Marshal Marmont - Did he Betray Napoleon? In 1814, during the Allies' advance on Paris, Marshal Auguste Marmont, a longtime Napoleon ally, secretly negotiated with the invaders. Commanding 12,000 troops defending the city, he surrendered his corps without orders on 30 March, citing futility and to spare lives. This defection hastened Paris's fall, forcing Napoleon's abdication and exile to Elba. Marmont was branded a traitor. To watch our full ranking of Napoelon's Marshals, head to YouTube and