|
French Cuirassier Regiments and the Colonels who Led
Them: 1792 to 1815
Part I: 1 - 7 Regiments
By Tony
Broughton, FINS
Some of the hardest fighting units of Napoleon's Grande
Armée were his cuirassier regiments. Theirs is a
distinguished record in all the major campaigns between 1792
and 1815.
1er Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1635 from troops of the Duke of Saxe-Weimer
that had been levied in 1631 and admitted into French
service in 1631. In 1657 the Regiment was named
Colonel-General being renamed the 1er Regiment de Cavalerie
in 1791. Iin 1801 the Regiment became the 1er Regiment de
Cavalerie-Cuirassiers, finally becoming the 1er Regiment de
Cuirassiers in 1803.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: de
Clermont-Tonnerre(Stanilas-Marie-Adelaide) - Colonel
1792: Deschamps de la Varenne (Jacques-Antoine) -
Colonel
1793: Doncourt (Claude-Louis) - Chef-de-Brigade
1793: Maillard (Jean) - Chef-de-Brigade
1795: Severac(Jaques) - Chef-de-Brigade
1797: Juignet (Jean) - Chef-de-Brigade
1798: Margaron (Pierre) - Chef-de-Brigade
1803: Guiton (Marie-Adrien-Francois) - Colonel
1805: de Berckheim (Sigismond-Frederic) - Colonel
1809: Clerc (Antoine-Marguerite) - Colonel
1814: de la Mothe Guery (Philippe-Christophe) -
Colonel
1815: Ordener (Michel) - Colonel
Of the above twelve Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigades,
four attained the rank of General-de-Brigade and
above.
Deschamps de la Varenne, ( Jacques-Antione)
Born: 4 March 1728
Colonel: 5 February 1792
General-de-Brigade: 8 March 1793
Died: 7 January 1807
Margaron, (Pierre)
Born: 1 May 1765
Chef-de-Brigade: 23 December 1798
General-de-Brigade: 29 August 1803
General de Division: 16August 1813
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Baron of the Empire: 29 January 1809
Died: 16 December 1824
Guiton, (Marie-Adrien-Francois)
Born: 8 June 1761
Colonel: 31 August 1803
General-de-Brigade: 1 April 1807
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 15 June 1804
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 24 December
1805
Baron of the Empire: 2 July 1808
Died: 18 February 1818
de Berckeim, (Sigismond-Frederic)
Born: 9 May 1775
Colonel: 1 April 1807
General-de-Brigade: 12 July 1809
General de Division: 3 September 1813
Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur: 6 August 1805
Officer of the Legin d'Honneur: 11 July 1809
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 May 1813.
Baron of the Empire: 9 March 1810
Died: 28 December 1819
Colonels killed and wounded while in command of the 1e
Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Chef-de-Brigade Margaron: wounded 27
Thermidor 1799
Colonel Clerc: wounded 30th October 1813, 30th March
1814
Colonel Ordener: wounded 18 June 1815
Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 1e
Cuirassier during the years 1805-1815
Officers killed: Fifteen
Officers died of wounds: Four
Officers wounded: Eighty-six
Regimental war record (Battles and Combats)
1792: Jemmapes, Anderlecht, and
Tirelemont.
1793: Maestricht, La Roer, Nerwinden, and
Maubeuge.
1794: Mouscron, Pont-a-Chin, Rousselar, and the
Capture of Malines.
1796: Rivoli and Tagliamento.
1799: Le Trebbia, La Secchia, Novi, and Genola.
1800: Mozambano.
1801: San-Massiano and Verone.
1805: Wertingen, Ulm, Hollabrunn, Raussnitz, and
Austerlitz.
1806: Jena and the Capture of Lubeck.
1807: Hoff and Eylau.
1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, Wagram,
Hollabrunn, and Znaim.
1812: La Moskowa and Winkowo.
1813: La Katzbach, Leipzig, Hanau, and the defense of
Hambourg.
1814: La Chausee, Vauchamps, Bar-sur-Aube, Sezanne,
and Valcourt.
1815: Ligny, Genappe, and Waterloo.
Battle Honours
Jemmapes 1792, Austerlitz 1805, Eylau
1807, La Moskowa 1812.
2e Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1635 from an Ordnance company of Cardinal
Richelieu and named Cardinal-Duc in 1643 they were renamed
the Royale-Cavalerie and in 1791 the 2eme Regiment de
Cavalerie. Their name changed once again in 1802 when the
Regiment became the 2eme Regiment de Cavalerie-Cuirassiers
and finally in 1803 they were renamed the 2eme Regiment de
Cuirassiers.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: Duc d'Esclignac,
(Henri-Thomas-Charles de Preissac Fezensac) - Colonel
1792: De La Pinserie d'Hauboutet (Louis) - Colonel
1792: De Beaujeu, (Edmie-Henri) - Chef-de-Brigade
1793: De Marne, (Xavier-Frederic) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1793: Magron, (Jacques) - Chef-de-Brigade
1793: Radel, (Jean-Antoine-Etienne) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1799: Yvendorff, (Jean-Frederic) - Chef-de-Brigade and
in 1803 Colonel
1805: Chouard, (Claude-Louis) - Colonel
1811: Rolland, (Pierre) - Colonel
1813: Morin, (Leonard) - Colonel
1814: de la Biffe, (Louis) - Colonel
1814: Lacroix, (?) - Colonel
1815: Grandjean, (Louis-Stanislas-Francois) -
Colonel
Of the above officers four attained the rank of
General-de-Brigade
De Beaujeu, (Edmie-Henri)
Born: 22 May 1741
Colonel: 27 May 1792
General-de-Brigade: 15 May 1793
Died: 22 June 1818
Yvendorff, (Jean-Frederic)
Born: 19 October 1751
Chef-de-Brigade: 3 September 1799
Colonel: 1803
General-de-Brigade: 24 December 1805
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Baron of the Empire: 29 June 1808
Died: 10th November 1816
Chouard, (Louis-Claude)
Born: 15 August 1771
Colonel: 27 December 1805
General-de-Brigade: 6 August 1811
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 23 August 1814
Baron of the Empire: 27 November 1808
Died: 15 May 1843
Rolland, (Pierre)
Born: 8 June 1772
Colonel: 7 September 1811
General-de-Brigade: 28 November 1813
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 5 September
1813
Chevalier of the Empire: 28 January 1809
Baron of the Empire: 23 July 1810
Died: 25 November 1847
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 2e
Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Chef-de-Brigade Radal: Wounded 15 July 1798
Colonel Yvendorff: Wounded 2 December 1805
Colonel Rolland: Wounded 16/18 October 1813
Colonel Morin: Wounded 14 February 1814 died of wounds
20th February 1814
Colonel Grandjean: Wounded 18 June 1815
Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 2e
Cuirassiers during the years 1805-1815.
Officers Killed: Eight
Officers died of wounds: Four
Officers wounded: Sixty-six
Regimental war record (Battles and combats)
1792: Capture of Spire
1793: Hungrischwolf
1796: Rehutt, Rastadt, Ettlingen, Dunstelkingen,
Neresheim, Neubourg, and Riberach
1797: Diersheim
1800: Marengo
1805: Wertingen and Austerlitz
1807: Glottau and Friedland
1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, and Wagram
1812: Borodino and La Moskowa
1813: Reichenbach and Dresden
1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps,
Athies, La Fere-Champenoise and Paris
1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo
Battle Honours
Marengo 1800, Austerlitz 1805, La Moskowa 1812,
and Vauchamps 1814.
3e Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1645 from three old Cavalry Companies and
three new ones taking the name Commissaire-General in 1654.
In 1791, the Regiment became the 3e Regiment de Cavalerie
and in 1802 the name changed to the 3e Regiment de
Cavalerie-Cuirassiers, finally becoming the 3e Regiment de
Cuirassiers in 1803.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: De Montcanisy, (Alexandre-Guillaume-Morin)
- Colonel
1792: De la Mothe-Flers, (Louis-Charles-Anglo) -
Colonel
1792: De Bellefonds, (Francois-Leger) - Colonel
1794: Lefbvre, (Jean-Baptiste) - Chef-de-Brigade
1794: Mollard, (Nicolas-Sigisbert) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1798: Meunier, (Jean-Baptiste) - Chef-de-Brigade
1801: Preval, (Claude-Antoine-Hippolyte) -
Chef-de-Brigade, later Colonel in 1803
1806: Richter, (Jean-Louis) - Colonel
1811: D'Audenarde, (Charles-Eugene-Lalaing) -
Colonel
1813: Lacroix, (Jean-Guillaume) - Colonel
Three of the above Officers reached
General-de-Brigade.
Preval, (Claude-Antoine-Hippolyte)
Born: 6 November 1776
Chef-de-Brigade: 5 March 1801
Colonel: 1803
General-de-Brigade: 31 December 1806
Baron of the Empire: 7 June 1808
Died: 19 February 1857
Richter, (Jean-Louis)
Born: 24 October 1769
Colonel: 31 Decmber 1806
General-de-Brigade: 6 August 1811
Baron of the Empire: 19 March 1809
Died: 23 December 1840
D'Audenarde, (Charles-Louis-Lalaing)
Born: 13th November 1779
Colonel: 7 September 1811
General-de-Brigade: 5 December 1812
Baron of the Empire: 15 October 1809
Died: 4 March 1859
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 3e
Regiment de Cuirassier.
Colonel Richter: Wounded 21/22 May 1809
Colonel Lacroix: Wounded 16/18 October 1813, 18 June
1815 died of wounds 30th June 1815
Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 3e
Cuirassiers during the years 1805 - 1815
Officers killed: Sixteen
Officers died of wound: Three
Officers wounded: Sixty
Regimental War Record (Battles and Combats)
1792: Marquan, La Croix-aux-Bois, Valmy, and
Jemmapes
1794: Sprimont
1796: Rastadt and Neresheim
1799: Sesia
1800: Marengo
1805: Austerlitz
1806: Jena
1807: Heilsberg and Friedland
1809: Eckmuhl, Essling, and Wagram
1812: La Moskowa
1813: Dresden and Leipzig
1814: Champaubert
1815: Fleurus and Waterloo
Battle Honours
Marengo 1800, Austerlitz 1805, La Moskowa 1812,
and Champaubert 1814.
4e Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1643 and named La Reine-Mere. In 1666, the
name changed to La Reine. In1791, the Regiment became the 4e
Regiment de Cavalerie and in 1802 the 4e Regiment de
Cavalerie-Cuirassiers. Finally in 1803 it became the 4e
Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1792: De Raincourt, (Charles-Ignace) - Colonel
1792: Roux de Fazillac, (Pierre) - Colonel
1793: De la Goublaye, (Francois-Louis) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1794: D'Aban, (Joseph) - Chef-de-Brigade
1794: Martin la Meuse, (Dominique) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1794: Laplanche, (Jean-Baptiste-Antoine) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1803: Herbaut, (Fulgent) - Colonel
1808: Prince Aldobrandini-Borghese,
(Francois-Cajetan-Dominique-Phillipe-Andre-
Antoine-Vincent-Nicolas-Louis-Gaspard-
Melchior-Balthazar) -Colonel
1812: Dujon, (Michel-Menou) - Colonel
1815: Habert, (Jean-Nicolas) - Colonel
The 4e Cuirassiers produced three
Generals-de-Brigade
Roux de Fazillac, (Pierre)
Born: 18 July 1746
Colonel: 13th April 1792
General-de-Brigade: 8 March 1793
Died: 21 February 1833
Laplanche, (Jean-Baptiste-Antoine)
Born: 25 January 1757
Chef-de-Brigade: 2 October 1794
General-de-Brigade: 29 July 1803
Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Baron of the Empire: 21 September 1808
Died: 8 January 1832
Prince Aldobrandini-Borghese, (Francois-Cajetan-Dominique-Philippe-Andre-Antoine-Vincent
Nicolas-Louis-Gaspard-Melchior-Balthazard )
Born: 9 June 1776
Colonel: 25 June 1808
General-de-Brigade: 2 January 1812
Died: 29 May 1834
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 4e
Regiment de Cuirassiers
Chef-de-Brigade Laplanche: wounded 16 June 1796,
wounded 3 September 1796
Colonel Prince Aldobrandini-Borghese: wounded 6 July
1809
Officers killed and wounded while seving with the 4e
Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815
Officers Killed: Fourteen
Officers died of wounds: Four
Officers wounded: Eighty-two
Regimental War record (Battles and Combats)
1792: Valmy
1793: Pirmasens, Kaiserslautern, Sembach, and
Kreutznach
1794: Fleurus
1796: Wetzlar and Wurtzbourg
1799: Stokach and Hohenlinden
1805: Caldiero and Tagliamento
1807: Marienwerder and Heilsberg
1809: Essling and Wagram
1812: Polotsk, Smoliany, Borisow, and La Berezina
1813: Bautzen, Dresden, Wachau, Leipzig, and the Siege
of Hambourg
1814: Brienne, La Rothiere, Champaubert, Vauchamps,
Laon, Fere-Champenoise, and Paris
1815: Ligny and Waterloo
Battle Honours
Fleurus 1794, Heilsberg 1807, Wagram 1809 and
Dresden 1813
5e Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1653 and named Stanislas-Roi in 1725, renamed
Royal-Polgne in 1737. The name changed once again in 1791
and became the 5e Regiment de Cavalerie, finally becoming
the 5e Regiment de Cuirassiers in 1803.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: Levasseur de Neuilly, (Joachim-Joseph) -
Colonel
1792: De Menou du Mee, (Charles-Louis) - Colonel
1793: Laroque, (Jean-Jacques Darnac) -
Chef-de-Brigade
1793: Misson, (Pierre-Antoine) - Chef-de-Brigade
1802: Noirot, (Jean-Baptiste) - Chef-de-Brigade and
Colonel in 1803
1806: Quinette, (Jean-Charles) - Colonel
1811: Christophe, (Philippe) - Colonel
1814: Gobert, (Armand-Louis) - Colonel
Of the above Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade two reached
the rank of General
Levasseur de Neuilly, (Joachim-Joseph)
Born: 17 March 1743
Colonel: 23 November 1791
General-de-Brigade: 30th September 1792
Died: ?
Quinette, (Jean-Charles)
Born: 25 July 1776
Colonel: 31 December 1806
General-de-Brigade: 6 August 1811
Baron of the Empire:7 March 1808
Died: 29 June 1822
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 5e
Regiment de Cuirassiers
Colonel Gobert: Wounded 18 June 1815
Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 5e
Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815
Officers killed: Seventeen
Officers died of wounds: Four
Officers wounded: Fifty-eight
Regimental War Record (Battles and Combats)
1794: La Chataigneraie
1797: Bevilacqua and Rivoli
1799: La Rebbia
1805: Hollabrunn, Brunn, and Austerlitz
1806: Jena and the capture of Lubeck
1807: Hoff, Eylau, Wittenberg, and Koenisberg
1809: Rohr, Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, and
Wagram
1812: La Moskowa and Winkowo
1813: Leipzig and Hanau
1814: Montmirail, Bar-sur-Aube, Troyes, Nogent, and
Saint-Dizier
1815: Ligny and Waterloo
Battle Honours
Rivoli 1797, Austerlitz 1805, Wagram 1809, and
La Moskowa 1812.
6e Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Created in 1635 and named Dragons du Cardinal, in 1638
the Regimental name changed to the Fusiliers a Cheval de son
Eminence. The year1643 saw the name change once again. This
time it became the Fusiliers a Cheval du Roi. Three years
later in 1646 it changed yet again to the Regiment de Roi.
In 1791 they became the 6e Regiment de Cavalerie until 1803
when they became the 6e Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: De Dorthan,
(Charles-Francois-Marie-Joseph) - Colonel
1791: De Beaurecueil, (Balthazar-Martin-Just Laugier)
- Colonel
1792: De la Hitte, (Jean-Benoit Ducos) - Colonel
1792: Duverger, (Joseph-Gabriel) - Colonel
1792: Conigliano-Carenthal, (Jacques-Marie-Joseph) -
Colonel
1793: Tardieu, (Jean-Charles) - Chef-de-Brigade
1794: Pelletier, (Gabriel) - Chef-de-Brigade
1799: Cacatte, (Leonard) - Chef-de-Brigade and in 1803
Colonel
1805: Rioult d'Avenay, (Archange-Louis) - Colonel
1807: D'Haugeranville, (Francois-Charles-Pierre-Marie
d'Avrange) - Colonel
1811: Martin, (Isidore) - Colonel
Of the above officers five attained the rank of
General-de-Brigade
Duverger, (Joseph-Gabriel)
Born: 23 December 1720
Colonel: 2 June 1792
General-de-Brigade: 1 September 1792
Died: 4 August 1800
Conigliano-Carenthal, (Jacques-Marie-Joseph)
Born: 6 October 1751
Colonel: 1 November 1792
General-de-Brigade: 8 March 1793
Died: 9 March 1795
Cacatte, (Leonard)
Born: 27 November 1760
Chef-de-Brigade: 2 January 1799
Colonel: 1803
General-de-Brigade: 20th April 1809
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Died: 9 May 1837
Rioult d'Avenay, (Archange-Louis)
Born: 21 November 1768
Colonel: 24 February 1805
General-de-Brigade: 25 June 1807
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 4 October 1808
Died: 1 June 1809
D'Haugeranville, (Francois-Charles-Jean-Pierre-Marie
d'Avranges)
Born: 6 October 1782
Colonel: 25 June 1807
General-de-Brigade: 27 February 1813
Baron of the Empire: 19 March 1808
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 6e
Regiment de Cuirassiers
Colonel Rioult-Davaenay: Wounded 10th June 1807
Colonel D'Haugeranville: Wounded 21/22 May 1809
Colonel Martin: Wounded 18 June 1815
Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 6e
Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815
Officers killed: Twelve
Officers died of wounds: Six
Officers wounded: Seventy-six
Regimental War Record (Battles and Combats)
1792: Siege of Lille and the Siege of Anvers
1793: Blockade of Maestricht, Nerewinden, and
Hondschoote
1794: Fleurus
1796: Altenkirchen
1800: Hochstett and Hohenlinden
1805: Verone and Caldiero
1807: Heilsberg
1809: Eckmuhl, Essling, and Wagram
1812: La Moskowa, Winkowo, and Malojaroslawetz
1813: Dresden, Wachau, and Leipzig
1814: Champaubert
1815: Waterloo
Battle Honours
Fleurus 1794, Hohenlinden 1800, Wagram 1809, and
La Moskowa 1812
7e Regiment de Cuirassiers
Created in 1659 from various foreign Regiments in the
service of France and a regiment levied by the Comte de Roye
which had been formed in 1657. The Regiment became the 7e
Regiment de Cavalerie in 1791 and the 7e Regiment de
Cuirassiers in 1803.
Colonels and Chefs-de-Brigade
1791: De Villoutreys de Faye,
(Pierre-Louis-Auguste) - Colonel
1793: Gondaud, (Mathurin) - Chef-de-Brigade
1800: Offenstein, (Francois-Joseph) - Chef-de-Brigade
and Colonel in 1803
1807: Dubois, (Jacques-Charles) - Colonel
1812: Ordener, (Michel) - Colonel
1813: Richardot. (Claude-Francois) - Colonel
Two of the above officers attained the rank of
General-de-Brigade
Offenstein, (Francois-Joseph)
Born: 27 July 1760
Chef-de-Brigade: 30th May 1800
Colonel: 23 December 1803
General-de-Brigade: 25 June 1807
Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804
Baron of the Empire: 28 May 1808
Died: 27 September 1837
Dubois, (Jacques-Charles)
Born: 27 November 1762
Colonel: 25 June 1807
General-de-Brigade: 7 February 1813
Baron of the Empire: 2 August 1808
Died: 14 January 1847
Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 7e
Regiment de Cuirassiers
Colonel Offenstein: Wounded 10th June 1807
Colonel Dubois: Wounded 6 July 1809
Officers killed and wounded while seving with the 7e
Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815
Officers killed: Thirteen
Officers died of wounds: Six
Officers wounde: Fifty-eight
Regimental War Record (Battles and Combats)
1792: Valmy
1793: Nerwinden, Hondschoote, and Wattignies
1794: Roer
1800: Hochstett
1805: Tagliamento
1807: Heilsberg
1809: Essling and Wagram
1812: Polotsk and La Beresina
1813: Reichenbach and Dresden
1814: Champaubert and Vauchamps
1815: Ligny and Waterloo
Battle Honours
Valmy 1792, Essling 1809, La Beresina 1812, and
Dresden 1813
Bibliography
Brye, P de. Historique du 6e Regiment de
Cuirassiers Paris, 1893.
Bukhari, Emir. Napoleon's Cavalry London
: Osprey; 1979.
Charavay, Jacques and Noel. Les Generaux morts pour la
Patrie 1792-1815 Paris; 1893-1908.
Dezaunay, Captain. Histoire du 1er Regiment de
Cuirassiers Angers; 1889.
Histoire du 4e Regiment de Cuirassiers (1643-1897)
2 Vols; Paris; 1897.
Juzancourt, Captain. Historique du 7e Regiment de
Cuirassiers (1659-1886) Paris; 1887.
Martinien A. Tableaux par Corps et par Batailles des
Officiers Tues et Blesse pendant les Guerres de l'Empire
1805-1815 Paris; 1899.
Maume, Captain. Histoire du 3e Regiment de Cuirassiers
ci-devant Commissaire-General (1645-1892) Paris;
1893.
Quinton, D. and B. Dictionnaire des Colonels de
Napoleon Paris : S.P.M.; 1996.
Rothwiller, Baron. Histoire du deuxieme Regiment de
Cuirassiers,ancien Royal de Cavalerie (1635-1876), d'apres
les archives du Corps,celle du Depot de la Guerre et autres
documents originaux Paris; 1877.
Susane, J. Histoire de la Cavalerie Francais 3
Vols; Paris; 1874.
Vial, Lieutenant. 1653-1893 le 5e Cuirassiers,Histoire
du Regiment Lyon; 1894.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: June, 2000.
|
More
on French Cavalry |
More
on French Cuirassiers
|
