Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne, Count d'Espagne and of the Empire
(born 16 February 1769 in Auch
, died 21 May 1809 on the island of Lobau
) was a French cavalry commander of the French Revolutionary Wars
, who rose to the top military rank of General of Division and took part to the Napoleonic Wars
.
in a modest family, Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne enlisted in 1787 as a soldier in the Dragons de la Reine (Queen's Dragoon
s) regiment and then saw a very slow promotion through the ranks. In 1792, Espagne was maréchal-des-logis (roughly equivalent to sergeant
) but the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
that year offered numerous opportunities for promotion. During the campaigns of the Revolution, he served successively in the armies "of the North", "of the Pyrenees", "of Italy
" and "of the Rhine", subsequently combating in the War in the Vendée. His talents were much appreciated and he gained the rank of General of Brigade in July 1799, before being sent to serve in General Jean Victor Marie Moreau
's army. In this capacity, he distinguished himself throughout the 1800 campaign in Germany
of the War of the Second Coalition
, leading particularly impressive cavalry actions at the battle of Messkirch
and battle of Hohenlinden.
division, combating at the battle of San Michele, on 29 October. The next day, at the battle of Caldiero, Espagne led a very significant and successful action. He then took the strategic town of Gradisca
. In 1806 Espagne was sent to serve in Marshal André Masséna
's army in the Kingdom of Naples
, where he fought against Fra Diavolo
. Recalled to the Grande Armée at the beginning of 1807, he served in the army corps of Marshal Lefebvre
during the successful siege of Danzig
. Then, on 10 June that year, he took part to the battle of Heilsberg
, where he was wounded. The next year, Espagne was created a Count of the Empire and in 1809 he was called to the command of a cuirassier
division in the "Grand Army of Germany" during the War of the Fifth Coalition
. During the desperate battle of Aspern-Essling
, Espagne led his cuirassiers in a series of heroic charges, but was wounded in action during the first day of fighting. He was immediately transported to the Danubian
island of Lobau
, but his wound was too serious and he died that same day.
The name Espagne is inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
in Paris
.
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
(born 16 February 1769 in Auch
Auch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
, died 21 May 1809 on the island of Lobau
Lobau
The Lobau is a Vienna floodplain on the northern side of the Danube and partly in Großenzersdorf, Lower Austria. It has been part of the Danube-Auen National Park since 1996 and has been a protected area since 1978. It is used as a recreational area and is known as a site of nudism. There is...
) was a French cavalry commander of the French Revolutionary Wars
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...
, who rose to the top military rank of General of Division and took part to the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
.
Revolutionary Wars
Born in AuchAuch
Auch is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Midi-Pyrénées, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.-The Ausci:...
in a modest family, Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne enlisted in 1787 as a soldier in the Dragons de la Reine (Queen's Dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s) regiment and then saw a very slow promotion through the ranks. In 1792, Espagne was maréchal-des-logis (roughly equivalent to sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
) but the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars
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...
that year offered numerous opportunities for promotion. During the campaigns of the Revolution, he served successively in the armies "of the North", "of the Pyrenees", "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...
" and "of the Rhine", subsequently combating in the War in the Vendée. His talents were much appreciated and he gained the rank of General of Brigade in July 1799, before being sent to serve in General Jean Victor Marie Moreau
Jean Victor Marie Moreau
Jean Victor Marie Moreau was a French general who helped Napoleon Bonaparte to power, but later became a rival and was banished to the United States.- Early life :Moreau was born at Morlaix in Brittany...
's army. In this capacity, he distinguished himself throughout the 1800 campaign in Germany
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
of the War of the Second Coalition
War of the Second Coalition
The "Second Coalition" was the second attempt by European monarchs, led by the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria and the Russian Empire, to contain or eliminate Revolutionary France. They formed a new alliance and attempted to roll back France's previous military conquests...
, leading particularly impressive cavalry actions at the battle of Messkirch
Battle of Messkirch
The Battle of Meßkirch was fought on 4 and 5 May 1800 and resulted the victory of French army against the Austrians.-Overview:On 25 April 1800 the French Armée d'Allemagne, under Jean Victor Marie Moreau, crossed the Rhine River at Kehl and Schaffhausen. The 1st Demi-Brigade, of the Corps led by...
and battle of Hohenlinden.
Napoleonic Wars
In 1805, General Espagne was promoted to General of Division, then the top military rank in the French army. With the outbreak of the War of the Third Coalition, he was promptly sent to serve in Italy, in command of a chasseurs à cheval light cavalryLight cavalry
Light cavalry refers to lightly armed and lightly armored troops mounted on horses, as opposed to heavy cavalry, where the riders are heavily armored...
division, combating at the battle of San Michele, on 29 October. The next day, at the battle of Caldiero, Espagne led a very significant and successful action. He then took the strategic town of Gradisca
Gradisca
Gradisca d'Isonzo is a town and comune of 6,600 inhabitants in the province of Gorizia, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, north-eastern Italy...
. In 1806 Espagne was sent to serve in Marshal André Masséna
André Masséna
André Masséna 1st Duc de Rivoli, 1st Prince d'Essling was a French military commander during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars....
's army in the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
, where he fought against Fra Diavolo
Fra Diavolo
Fra Diavolo , is the popular name given to Michele Pezza, a famous Neapolitan guerrilla leader who resisted the French occupation of Naples, proving an “inspirational practicioner of popular insurrection”. Pezza figures prominently in folk lore and fiction...
. Recalled to the Grande Armée at the beginning of 1807, he served in the army corps of Marshal Lefebvre
François Joseph Lefebvre
François Joseph Lefebvre, First Duc de Dantzig was a French military commander during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and one of the original eighteen Marshals of the Empire created by Napoleon....
during the successful siege of Danzig
Siege of Danzig (1807)
The Siege of Danzig was the French encirclement and capture of Danzig during the War of the Fourth Coalition. On 19 March, 1807, around 27,000 French troops under Marshall Lefebvre besieged around 11,000 Prussian and Russian troops under Marshall Kalckreuth garrisoning the city of...
. Then, on 10 June that year, he took part to the battle of Heilsberg
Battle of Heilsberg
The Battle of Heilsberg took place on 10 June 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars.-Overview:On 24 May 1807, the Siege of Danzig ended when Prussian General Friedrich Adolf, Count von Kalckreuth capitulated to French Marshal Francois Joseph Lefebvre. With Gdansk secured, Napoleon was now free to turn...
, where he was wounded. The next year, Espagne was created a Count of the Empire and in 1809 he was called to the command of a cuirassier
Cuirassier
Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...
division in the "Grand Army of Germany" during the War of the Fifth Coalition
War of the Fifth Coalition
The War of the Fifth Coalition, fought in the year 1809, pitted a coalition of the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom against Napoleon's French Empire and Bavaria. Major engagements between France and Austria, the main participants, unfolded over much of Central Europe from April to July, with...
. During the desperate 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...
, Espagne led his cuirassiers in a series of heroic charges, but was wounded in action during the first day of fighting. He was immediately transported to the Danubian
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
island of Lobau
Lobau
The Lobau is a Vienna floodplain on the northern side of the Danube and partly in Großenzersdorf, Lower Austria. It has been part of the Danube-Auen National Park since 1996 and has been a protected area since 1978. It is used as a recreational area and is known as a site of nudism. There is...
, but his wound was too serious and he died that same day.
The name Espagne is inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
The following is the list of the names of the 660 persons inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe, in Paris. Most of them are generals who served during the First French Empire with additional figures from the French Revolution ....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Sources
- Fierro, Alfredo; Palluel-Guillard, André; Tulard, Jean - "Histoire et Dictionnaire du Consulat et de l'Empire”, Éditions Robert Laffont, ISBN 2-221-05858-5