which was granted to Marshal André Masséna in 1808. The title was created as a 'victory title' by Emperor Napoléon I after the Battle of Rivoli. As of 2021, the title along with the senio ...
is the only title created by Napoleon still in existence (which is not merged).
List of titleholders
Holders of the title of Prince of Essling have included:
[Révérend pp. 200–201]
* 1810–1817;
André Masséna, 1st Prince of Essling (16 May 1758 – 4 April 1817)
* 1818–1821; Jacques Prosper Masséna, 2nd Prince of Essling (25 June 1793 – 1821)
* 1821–1863;
François Victor Masséna, 3rd Prince of Essling (2 April 1799 – 16 April 1863)
* 1863–1898; André Prosper Victor Masséna, 4th Prince of Essling (1829–1898)
* 1898–1910;
Victor Masséna, 5th Prince of Essling (14 January 1836 – 28 October 1910)
* 1910–1974; André Prosper Victor Eugène Napoléon Masséna, 6th Prince of Essling (1891–1974)
* 1974–present; Victor-André Masséna, 7th Prince of Essling (29 April 1950 – living)
Coat of arms
The coat of the arms of the Prince of Essling comprised the following:
;Coat of Arms
"Or, with the winged victory of carnation, holding in one hand a palm and in the other an olive crown, the whole Vert, accompanied in a point of a dog lying Sable; to the chief of the Dukes of the Empire".
[Révérend pp. 200–201]
;Princely Arms
"Head of azure with the golden eagle, the flight extended, head rounded, encroaching a thunderbolt with two lightning bolts, on either side. The shield surrounded by the collar of the Legion of Honour, with its pointed decoration; the whole set in a mantle of azure, lined with ermine, adorned with gold and crowned with a princely crown of gold, cap azure, surmounted by a globe, circled, crisscross, gold."
Footnotes
References
*
Princes of Essling
Lists of French nobility
Lists of princes
Noble titles created in 1810
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