Mot de Cambronne

Pierre Cambronne was a general in Napoleon's army.  Though his military career began in 1792, he is most famous for the role he played in the Battle of Waterloo:

Cambronne was commanding the Old Guard, and, as we know, the battle didn't go too well for the French.  The legend goes that when General Colville called for Cambronne to surrender, our stout Frenchman told him that "the guard dies and does not surrender!"  When Colville pressed the point, Cambronne replied in a manner that was concise but well understood:

"Merde!"

Which has become known as le mot de Cambronne, or Cambronne's word.

Street sign from my window.

And it is for this illustrious man that my street is named.

Les cinq lettres,
Maria