The XIII Corps of the ''Grande Armée'' was a French military unit that existed 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 ...

. The corps was formed in the spring of 1813 and

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 ...

Louis-Nicolas Davout Louis-Nicolas d'Avout (10 May 1770 – 1 June 1823), better known as Davout, 1st Duke of Auerstaedt, 1st Prince of Eckmühl, was a French military commander and Marshal of the Empire who served during both the French Revolutionary Wars and t ...

was appointed as its commander. The corps included three French infantry divisions and attached cavalry. During the German campaign, the XIII Corps was assigned to defend northern Germany. Accordingly, Davout seized

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

and prepared to defend it against the Allies. In September 1813, one brigade was defeated at the

Battle of the Göhrde The battle of the Göhrde was a battle of the War of the Sixth Coalition on 16 September 1813 between French and Coalition troops at Göhrde in Germany. The French troops were defeated and withdrew to Hamburg. Site It occurred near what is ...

. After Emperor

Napoleon I 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 ...

's decisive defeat 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 ...

in October, the XIII Corps became isolated in Hamburg. An Allied army under Russian General Count von Bennigsen initiated the

Siege of Hamburg The city of Hamburg was one of the most powerful fortresses east of the Rhine. After being freed from Napoleonic rule by advancing Cossacks and other following Coalition troops it was once more occupied by Marshal Davout Louis-Nicolas d ...

in December.

Order of battle

Hamburg, 1814

XIII Corps: Marshal

(40,000) * 3rd Division: General of Division

Louis Henri Loison Louis Henri Loison (16 May 1771 – 30 December 1816) briefly joined the French Army in 1787 and after the French Revolution became a junior officer. Blessed with military talent and courage, he rapidly rose to general officer rank during the ...

** 15th Light Infantry Regiment ** 44th Line Infantry Regiment ** 48th Line Infantry Regiment ** 108th Line Infantry Regiment * 40th Division: General of Division

Marc Nicolas Louis Pécheux Marc Nicolas Louis Pécheux (born 28 January 1769 in Bucilly ( Aisne) – 1 November 1831 in Paris), was a French general during the Napoleonic Wars. Pécheux fought and lost the Battle of the Göhrde in 1813. During the Hundred Days Péche ...

** 33rd Light Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 30th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 61st Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 111th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) * 50th. Division: General of Division

Paul Thiébault Paul Charles François Adrien Henri Dieudonné Thiébault (14 December 1769, Berlin - 14 October 1846, Paris) was a general who fought in Napoleon I's army. During his military career he wrote a number of histories and memoirs, the last of whic ...

** 24th Light Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 3rd Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 29th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) ** 105th Line Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) *Danish Auxiliary Division: General Prince

Prince Frederik of Hesse Prince Frederik of Hesse, Landgrave Friedrich of Hesse-Cassel (24 May 1771 – 24 February 1845) was a Danish-German nobleman, general and Governor-general of Norway (1810–1813) and the same in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein (1836–1842 ...

*Avant Garde Brigade:

** 2nd Battalion Schleswig Jaeger Corps ** 1st & 2nd Battalions Holstein Sharpshooter Corps ** 1st Battalion 3rd (Jutland) Infantry Regiment ** Holstein Heavy Cavalry Regiment (4 squadrons) ** 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment (2 squadrons) ** 6pdr Foot Battery von Gerstenberg (8 guns) *1st Brigade: General Graf Schulenburg ** 1st & 4th Battalions Oldenburg Infantry Regiment ** 3 Companies 2nd Battalion Oldernburg Infantry Regiment ** 3rd & 4th Battalions Holstein Infantry Regiment ** 2nd & 6th Squadrons Danish Hussar Regiment ** 3pdr Foot Battery von Gonner (8 guns) ** 6pdr Foot Battery Koye (8 guns) *2nd. Brigade General Christian Friedrich Abercron ** 1st & 2nd Battalions Funen Infantry Regiment ** 1st & 2nd Battalions Schleswig Infantry Regiment ** Funen Light Dragoon Regiment (3 squadrons) ** 6pdr Foot Battery Friis (10 guns) * Cavalry Brigade: ** 28th ''Chasseurs-à-Cheval'' Regiment ** 17th Lithuanian Uhlan Regiment * Other infantry elements: ** 26th Light, 18th Line, 93rd Line, and 155th Line Infantry Regiments * Other cavalry elements: ** 4th, 8th, and 15th Cuirassier and 13th and 20th Dragoon Regiments ** 5th Hussar and 2nd and 25th ''Chasseurs-à-Cheval'' Regiments Source:

References

* * * *
Chakoten
(2013). Collection of Danish military history
the Danish Auxiliary regiment in North Germany
{{DEFAULTSORT:XIII Corps Grande Armee GAI13