Laurent de Gouvion-Saint-Cyr

Laurent, marquis of Gouvion-St-Cyr (born the May 13rd 1764 with Toul, dead the March 17th 1830 with Hyères), Marshal of Empire and politician French.

Under the Revolution

After having touched drawing then theater, Laurent Gouvion chooses the military career and enters in 1789 to the staff of the National guard of Paris, thanks to his/her relative, the brigadier Jean-Baptiste Gouvion, which is general major.

Volunteer on September 1st 1792 with the 1st battalion of republican hunters, it adds then to his name to be distinguished from the others that of Saint-Cyr military school, carried by his mother. He is captain, on November 1st, assistant of the general Léonard Honore Gay of Vernon in February 1793, then major and chief-staff of the general Ferey in September 1793. With the Armed with the Rhine in various staffs, it makes a fulgurating career: division and brigadier general the June 5th 1794 11.

It is with the Blocus of Mainz (1795) under the orders of Jean-Charles Pichegru and Jean-Baptiste Kléber and organizes the retirement and undergoes a defeat on the Pfrimm in November 1794, but takes Deux-Ponts, the December 5th 1794. Ordering left wing of the Armed with the Rhine-and-Moselle, then the center.

Under the Directory

In 1796, it fights battle to Rastadt, Ettlingen, and takes Stuttgart (July 18th), then defends Kehl with the end of the year. Having replaced Notch, deceased, with the head of the army of the Rhine-and-Moselle, it invades évêché of Basle to the end of the year of 1797. Then Jean Marie Claude Alexandre Gouvion-Saint-Cyr replaces then Masséna with that of Rome of the March 26th to the July 25th 1798, is then supendu for abuse of power. He returns in Germany and orders the left wing with the army of the the Danube, is with the battles of Stockach (March 25th 1799), then passes to the Armée with Italy, control surface Genoa and returns to the army of the Rhine like assistant of Moreau, is victorious with Biberach (May 9th 1800).

Under the Consulate and the First Empire

But he does not get along with Moreau. Also he asks a leave and Bonaparte, which hardly likes Moreau, appoints it adviser of State and sends it to order the Franco-Spanish armies during the war of the Portugal (1801). Ambassador with Madrid (1801) at the sides of Lucien Bonaparte, Gouvion orders then the army of Naples. Not to have expressed its adhesion with the Empire, it is eliminated from the list of the marshals. In 1805, it is in Italy and remains there with the head of the army of Naples. End 1806 at August 1808, it is relegated to the command of the Camp of Boulogne. In May 1808, it is made count of the Empire and envoy in August in Catalogne.

Remarkable tactician, Gouvion gains several victories and frees Barcelona. Having refused to carry out the unrealizable order to besiege simultaneously Vérone, Tarragone and Tortosa, it is replaced by Augereau and leaves its station before the arrival of this last. Shut down, Gouvion remains on the key until in 1811, date of its rehabilitation to the Council of State. It orders the 6th body of the Large army at the time of the countryside of Russia, victorious but is seriously wounded with Polotsk, (August 18th 1812), and finally high with the dignity of Maréchal of Empire, that its roughness and its lack of sociability had prevented it from obtaining up to that point. In August 1813, it defends Dresden and fall to the hands from the Austrians to the capitulation from the city. Having hardly had to rent itself of the Emperor, it does not join with him lasting the Hundred Days. With its return, Louis XVIII the fact Minister for the War (July-September 1815), then marquis de Gouvion-Saint-Cyr

Under the Restoration

He will have the wallet of the Navy then that of the War of 1817 with 1819, will reorganize the army in a remarkable way and will leave his name to the law on recruitment. He was made marquis in 1817. The name of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr is engraved on the Triumphal arch of the Star.

He had married in 1795 his cousin, Anne de Gouvion, of which he had an only son, Laurent (1815-1904), Pair of France, which will marry in 1847 Marie de Montalivet, oldest daughter of the count Camille de Montalivet, Minister and friend of king Louis-Philippe.

Random links: