Géraud Duroc in the context of Military Household of the Emperor

The Treaty of Fontainebleau was a secret agreement signed on 27 October 1807 in Fontainebleau, France between King Charles IV of Spain and the French Emperor Napoleon. Under the treaty, the House of Braganza was to be driven from the Kingdom of Portugal with the country subsequently divided into three regions, the north and south to be ruled by Louis II, King of Etruria and Spanish minister Manuel Godoy respectively, while the provinces of Beira, Tras-os-Montes and Portuguese Estremadura would remain in abeyance until a later peace. Within seven months the government of Spain had collapsed and two Spanish kings abdicated. In August 1808 Napoleon imposed his brother Joseph as King of Spain.

Negotiated and agreed between Don Eugenio Izquierdo [es], plenipotentiary of Charles IV, and Marshal Géraud Duroc as the representative of Napoleon, the accord contained 14 articles along with supplementary provisions relating to troop allocations for the planned invasion of Portugal.

Grand marshal of the palace (French: Grand maréchal du palais) was the title used by the leader of the Military Household of the Emperor, during the First French Empire. 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 Géraud Duroc held the position from the moment when Napoleon I became Emperor of the French (18 May 1804) until his death in battle on 23 May 1813. Then, from 25 May, General Armand de Caulaincourt replaced Duroc but the position was again vacant later that year, when Caulaincourt became foreign minister (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 and Saint Helena, up until the death of the emperor on 5 May 1821.