KINGDOM OF NAPLES Chamberlain's key of Joachim Napoleon, brother-in-law of the Emperor, King of Naples Gilt bronze. The ring is carved with foliage and decorated in the centre with the figure "J.M" under a crown. Round stem chased with foliage and pearls. Bouterolle and round ball. Bearing plate with four diamond-shaped circles. Length: 14.3 cm B.E. First Empire period (1808-1815). Biography : Joachim MURAT (1767-1815) Officer (1792) and aide-de-camp to Bonaparte in Italy (1796), he then took part in 18-Brumaire and married Caroline Bonaparte (January 1800). Member of the Corps Législatif (1803), Governor of Paris (1804), Marshal (1804), Grand Admiral and Prince of the Empire (1805), Grand Duke of Berg and Cleves (March 1806-July 1808), he took part in the German campaign of 1806-1807 (surrender of Lübeck, Eylau, capture of Königsberg). As commander-in-chief of the Spanish army, he harshly suppressed the Madrid insurrection (2 May 1808). After becoming King of Naples (July) under the name of Joachim Napoleon, he seized Capri and carried out major reforms in his kingdom, including tax relief and the abolition of feudalism. He took part in the Russian campaign, where he distinguished himself at Moskova. Put in charge of the army after Napoleon's departure (December 1812), he relinquished his post to Prince Eugène (January 1813) and returned to Naples. After fighting at Dresden and Leipzig, he signed a treaty with Vienna and London guaranteeing his States (11 January 1814). He tried to rally to Napoleon during the Hundred Days and, after Waterloo, took refuge in Corsica, from where he tried to reconquer his kingdom. Captured in Calabria, he was shot (13 October). Provenance : Former Napoleonic collection of the Prince's Palace of Monaco (1st sale, lot 123) A key of King Joachim Napoleon's chamberlain, in gilt bronze