Grand Marshal of the Palace (French: Grand Maréchal du Palais) was the title employed to refer to the leader of the Military Household of the Emperor

Military Household of the Emperor

The Military Household of the Emperor was the immediate entourage of the Emperor of the French during the First French Empire. At the end of december 1806, no less than 800 men were members of the Military Household...

, during the First French Empire

First French Empire

The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...

. The responsibilities of this position included: keeping accounts of the expenses (food, scouting, security, servants, etc.), policing and ensuring the security of the Household, during wartime as well as during peacetime.

General Duroc

Geraud Duroc

Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc, 1st Duc de Frioul was a French general noted for his association with Napoleon.-Life and work:...

 filled the position from the moment when Napoleon I

Napoleon I

Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...

 became Emperor of the French

Emperor of the French

The Emperor of the French was the title used by the Bonaparte Dynasty starting when Napoleon Bonaparte was given the title Emperor on 18 May 1804 by the French Senate and was crowned emperor of the French on 02 December 1804 at the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, in Paris with the Crown of...

 (18 May 1804), until the former's death on 23 May 1813. Then, from 25 May 1813, general de Caulaincourt

Armand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt

Armand-Augustin-Louis, marquis de Caulaincourt, 1st Duc de Vicence was a French general and diplomat.-Biography:...

 replaced Duroc but the position was again vacant later that year, when Caulaincourt became Foreign Minister

Foreign minister

A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...

 (20 November). From that date, general Bertrand became Grand Marshal, exercising his duties during the last days of the Empire, as well as in exile on the islands of Elba

Elba

Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...

 and Saint Helena

Saint Helena

Saint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...

, up until the death of the Emperor on 5 May 1821.