Mémoires du maréchal Berthier ... Campagne d'Égypte, première partie

In the opening pages, the marshal recounts his rise from a disciplined engineering officer to the trusted chief of staff of the French army, a trajectory that brings him from the battlefields of America to the courts of Versailles. He offers a vivid portrait of the revolutionary fervor that propelled him into the ranks of the national guard and later the Grande Armée, highlighting his relentless energy and strategic instinct. The narrative sets the stage for his role in Napoleon’s Egyptian expedition, describing the preparation and departure with a mix of confidence and caution.

Once in Egypt, Berthier sketches the first encounters with the unfamiliar landscape, the coordination of troops along the Nile, and the logistical challenges of moving an army across desert terrain. His observations of the local population, the antiquities that spark curiosity, and the early skirmishes against Ottoman forces convey both the awe and the tension of this foreign venture. Listeners will sense the relentless march toward the pivotal Battle of Aboukir, while the memoir leaves the outcome unresolved, inviting further exploration of the campaign.