LANNES JEAN: (1769-1809)

LANNES JEAN: (1769-1809) Marshal of France. Duc de Montebello. One of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals and personal friend of the Emperor. Rare A.L.S., Lannes, one page, 4to, Lisbon, 8th January 1804, to his father-in-law, François Scholastique, Count of Guéhéneuc, in French. Lannes sends a note to his correspondent recommending a Portuguese important person travelling to Paris, and stating `I recommend to you my friend monsieur Castello Blanco, nephew of monsieur Da Cruz, a respectable man. If he needed your help, I kindly ask you to do all necessary to be useful to him..´ With integral addressee leaf and watermark. Some extremely light, minor age wear to the edges, about VG £1500-2000 In 1801 Napoleon I appointed Lannes as ambassador to Portugal and in 1804, shortly after the present letter date, he was created Marshal of France. A year later he would lead the left part of the Grande Armée at Austerlitz.