Claude-Etienne Michel
Encyclopedia
General Claude-Étienne Michel (3 October 1772 – 18 June 1815), an officer in Napoleon's army, was second in command of the Chasseur Division of the Guard and commander of its Brigade of Middle Guard. He may be the officer who uttered the words often attributed to Pierre Cambronne "La Garde meurt et ne se rend pas" "The Guard dies, and does not surrender".
He was deployed on the cordon on the borders of Switzerland in 1792; he was taken prisoner by the Prussians, March 5, 1793 at Remderkerm (Army of the Rhine). Exchanged on 3 Messidor year III, he rejoined his regiment, and reported at the vanguard of the army of Sambre
and Meuse
.
Appointed Chief of Battalion, on 9 Vendemiaire year IV, he went to Corsica, and became part of the expedition to Ireland and the Gallo-Batavian army.
On 10 Vendemiaire year VI, (2 October 1799), he fought, the Anglo-Russians, at the village of Schoorldam (in the north of Holland), maintained there throughout the day despite the efforts of the enemy, and was wounded at the end of the action.
He was taken by the English, 6 vendemiaire Year VII, he was again exchanged, the next 15 Frimaire.
On 10 Vendemiaire year VIII, at the Battle of Egmond aan Zee
, he has the right arm broken by a gunshot.
At the battle of Nuremberg
, 27 Frimaire year IX, he led at the head of his battalion of 400 men, against a column of 4,000 Austrians, taking a large number of prisoners. He received during the action a shot in the left arm.
earned him, on 6 Nivose year XIV, the rank of colonel and his admission, as a Major in the 1st regiment of grenadiers of the Old Guard
, on 1 May 1806.
In March 1806, he married Margaret Maret (1784–1875), daughter of Count Jean Philibert Maret and niece of Hugues-Bernard Maret.
He was promoted Colonel of the regiment, on February 16, 1807, in recognition of his conduct at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
and Battle of Eylau
; he fought at the Battle of Friedland
, and left for Spain after the Treaty of Tilsit.
He fought at Burgos
, November 10, 1808, showing the greatest value and received the cross of the Legion of Honor and the title of Baron of the Empire.
He was recalled to the army in 1809, he attended the battles Battle of Eckmühl
, Battle of Aspern-Essling
and Battle of Wagram
.
He was appointed Brigadier General June 24, 1811, he made the campaigns of 1812, 1813 and 1814, in Russia, Saxony and France.
In 1813, the Emperor decorated him with the Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honor on April 6, and Iron Crown August 16, and appoints him, November 20, Major General.
In 1814, February 3, at Maisons-Blanches, he hunted the vanguard commanded by the Prince of Lichtenstein. The next day, supported by the dragoons of General André Briche
, he surprised the allies at St. Theobald, and despite the greater numbers available to them, pushed them to St. Parres les Vaudes.
On February 11, at the Battle of Montmirail
, his arm was shattered by a shot, he remained at the head of his division and contributes greatly to the success of this day.
He was still bedridden as a result of this injury, when the Allied armies entered into Paris.
At the noise of war, the General forgot his wound and reappeared, his arm in a sling, the head of his troops, March 30 before the walls of the capital.
Responsible for seizing the village of Pantin, defended by an army division of Wittgenstein. His efforts, however, had stopped the march of the enemy.
In Waterloo, June 18, Michel rushes on the enemy's forces and attacked, even beyond the plateau of La Haye Sainte.
This attack, which caused heavy losses in the ranks, is fatal to General Michel.
His body was not recovered and is buried with his comrades in the great falls of Mount St. John.
His name is on the north side of the Arc de Triomphe
.
War of the Revolution
He enlisted in the 38th battalion of volunteers from the Jura department on 1 October 1791, Sergeant Major of the 15th month, Lieutenant March 4, 1792, he became a lieutenant and captain on 22 August and 6 October in the 96th Regiment of Infantry, which in turn formed the 147th, 49th Half-Brigade and 24th Regiment of the line.He was deployed on the cordon on the borders of Switzerland in 1792; he was taken prisoner by the Prussians, March 5, 1793 at Remderkerm (Army of the Rhine). Exchanged on 3 Messidor year III, he rejoined his regiment, and reported at the vanguard of the army of Sambre
Sambre
The Sambre is a river in northern France and Wallonia, southern Belgium, left tributary of the Meuse River. The ancient Romans called the river Sabis.-Course:...
and Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
.
Appointed Chief of Battalion, on 9 Vendemiaire year IV, he went to Corsica, and became part of the expedition to Ireland and the Gallo-Batavian army.
On 10 Vendemiaire year VI, (2 October 1799), he fought, the Anglo-Russians, at the village of Schoorldam (in the north of Holland), maintained there throughout the day despite the efforts of the enemy, and was wounded at the end of the action.
He was taken by the English, 6 vendemiaire Year VII, he was again exchanged, the next 15 Frimaire.
On 10 Vendemiaire year VIII, at the Battle of Egmond aan Zee
Egmond aan Zee
Egmond aan Zee is a village on the North Sea coast in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 9 km west of Alkmaar....
, he has the right arm broken by a gunshot.
At the battle of Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, 27 Frimaire year IX, he led at the head of his battalion of 400 men, against a column of 4,000 Austrians, taking a large number of prisoners. He received during the action a shot in the left arm.
Consulate and Empire
Promoted Major of the 40th regiment of the line on 30 Brumaire Year XII, and on the 4th of Germinal, a member of the Legion of Honor, his services at the battle of AusterlitzBattle of Austerlitz
The Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of Napoleon's greatest victories, where the French Empire effectively crushed the Third Coalition...
earned him, on 6 Nivose year XIV, the rank of colonel and his admission, as a Major in the 1st regiment of grenadiers of the Old Guard
Old Guard
The Old Guard were the elite veteran elements of theEmperor Napoleon's Imperial Guard. As such it was the most prestigious formation in Napoleon's Grande Armée....
, on 1 May 1806.
In March 1806, he married Margaret Maret (1784–1875), daughter of Count Jean Philibert Maret and niece of Hugues-Bernard Maret.
He was promoted Colonel of the regiment, on February 16, 1807, in recognition of his conduct at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
Battle of Jena-Auerstedt
The twin battles of Jena and Auerstedt were fought on 14 October 1806 on the plateau west of the river Saale in today's Germany, between the forces of Napoleon I of France and Frederick William III of Prussia...
and Battle of Eylau
Battle of Eylau
The Battle of Eylau or Battle of Preussisch-Eylau, 7 and 8 February 1807, was a bloody and inconclusive battle between Napoléon's Grande Armée and a Russian Empire army under Levin August, Count von Bennigsen near the town of Preußisch Eylau in East Prussia. Late in the battle, the Russians...
; he fought at the Battle of Friedland
Battle of Friedland
The Battle of Friedland saw Napoleon I's French army decisively defeat Count von Bennigsen's Russian army about twenty-seven miles southeast of Königsberg...
, and left for Spain after the Treaty of Tilsit.
He fought at Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
, November 10, 1808, showing the greatest value and received the cross of the Legion of Honor and the title of Baron of the Empire.
He was recalled to the army in 1809, he attended the battles Battle of Eckmühl
Battle of Eckmühl
The Battle of Eckmühl fought on 21 April – 22 April 1809, was the turning point of the 1809 Campaign, also known as the War of the Fifth Coalition...
, Battle of Aspern-Essling
Battle of Aspern-Essling
In the Battle of Aspern-Essling , Napoleon attempted a forced crossing of the Danube near Vienna, but the French and their allies were driven back by the Austrians under Archduke Charles...
and Battle of Wagram
Battle of Wagram
The Battle of Wagram was the decisive military engagement of the War of the Fifth Coalition. It took place on the Marchfeld plain, on the north bank of the Danube. An important site of the battle was the village of Deutsch-Wagram, 10 kilometres northeast of Vienna, which would give its name to the...
.
He was appointed Brigadier General June 24, 1811, he made the campaigns of 1812, 1813 and 1814, in Russia, Saxony and France.
In 1813, the Emperor decorated him with the Cross of Commander of the Legion of Honor on April 6, and Iron Crown August 16, and appoints him, November 20, Major General.
In 1814, February 3, at Maisons-Blanches, he hunted the vanguard commanded by the Prince of Lichtenstein. The next day, supported by the dragoons of General André Briche
André Briche
André-Louis-Elisabeth-Marie Briche was a French General of the First French Empire who saw action during the Peninsular War. He was Colonel of the 10th Regiment of Hussars between 1806 and 1809, before being promoted to Général de Brigade...
, he surprised the allies at St. Theobald, and despite the greater numbers available to them, pushed them to St. Parres les Vaudes.
On February 11, at the Battle of Montmirail
Battle of Montmirail
The Battle of Montmirail was a battle fought near Montmirail, France, during the Six Days Campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. It was fought on February 11, 1814, and resulted in the victory of the French under Emperor Napoleon I over the Russians under General Fabian Wilhelm von Osten-Sacken and the...
, his arm was shattered by a shot, he remained at the head of his division and contributes greatly to the success of this day.
He was still bedridden as a result of this injury, when the Allied armies entered into Paris.
At the noise of war, the General forgot his wound and reappeared, his arm in a sling, the head of his troops, March 30 before the walls of the capital.
Responsible for seizing the village of Pantin, defended by an army division of Wittgenstein. His efforts, however, had stopped the march of the enemy.
Restoration
Louis XVIII named him a Knight of St. Louis August 20, 1814, and colonel in the Royal Guard.Hundred Days
The Emperor, on his return from Elba, created him Count of the Empire, and as commander of northern division of the Old Guard.In Waterloo, June 18, Michel rushes on the enemy's forces and attacked, even beyond the plateau of La Haye Sainte.
This attack, which caused heavy losses in the ranks, is fatal to General Michel.
His body was not recovered and is buried with his comrades in the great falls of Mount St. John.
His name is on the north side of the Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe
-The design:The astylar design is by Jean Chalgrin , in the Neoclassical version of ancient Roman architecture . Major academic sculptors of France are represented in the sculpture of the Arc de Triomphe: Jean-Pierre Cortot; François Rude; Antoine Étex; James Pradier and Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire...
.
External links
- http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/frenchguard/c_guardinf1.html
- http://chasseurs.ru/regiment.html
Sources
- « Claude-Étienne Michel », in Charles Mullié, Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850, 1852 (French Wikisource)