Henri Christian Michel de Stengel
Encyclopedia
Henri Christian Michel de Stengel (May 11, 1744 – April 28, 1796) joined the French royal army, rapidly rose to general officer rank during the French Revolutionary Wars
, and was mortally wounded in Italian campaign while serving in General Napoleon Bonaparte's army.
in the Electorate of Bavaria
in 1744, Stengel joined the Bavarian army's Palatine Guards in 1758. He entered the French army in 1760 and fought in the Seven Years War. He became a lieutenant in 1762, a captain in 1769, and a major in 1788. After the French Revolution
he was appointed colonel of the 1st Hussar Regiment.
in September 1792. Still under the command of Charles Dumouriez
, he fought at the Battle of Jemappes
in November 1792. Later that year, he led Dumouriez's advance guard in successful actions at Mechelen
(Malines) and Voroux-les-Liers in the Austrian Netherlands. In March 1793, he was defeated at Aldenhoven
and driven out of Aachen
by the Allies. For this he was arrested and tried before a Revolutionary Tribunal. He was acquitted but retired from military service.
Restored to favor, Stengel was reappointed general of brigade on March 1, 1795. Promoted to general of division on June 13, he was transferred to command the cavalry of the Army of Italy
. At the Battle of Mondovì
on April 21, 1796, he was seriously wounded in the arm while leading a charge against the Sardinian Army. On April 28, he died in Carcassonne
following a surgery in which his arm was amputated. He was buried in the church of San Giovanni in Lupazzanio beside the altar "A cornu epistulae" (at the right side).
At Saint-Helena, Napoleon wrote of Stengel, "Adroit, intelligent, alert; was a true general of outposts, collecting all military and topographic information without being directed; combined the qualities of youth with the experience of age."
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, and was mortally wounded in Italian campaign while serving in General Napoleon Bonaparte's army.
Early career
Born in Neustadt an der WeinstraßeNeustadt an der Weinstraße
Neustadt an der Weinstraße is a town located in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. With 53,892 inhabitants as of 2002, it is the largest town called Neustadt.-Etymology:...
in the Electorate of Bavaria
Electorate of Bavaria
The Electorate of Bavaria was an independent hereditary electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1623 to 1806, when it was succeeded by the Kingdom of Bavaria....
in 1744, Stengel joined the Bavarian army's Palatine Guards in 1758. He entered the French army in 1760 and fought in the Seven Years War. He became a lieutenant in 1762, a captain in 1769, and a major in 1788. After the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
he was appointed colonel of the 1st Hussar Regiment.
French Revolutionary Wars
Soon after, Stengel served as a general of brigade in the Army of the North at the Battle of ValmyBattle of Valmy
The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris...
in September 1792. Still under the command of Charles Dumouriez
Charles François Dumouriez
Charles-François du Périer Dumouriez was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars. He shared the victory at Valmy with General François Christophe Kellermann, but later deserted the Revolutionary Army and became a royalist intriguer during the reign of Napoleon.-Early life:Dumouriez...
, he fought at the Battle of Jemappes
Battle of Jemappes
The Battle of Jemappes took place near the town of Jemappes in Hainaut, Belgium, near Mons. General Charles François Dumouriez, in command of the French Revolutionary Army, defeated the greatly outnumbered Austrian army of Field Marshal Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen and his second-in-command...
in November 1792. Later that year, he led Dumouriez's advance guard in successful actions at Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
(Malines) and Voroux-les-Liers in the Austrian Netherlands. In March 1793, he was defeated at Aldenhoven
Aldenhoven
Aldenhoven is a municipality in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located approx. 5 km south-west of Jülich, 5 km north of Eschweiler and 20 km north-east of Aachen.- Notable people :...
and driven out of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
by the Allies. For this he was arrested and tried before a Revolutionary Tribunal. He was acquitted but retired from military service.
Restored to favor, Stengel was reappointed general of brigade on March 1, 1795. Promoted to general of division on June 13, he was transferred to command the cavalry of the Army of Italy
Army of Italy (France)
The Army of Italy was a Field army of the French Army stationed on the Italian border and used for operations in Italy itself. Though it existed in some form in the 16th century through to the present, it is best known for its role during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic...
. At the Battle of Mondovì
Battle of Mondovi
The Battle of Mondovì was fought on 21 April 1796 between the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte and the army of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont led by Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi. The French victory meant that they had put the Ligurian Alps behind them, while the plains of Piedmont lay...
on April 21, 1796, he was seriously wounded in the arm while leading a charge against the Sardinian Army. On April 28, he died in Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
following a surgery in which his arm was amputated. He was buried in the church of San Giovanni in Lupazzanio beside the altar "A cornu epistulae" (at the right side).
At Saint-Helena, Napoleon wrote of Stengel, "Adroit, intelligent, alert; was a true general of outposts, collecting all military and topographic information without being directed; combined the qualities of youth with the experience of age."