MURAT JOACHIM: (1767-1815) Marshal of France, brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte. King of Naples 1808-15.

L.S., Joachim Napoleon, (a bold example), one page, 4to, Naples, 22nd January 1809, to [Giuseppe Zurlo] the Minister of State, in French. Murat instructs his correspondent to 'stop including on the list of Councillors of State the Prince of Canova, Pere; you will inform the Finance Minister that he will have to cease paying him as Councillor of State from 1st of February onwards. ´ With blank integral leaf (small area of paper loss). VGGiuseppe Zurlo (1759-1828) Italian Lawyer and Politician. Zurlo served as Minister of Justice of the Two Sicilies in 1809 and as Interior Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies 1809-15 & 1820.Murat served as both a Marshal of France and Admiral of France under the reign of Napoleon I. He received his titles, most notably as King of Naples (1808-15) partially by being Napoleon's brother-in-law (he had married the Emperor's beloved younger sister in 1800) as well as by personal merit. Noted as a daring, brave and charismatic cavalry officer, as well as a flamboyant dresser, Murat was known as 'the Dandy King'. Murat was executed in 1815 proclaiming, at the time of his death, 'Soldiers! Do your duty! Straight to the heart but spare the face. Fire!'