Pierre Barrois (; 30 October 1774 – 19 October 1860) became a French division commander during the
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...
. He joined a volunteer battalion in 1793 that later became part of a famous light infantry regiment. He fought at
Wattignies
Wattignies (; nl, Wattenijs) is a commune in the Nord department of northern France. It lies in the south-western part of the Lille conurbation. It covers an area of , and as of 2019 its population was 15,075.
Neighboring communes
Lille, Fac ...
,
Fleurus
Fleurus (; wa, Fleuru) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It has been the site of four major battles.
The municipality consists of the following districts: Brye, Heppignies, Fleurus, Lambusart, ...
,
Aldenhoven
Aldenhoven () is a municipality in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located approximately 5 km south-west of Jülich, 5 km north of Eschweiler and 20 km north-east of Aachen.
Gallery ...
,
Ehrenbreitstein
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (german: Festung Ehrenbreitstein, ) is a fortress in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, on the east bank of the Rhine where it is joined by the Moselle, overlooking the town of Koblenz.
Occupying the position of an ...
and
Neuwied
Neuwied () is a town in the north of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, capital of the District of Neuwied. Neuwied lies on the east bank of the Rhine, 12 km northwest of Koblenz, on the railway from Frankfurt am Main to Cologne. Th ...
in 1793–1797. He fought at
Marengo in 1800. He became
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
of a line infantry regiment in 1803 and led it at
Haslach,
Dürrenstein,
Halle,
Lübeck
Lübeck (; Low German also ), officially the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (german: Hansestadt Lübeck), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 217,000 inhabitants, Lübeck is the second-largest city on the German Baltic coast and in the stat ...
and
Mohrungen in 1805–1807. Promoted to
general of brigade
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
, he led a brigade at
Friedland in 1807.
Transferring to Spain, Barrois led his brigade at
Espinosa,
Somosierra
Somosierra is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located at 83 km north of Madrid, in the mountain pass with the same name, at an elevation of 1433 metres above sea level, being the northernmost town of Community of Madri ...
,
Uclés
Uclés is a municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain located in the province of Cuenca, Castilla–La Mancha. The municipality spans across a total area of 64.61 km2 and, as of 1 January 2020, it has a registered population of 212.
History ...
,
Medellín
Medellín ( or ), officially the Municipality of Medellín ( es, Municipio de Medellín), is the second-largest city in Colombia, after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia. It is located in the Aburrá Valley, a central re ...
,
Talavera,
Cádiz
Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...
and
Barrosa in 1808–1811. He was promoted to
general of division
Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corp ...
in 1811 and led a Young Guard division at
Bautzen
Bautzen () or Budyšin () is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and the administrative centre of the district of Bautzen. It is located on the Spree river. In 2018 the town's population was 39,087. Until 1868, its German name was ''Budis ...
,
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth larg ...
,
Leipzig
Leipzig ( , ; Upper Saxon: ) is the most populous city in the German state of Saxony. Leipzig's population of 605,407 inhabitants (1.1 million in the larger urban zone) as of 2021 places the city as Germany's eighth most populous, as wel ...
and
Courtrai
Kortrijk ( , ; vls, Kortryk or ''Kortrik''; french: Courtrai ; la, Cortoriacum), sometimes known in English as Courtrai or Courtray ( ), is a Belgian city and municipality in the Flemish province of West Flanders.
It is the capital and larges ...
in 1813–1814. The following year he led
Imperial Guard
An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, in ...
troops at
Ligny
Ligny ( wa, Lignè) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Sombreffe, located in the province of Namur, Belgium.
Previously its own municipality, a 1977 fusion of the Belgian municipalities made it an '' ancienne commune'' ...
and
Waterloo
Waterloo most commonly refers to:
* Battle of Waterloo, a battle on 18 June 1815 in which Napoleon met his final defeat
* Waterloo, Belgium, where the battle took place.
Waterloo may also refer to:
Other places
Antarctica
*King George Island (S ...
. After a period of retirement, he led French troops that intervened in the
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution (, ) was the conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium.
T ...
. His surname is one of the
names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe The following is a list of the 660 names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris. Most of them represent generals who served during the French First Republic (1792–1804) and the First French Empire (1804–1815). Underlined names signify tho ...
, on Column 37.
Early career
Barrois was born on 30 October 1774 at
Ligny-en-Barrois
Ligny-en-Barrois () is a commune in the Meuse department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.
The town is in the arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc, beside the canal that links the rivers Rhine and Marne, fifteen kilometres to the south east of Bar-le ...
in what later became the
Meuse department. His father was a baker. On 12 August 1793, Barrois enlisted in the Éclaireurs (Scouts) of the Meuse and became a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
exactly one month later. He fought at the
Battle of Wattignies
The Battle of Wattignies (15–16 October 1793) saw a French army commanded by Jean-Baptiste Jourdan attack a Coalition army directed by Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. After two days of combat Jourdan's troops compelled the Habsburg co ...
on 12–13 October 1793. His unit belonged to the division of
Pierre Raphaël Paillot de Beauregard
Pierre Raphaël Paillot de Beauregard (14 February 1734 – 30 September 1799) led a French division at the Battle of Wattignies. A nobleman, he joined the French Royal Army as a cadet in 1755 and fought in the Seven Years' War. He became a lieut ...
. This division was described by one historian as, "bad troops under a bad general", and performed poorly in the action. In 1794, the Éclaireurs of the Meuse were amalgamated with the Chasseurs of Cévennes to become part of the
9th Light Infantry Regiment
The 9th Light Infantry Regiment (9e régiment d’infanterie légère) was a French army regiment. One of the most notable infantry regiments in the Napoleonic Wars, it was awarded the title "Incomparable" by Napoleon Bonaparte after their brillia ...
.
Barrois fought at the
Battle of Fleurus on 26 June 1794 in the division of
François Séverin Marceau-Desgraviers
François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis.
People with the given name
* Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters"
* Francis II of France, Kin ...
. The 9th Light Infantry Regiment was listed in a 9 June order of battle for Marceau's division. The next action fought by this division was the
Battle of Lambusart
The Battle of Lambusart (16 June 1794) saw a Republican French army led by Jean Baptiste Jourdan try to cross the Sambre River against a combined Dutch and Habsburg Austrian army under William V, Hereditary Prince of Orange. This battle w ...
on 16 June. The flight of "the shaky troops of the Ardennes" Army under Marceau caused the French to retreat on 16 June. Again at Fleurus, Marceau's troops took to their heels. However, this time Marceau was able to rally some soldiers and bring them back into action. After very hard fighting, the Allies gave up and retreated from the field.
Marceau's division fought at the
Battle of Sprimont
The Battle of Sprimont, or Battle of the Ourthe (18 Sep 1794), was a battle during the War of the First Coalition between a corps of the French revolutionary Army of Sambre-and-Meuse under General Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, and the left wing of an ...
on 17–18 September 1794. The French feinted with their left wing, but the real thrust was made by the right-wing divisions of Marceau, Jean Adam Mayer and Honoré Alexandre Haquin, plus part of
Jacques Maurice Hatry
Jacques Maurice Hatry (Strasbourg, 12 February 1742 – Paris, 30 November 1802) was a French general.
A colonel on the outbreak of the French Revolution, he rose to général de division in 1794 and fought with distinction in the armée du Nord ...
's. The right-wing counted almost 60,000 men under the overall command of
Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer
Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer (December 18, 1747 – August 19, 1804), born in Delle, near Belfort, became a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars and on three occasions led armies in battle.
Early career
Schérer served in the ...
. An Allied observer,
Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated terms
* Lewis (d ...
witnessed the French assault on the bridge of
Aywaille
Aywaille (; wa, Aiwêye) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium.
On 1 January 2012, Aywaille had a total population of 11,697. The total area is 80.04 km² which gives a population density of 146 inhabit ...
, "on which the Austrians had placed two 12-pounder guns, which fired
case shot on the attackers. They passed it, throwing into the river their dead and wounded who obstructed their passage. With their generals in front, they descended the scarped bank of the
Ourthe
The Ourthe (; Walloon: ''Aiwe d' Oûte'') is a long river in the Ardennes in Wallonia (Belgium). It is a right tributary to the river Meuse. The Ourthe is formed at the confluence of the ''Ourthe Occidentale'' (Western Ourthe) and the ''Ourthe ...
torrent and crossed it..." This heroic attack was made by the same soldiers who ran away at Lambusart and Fleurus. Barrois fought at the
Battle of the Roer (Aldenhoven) on 2 October. In this action, Marceau and Mayer captured Düren but Haquin's division was sent on a flank march and did not arrive until nightfall. Nevertheless, the Austrians withdrew that night.
During the
Second Siege of Mainz Barrois was promoted to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
adjutant
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...
-major. Actually, Marceau's division and the 9th Light Infantry were engaged at the siege of
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress
Ehrenbreitstein Fortress (german: Festung Ehrenbreitstein, ) is a fortress in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, on the east bank of the Rhine where it is joined by the Moselle, overlooking the town of Koblenz.
Occupying the position of an ...
from 15 September to 17 October 1795. Barrois fought at the
Battle of Neuwied
The Battle of Neuwied (18 April 1797) saw Lazare Hoche lead part of the French Army of Sambre-et-Meuse against Franz von Werneck's Austrian army. The French attack surprised their enemies and broke through their lines. Aside from 1,000 men kill ...
on 18 April 1797. He was transferred to
Brest
Brest may refer to:
Places
*Brest, Belarus
**Brest Region
**Brest Airport
**Brest Fortress
*Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria
*Břest, Czech Republic
*Brest, France
**Arrondissement of Brest
**Brest Bretagne Airport
** Château de Brest
*Brest, ...
to take part in the 1798 expedition to Ireland. Later he was assigned to the
Vendée
Vendée (; br, Vande) is a department in the Pays de la Loire region in Western France, on the Atlantic coast. In 2019, it had a population of 685,442. . The 9th Light was assigned to the Army of Reserve and fought at the
Battle of Marengo
The Battle of Marengo was fought on 14 June 1800 between French forces under the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and Austrian forces near the city of Alessandria, in Piedmont, Italy. Near the end of the day, the French overcame General Mic ...
on 14 June 1800 as part of
Jean Boudet
Jean Boudet (9 February 1769, in Bordeaux – 14 September 1809, in Moravské Budějovice, now in the Czech Republic) was a French général de division of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. The campaigns in which he was invo ...
's division. It performed so well that
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
had the word ''incomparable'' embroidered on the regimental flag. In October 1800, Barrois was appointed
chef de bataillon
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
.
Empire
Regimental commander
On 5 October 1803, Barrois received promotion to
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
commanding the 96th Line Infantry Regiment. His unit was stationed at
Mont Cenis
Mont Cenis ( it, Moncenisio) is a massif (el. 3,612 m / 11,850 ft at Pointe de Ronce) and a pass (el. 2,085 m / 6,840 ft) in Savoie (France), which forms the limit between the Cottian and Graian Alps.
Route
The term "Mont Cenis" cou ...
in the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
under the orders of
Michel Ney
Michel Ney, 1st Duke of Elchingen, 1st Prince of the Moskva (; 10 January 1769 – 7 December 1815), was a French military commander and Marshal of the Empire who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was one o ...
and he became a Chevalier of the
Legion of Honor
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
. The 96th Line was assigned to the brigade of
Jean Gabriel Marchand
Jean Gabriel Marchand, 1st Count Marchand (10 December 1765 – 12 November 1851) went from being an attorney to a company commander in the army of the First French Republic in 1791. He fought almost exclusively in Italy throughout the French ...
in the division of
Pierre Dupont de l'Étang
Pierre-Antoine, comte Dupont de l'Étang (4 July 1765 – 9 March 1840) was a French general of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, as well as a political figure of the Bourbon Restoration.
Life Revolutionary Wars
Born in Chabanais, C ...
. Barrois sat on the military commission that condemned
Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien
Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Enghien (''duc d'Enghien'' pronounced ) (Louis Antoine Henri; 2 August 1772 – 21 March 1804) was a member of the House of Bourbon of France. More famous for his death than for his life, he was executed on charg ...
to death. When the
War of the Third Coalition
The War of the Third Coalition)
* In French historiography, it is known as the Austrian campaign of 1805 (french: Campagne d'Autriche de 1805) or the German campaign of 1805 (french: Campagne d'Allemagne de 1805) was a European conflict spanni ...
broke out, he won distinction at the
Battle of Haslach-Jungingen
The Battle of Haslach-Jungingen, also known as the Battle of Albeck, fought on 11 October 1805 at Ulm-Jungingen north of Ulm at the Danube between French and Austrian forces, was part of the War of the Third Coalition, which was a part of the ...
on 11 October 1805. In this action, Dupont's 5,350 infantry, 2,169 cavalry and 18 guns fought 25,000 Austrians to a standstill. Dupont's division also fought at the
Battle of Dürrenstein
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
on 11 November. After this campaign, Barrois was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor.
During the
War of the Fourth Coalition
The Fourth Coalition fought against Napoleon's French Empire and were defeated in a war spanning 1806–1807. The main coalition partners were Prussia and Russia with Saxony, Sweden, and Great Britain also contributing. Excluding Prussia, s ...
in 1806, Barrois led his regiment at the battles of
Halle,
Nossentin and
Lübeck
Lübeck (; Low German also ), officially the Hanseatic City of Lübeck (german: Hansestadt Lübeck), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 217,000 inhabitants, Lübeck is the second-largest city on the German Baltic coast and in the stat ...
. In 1807, he fought at the
Battle of Mohrungen
In the Battle of Mohrungen on 25 January 1807, most of a First French Empire corps under the leadership of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte fought a strong Russian Empire advance guard led by Major General Yevgeni Ivanovich Markov. The French ...
. On 14 February 1807 he was promoted to
general of brigade
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...
. Given a brigade in Dupont's division, Barrois led his troops in a skirmish at
Braniewo (Braunsberg) and at the
Battle of Friedland
The Battle of Friedland (14 June 1807) was a major engagement of the Napoleonic Wars between the armies of the French Empire commanded by Napoleon I and the armies of the Russian Empire led by Count von Bennigsen. Napoleon and the French obtai ...
on 14 June 1807. At Friedland, Dupont's division greatly distinguished itself, piercing the Russian centre and repelling attacks by the
Russian Imperial Guard
The Russian Imperial Guard, officially known as the Leib Guard (russian: Лейб-гвардия ''Leyb-gvardiya'', from German ''Leib'' "body"; cf. Life Guards / Bodyguard) were military units serving as personal guards of the Emperor of Rus ...
. In recognition, Napoleon appointed Barrois a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor.
Spain
In 1808, the
I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to:
France
* 1st Army Corps (France)
* I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Arm ...
under
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...
Claude Perrin Victor
Claude-Victor Perrin, 1st Duke of Belluno (7 December 1764 – 1 March 1841) was a French soldier and military commander who served during both the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was made a Marshal of the Empire i ...
was transferred to Spain to fight in the
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...
. Barrois commanded the 2nd Brigade in Dupont's former division, now led by
François Amable Ruffin
François Amable Ruffin (31 August 1771 – 15 May 1811) was a general of division in Napoleon's First French Empire. He was mortally wounded while leading his troops against the British.
Biography
Having been captain of a company of voluntee ...
. He led his brigade with distinction at the
Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros
The Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros was a battle of the Napoleonic Wars, fought on 10 and 11 November 1808 at the township of Espinosa de los Monteros in the Cantabrian Mountains. It resulted in a French victory under General Victor again ...
on November 10–11, 1808. In this action, Victor recklessly attacked on the first day before all his troops were available and was repulsed. On the second day, the marshal made a more skilful assault and routed the Spanish army. The French lost 1,000 killed and wounded while inflicting 3,000 casualties and capturing six guns and the Spanish wagon train.
In the
Battle of Somosierra
The Battle of Somosierra took place on 30 November 1808, during the Peninsular War, when a combined Franco-Spanish- Polish force under the direct command of Napoleon Bonaparte forced a passage through a Spanish Divison stationed at the Sierr ...
on 30 November 1808, Ruffin's division led the advance of the French army up the
Somosierra Pass. While the 9th Light Infantry advanced to the right and the 24th Line to the left, Barrois led the 96th Line directly up the main road. An impatient Napoleon ordered a premature charge of Polish cavalry which was nearly wiped out. Not long afterwards, the flanking regiments cleared the heights on either side and Barrois' men nearly reached the crest. Napoleon ordered another cavalry charge and this time the Spanish defenders were routed. At the
Battle of Uclés on 13 January 1809, Victor ordered
Eugène-Casimir Villatte
Eugène-Casimir Villatte, Comte d'Oultremont (14 April 1770 – 14 May 1834) fought in the French army during the Wars of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to command a division at many of the important battles in the Peninsul ...
's division to attack the Spanish defenders while Ruffin circled to get behind them. The operation worked perfectly. Villatte drove the Spanish out of their positions without much trouble. As they retreated, the Spanish infantry ran into Ruffin's division and 6,000 men were forced to surrender in a body. Although they had sustained few casualties, the French committed atrocities by murdering 69 townspeople and several prisoners.
![Barrosa](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Barrosa.jpg)
Ruffin's division was in reserve at the
Battle of Medellín on 29 March 1809. Late on 27 July at the
Battle of Talavera
The Battle of Talavera (27–28 July 1809) was fought just outside the town of Talavera de la Reina, Spain some southwest of Madrid, during the Peninsular War. At Talavera, a British army under Sir Arthur Wellesley combined with a Spanish ar ...
, Victor ordered Ruffin's division to make a night attack on the British position. Only the 9th Light succeeded in reaching the crest of the hill, only to be driven off. The 24th and 96th lines got lost in the dark. Early in the morning of 28 July, Ruffin's division attacked again and was badly mauled, losing 1,300 men. In the afternoon, Ruffin's division advanced on the extreme right flank and was attacked by cavalry. The 1st Light Dragoons of the
King's German Legion
The King's German Legion (KGL; german: Des Königs Deutsche Legion, semantically erroneous obsolete German variations are , , ) was a British Army unit of mostly expatriated German personnel during the period 1803–16. The legion achieved th ...
became disordered after riding into a hidden gully, then attacked the 24th Line which was formed in a square. The Germans were easily driven off. Barrois was appointed
Baron of the Empire
As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles of nobility to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution.
Like many others, both before and since, Napoleon found that th ...
on 24 February 1809.
Barrois served at the
Siege of Cádiz
The siege of Cádiz was a siege of the large Spanish naval base of Cádiz by a French army from 5 February 1810 to 24 August 1812 during the Peninsular War. Following the occupation of Seville, Cádiz became the Spanish seat of power, and w ...
in 1810. He fought at the
Battle of Barrosa
The Battle of Barrosa (Chiclana, 5 March 1811, also known as the Battle of Chiclana or Battle of Cerro del Puerco) was part of an unsuccessful manoeuvre by an Anglo-Iberian force to break the French siege of Cádiz during the Peninsular War ...
on 5 March 1811 and took command of the division after Ruffin was fatally wounded and captured. He was promoted
general of division
Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French (Revolutionary) System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corp ...
on 27 July 1811. On 28 October 1811, a British force under
Rowland Hill
Sir Rowland Hill, KCB, FRS (3 December 1795 – 27 August 1879) was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of Uniform Penny Post and his soluti ...
surprised and mauled one of
Jean-Baptiste Girard's brigades at the
Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos
The Battle of Arroyo dos Molinos took place on 28 October 1811 during the Peninsular War. An allied force under General Rowland Hill trapped and defeated a French force under General Jean-Baptiste Girard, forcing the latter's dismissal by ...
. For this minor disaster, Girard was disgraced and replaced in command of the division by Barrois. The division consisted of the 34th, 40th, 64th and 88th Line Infantry Regiments, of which the first two were involved in the debacle. Barrois' division took part in the
Siege of Tarifa in December 1811. During the approach march,
Francisco Ballesteros
Francisco Ballesteros (1770 in Zaragoza – 29 June 1832 in Paris) emerged as a career Spanish General during the Peninsular War.
Ballasteros served against the First French Republic in the 1793 War of the Pyrenees. He was dismissed from his ...
and 2,000 Spaniards attacked the French, but Barrois drove them off.
In a 3 March 1812 report, Barrois commanded the 2nd Division of the Army of the South, with 225 officers and 7,551 rank and file. The 1st Brigade was led by
Louis Victorin Cassagne
Louis Victorin Cassagne (5 June 1774 – 6 July 1841) became a French division commander during the Napoleonic Wars. In 1793 he joined a free company which was immediately absorbed into a volunteer battalion. Until 1795 he fought in the Army of the ...
and included the 16th Light and 8th Line Infantry Regiments. The 2nd Brigade was directed by
Jean-Jacques Avril and consisted of the 51st and 54th Line Infantry Regiments. All regiments had three battalions and the divisional headquarters was at Puerto Real near
Cádiz
Cádiz (, , ) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia.
Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, ...
. In July 1812, Barrois' division was sent to reinforce
Jean-Baptiste Drouet, comte d'Erlon
Jean-Baptiste Drouet, Comte d'Erlon (29 July 176525 January 1844) was a Marshal of France and a soldier in the Grande Armée during the Napoleonic Wars. He notably commanded the I Corps of the ''Army of the North'' at the Battle of Waterloo.
Earl ...
, who was threatened by Hill's corps. There was a back-and-forth campaign with no battle in which the division participated. Told to report to
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
, he arrived after the end of the
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian campaign, the Second Polish War, the Army of Twenty nations, and the Patriotic War of 1812 was launched by Napoleon Bonaparte to force the Russian Empire back into the continental block ...
.
1813–1814
![Napoleon Guard Tirailleur and Voltigeur by Bellange](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Napoleon_Guard_Tirailleur_and_Voltigeur_by_Bellange.jpg)
At the
Battle of Bautzen on 20–21 May 1813, Barrois commanded the 2nd Young Guard Division which had two brigades. The 1st Brigade under
Henri Rottembourg
Henri Rottembourg (6 July 1769 – 8 February 1857) became a French division commander late in the Napoleonic Wars. He enlisted in an infantry regiment of the French Royal Army in 1784 and was promoted to first lieutenant by 1792. During the War of ...
consisted of the 1st and 2nd Tirailleur Regiments while the 2nd Brigade of
Pierre Berthezène
Pierre, baron Berthezène (24 March 1775, Vendargues - 9 October 1847, Vendargues) was a French general.
Life
Early military career
Pierre's parents, Jacques Berthezène and Marguerite Causse, were from a modest background. They chose a career ...
was made up of the 3rd, 6th and 7th Tirailleurs. Each regiment had two battalions and the three regiments that had strength returns counted 946, 1,058 and 1,074 officers and men. At 3:00 pm on the second day, Barrois' division advanced to attack the Allied position, supported by heavy artillery fire. Though temporarily halted by Russian cannons, the Allies were compelled to retreat around 4:00 pm. At the
Battle of Dresden
The Battle of Dresden (26–27 August 1813) was a major engagement of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle took place around the city of Dresden in modern-day Germany. With the recent addition of Austria, the Sixth Coalition felt emboldened in t ...
on 26–27 August, Barrois' 2nd Division formed part of Marshal
Édouard Mortier Édouard is both a French given name and a surname, equivalent to Edward in English. Notable people with the name include:
* Édouard Balladur (born 1929), French politician
* Édouard Boubat (1923–1999), French photographer
* Édouard Colonne (1 ...
's command. On 26 October, Mortier's troops recaptured the Great Garden from the Allies. The next day, the Imperial Guard drove back the Allied right flank.
At the
Battle of Leipzig
The Battle of Leipzig (french: Bataille de Leipsick; german: Völkerschlacht bei Leipzig, ); sv, Slaget vid Leipzig), also known as the Battle of the Nations (french: Bataille des Nations; russian: Битва народов, translit=Bitva ...
on 16–19 October, Barrois' 2nd Division was part of Mortier's II Young Guard Corps. The 1st Brigade led by
Paul-Jean-Baptiste Poret de Morvan included the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Tirailleurs while the 2nd Brigade of Louis-Étienne Dulong de Rosnay comprised the 6th and 7th Tirailleurs. Each regiment had two battalions and the division numbered 5,470 men. Attached artillery consisted of the 3rd, 4th and 12th Young Guard Foot Artillery Companies and the 3rd and 9th Companies of the 1st Guard Train Regiment. Each of the three artillery batteries had six
6-pounder System Year XI cannons and two 5 ½-inch howitzers. At 2:00 pm on 16 October, Mortier's corps advanced to attack the University Wood, but Napoleon was unable to secure a decisive victory. The divisions of Barrois and
François Roguet
François Roguet (12 November 1770 – 4 December 1846) became a French division commander in the Imperial Guard (Napoleon I), Imperial Guard during the Napoleonic Wars. He enlisted in the French Royal Army in 1789. His regiment was assigned to the ...
acted as the French army's
rearguard
A rearguard is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as communication lines, behind an army. Even more ...
. By the time they reached the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
River, Barrois' division was reduced to 2,500 men.
On 11 January 1814,
Nicolas Joseph Maison
Nicolas Joseph Maison, 1st Marquis of Maison (19 December 1771 – 13 February 1840) was a Marshal of France and Minister of War.[Brussels
Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...]
to
Antwerp
Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504, . In early January, Barrois' 4th Young Guard Division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tirailleur Regiments which numbered 103 officers and 4,096 men. Brussels was evacuated on 1 February and Barrois' division retreated from there to
Tournai
Tournai or Tournay ( ; ; nl, Doornik ; pcd, Tornai; wa, Tornè ; la, Tornacum) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. It lies southwest of Brussels on the river Scheldt. Tournai is part of Euromet ...
. On 21 February 1814 Barrois was appointed
Count of the Empire
As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles of nobility to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution.
Like many others, both before and since, Napoleon found that th ...
. By 5 March, Maison's field force included 5,400 men in the infantry divisions of Barrois and
Jean-Baptiste Solignac
Jean-Baptiste Solignac (15 March 1773 in Millau – 11 November 1850 in Montpellier) was a French general, and the brother-in-law of Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. He took part in the French Revolutionary, Napoleonic, and Portuguese Civil Wa ...
plus 930 cavalry and 19 guns.
On 25 March 1814, Maison's command left
Lille
Lille ( , ; nl, Rijsel ; pcd, Lile; vls, Rysel) is a city in the northern part of France, in French Flanders. On the river Deûle, near France's border with Belgium, it is the capital of the Hauts-de-France Regions of France, region, the Pref ...
and headed north. At this time Barrois' division numbered 2,971 men and included the 12th Voltiguer and 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tirailleur Regiments. Maison was successful in reaching Antwerp where he added Roguet's 4,000 men of the 6th Young Guard Division to his force. Then the French moved south again and headed toward Lille. In the
Battle of Courtrai on 31 March Maison's force was intercepted by
Johann von Thielmann
Johann Adolf, Freiherr von Thielmann (27 April 176510 October 1824) was a Saxon soldier who served with Saxony, Prussia and France during the Napoleonic Wars.
Biography
Thielmann was born at Dresden. Entering the Saxon cavalry in 1782, he saw ser ...
's
Saxons
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
. Believing that he was only facing Solignac's division, Thielmann ordered an attack. Maison placed Roguet's division in the center with Barrois on the right and Solignac on the left.
Bertrand Pierre Castex
Bertrand may refer to:
Places
* Bertrand, Missouri, US
* Bertrand, Nebraska, US
* Bertrand, New Brunswick, Canada
* Bertrand Township, Michigan, US
* Bertrand, Michigan
* Bertrand, Virginia, US
* Bertrand Creek, state of Washington
* Saint-Bert ...
's cavalry waited in reserve. When the Saxon force was fully committed, Maison ordered Barrois and Solignac to envelop the flanks. Barrois' attack was led by Jean-Luc Darriule's brigade. Too late, Thielmann realized he was facing Maison's entire corps and called for a withdrawal. His command disintegrated as the Saxons took to their heels and the French rounded up hundreds of prisoners. A week later, Maison learned that Napoleon had abdicated and the war was over.
Later career
During the
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days (french: les Cent-Jours ), also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition, marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba to Paris on20 March 1815 and the second restoration ...
, Barrois rallied to Napoleon and was given command of the 1st Young Guard Division and led it in the
Waterloo Campaign
The Waterloo campaign (15 June – 8 July 1815) was fought between the French Army of the North (France), Army of the North and two Seventh Coalition armies, an Anglo-allied army and a Prussian army. Initially the French army was commanded by ...
. The division consisted of the 1st and 3rd Tirailleurs and the 1st and 3rd Voltigeurs. Barrois led the Tirailleurs at the
Battle of Ligny
The Battle of Ligny, in which French troops of the Armée du Nord under the command of Napoleon I defeated part of a Prussian army under Field Marshal Blücher, was fought on 16 June 1815 near Ligny in what is now Belgium. The result was a ta ...
. At the
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815, near Waterloo, Belgium, Waterloo (at that time in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, now in Belgium). A French army under the command of Napoleon was defeated by two of the armie ...
on 18 June 1815, he was shot in the left shoulder while directing the defence of
Plancenoit
Plancenoit (; wa, Planchenois) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Lasne, located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium.
The hamlet of Marache is on its territory.
The village was a key strategic point during the ...
. He immediately went on leave to have his injury tended. He was placed on retired status on 1 January 1825. Barrois returned to active duty in 1830 to command the 3rd Division and serve as
inspector general
An inspector general is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is "inspectors general".
Australia
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (Australia) (IGIS) is an independent statutory off ...
of infantry. In August 1831 he was part of the French army that intervened in the
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution (, ) was the conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium.
T ...
. In 1836 he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor. Barrois is inscribed on the west pillar of the
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (, , ; ) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the ''étoile'' ...
. He is buried in the 27th division of the
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery (french: Cimetière du Père-Lachaise ; formerly , "East Cemetery") is the largest cemetery in Paris, France (). With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Notable figures ...
in Paris.
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrois, Pierre
1774 births
1860 deaths
French generals
French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars
French commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
People from Meuse (department)
Counts of the First French Empire
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery
Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
People of the War of the First Coalition