Eloi Charlemagne Taupin
Encyclopedia
General Eloi Charlemagne Taupin (August 17, 1767 - April 10, 1814) became a French soldier before the French Revolutionary Wars
, rose in rank to command a division in the armies of Napoleon and was killed leading his troops in battle in 1814. Ironically, his death came a few days after Napoleon abdicated his throne.
, Taupin joined the Regiment de Roi (King's Regiment) in 1787. In 1791, he joined the 1st battalion of National Volunteers of the Oise as a sous-lieutenant
and was soon elected captain. From 1792 to 1795, he served with the Army of the North, during which time he earned promotion to chef de battalion in the 28th Line Infantry Regiment. From 1795 to 1797, he soldiered with the Army of the Interior. Beginning in 1798, he served in the Army of Helvetia (Switzerland).
In the Marengo campaign, Taupin fought under the command of Jean Lannes
(later marshal
). He fought at the Battle of Montebello (1800)
in June 1800 and in Marengo where Taupin was badly wounded. Letter to Bonaparte : "Après le passage du Pô et la bataille de Montebello les généraux Lasnes (Orthographe d'époque respectée) et Watrin
vous rendirent compte de la conduite distinguée de la 28me 1/2 brigade de ligne à ces deux affaires et de la mienne en particulier. Les mêmes généraux rendirent compte au général Berthier d'une manière très favorable de ma conduite depuis l'ouverture de la campagne et à la bataille de Marengo, où j'ai eu deux chevaux tués sous moi, et où j'ai été blessé d'un éclat d'obus". For his bravery in this action, he received a sabre d'honneur in 1802. He served first at Boulogne-sur-Mer
in the force gathered for Napoleon's invasion of the United Kingdom and later in the Army of Batavia (Holland) under the orders of Dominique Vandamme
. In December 1803, he was promoted to major
in the 11th Line Infantry Regiment.
in 1804. In February 1805, he was named colonel
of the 103rd Line Infantry Regiment in Honoré Gazan's division. In this capacity, he led his regiment in all the major campaigns from 1805 to 1807. When his regiment was attacked by an overwhelmingly superior force of Russians and Austrians in the Battle of Dürenstein
it was able to cut its way out of the trap, though it suffered heavy losses. At the Battle of Austerlitz
, Taupin's actions brought him to the attention of Napoleon, who made him a commandant in the Legion d'Honneur shortly afterward.
Taupin's regiment served in Lannes' V Corps at the Battle of Jena in October 1806. In December, the 103rd fought in the Battle of Pultusk
. After the Battle of Eylau
he was promoted to general of brigade
. He went to Spain in 1808, returning to fight in the 1809 Danube campaign. He missed the Battle of Wagram
, being assigned to command a brigade in Marshal
François Kellermann
's Reserve Corps at Frankfurt am Main. In 1810, he returned to Spain and commanded a brigade in Bertrand Clausel's division of Jean-Andoche Junot
's VII Corps at the Battle of Bussaco and in Marshal André Masséna
's invasion of Portugal.
Taupin served at the Battle of Salamanca
in July 1812. In January 1813, he was promoted to general of division
. He took command of the 4th Division in Honoré Reille
's Army of Portugal in March. He fought at the Battle of Vitoria
in June. After Marshal Nicolas Soult reorganized the army in July, Taupin assumed command of the 8th Division. He led his division in the battles of the Pyrenees
, San Marcial
, the Bidassoa
, the Nivelle
and the Nive
.
In January 1814, Taupin was named to lead the 4th Division in Soult's newly reorganized army. At the Battle of Orthez
in February, his troops repelled a British attack on Soult's right flank and recovered the church of Saint-Boes in a counterattack. At the Battle of Toulouse
on April 10, his division defended the Heights of Calvinet (Mont Rave) against the main Anglo-Allied thrust. During the fighting Taupin was mortally wounded and died at 11:00 am. He was buried in the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne. On April 12, the official couriers arrived from Paris
with news that Napoleon had abdicated and the war was over. The name TAUPIN appears on the 37th column of the Arc de Triomphe
.
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...
, rose in rank to command a division in the armies of Napoleon and was killed leading his troops in battle in 1814. Ironically, his death came a few days after Napoleon abdicated his throne.
Revolution
Born in Barbery, OiseOise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, Taupin joined the Regiment de Roi (King's Regiment) in 1787. In 1791, he joined the 1st battalion of National Volunteers of the Oise as a sous-lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and was soon elected captain. From 1792 to 1795, he served with the Army of the North, during which time he earned promotion to chef de battalion in the 28th Line Infantry Regiment. From 1795 to 1797, he soldiered with the Army of the Interior. Beginning in 1798, he served in the Army of Helvetia (Switzerland).
In the Marengo campaign, Taupin fought under the command of Jean Lannes
Jean Lannes
Jean Lannes, 1st Duc de Montebello, was a Marshal of France. He was one of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals. Napoleon once commented on Lannes: "I found him a pygmy and left him a giant"...
(later marshal
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
). He fought at the Battle of Montebello (1800)
Battle of Montebello (1800)
The Battle of Montebello was fought on 9 June 1800 near Montebello in Lombardy. During the lead-up to the Battle of Marengo, the vanguard of the French army in Italy engaged and defeated an Austrian force in a "glorious victory".-Background:...
in June 1800 and in Marengo where Taupin was badly wounded. Letter to Bonaparte : "Après le passage du Pô et la bataille de Montebello les généraux Lasnes (Orthographe d'époque respectée) et Watrin
François Watrin
François Watrin was a French infantry commander during the French Revolutionary Wars....
vous rendirent compte de la conduite distinguée de la 28me 1/2 brigade de ligne à ces deux affaires et de la mienne en particulier. Les mêmes généraux rendirent compte au général Berthier d'une manière très favorable de ma conduite depuis l'ouverture de la campagne et à la bataille de Marengo, où j'ai eu deux chevaux tués sous moi, et où j'ai été blessé d'un éclat d'obus". For his bravery in this action, he received a sabre d'honneur in 1802. He served first at Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
in the force gathered for Napoleon's invasion of the United Kingdom and later in the Army of Batavia (Holland) under the orders of Dominique Vandamme
Dominique Vandamme
General Dominique-Joseph René Vandamme, Count of Unseburg was a French military officer, who fought in the Napoleonic Wars....
. In December 1803, he was promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the 11th Line Infantry Regiment.
Empire
Taupin became an officer in the Legion d'HonneurLégion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1804. In February 1805, he was named colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the 103rd Line Infantry Regiment in Honoré Gazan's division. In this capacity, he led his regiment in all the major campaigns from 1805 to 1807. When his regiment was attacked by an overwhelmingly superior force of Russians and Austrians in the Battle of Dürenstein
Battle of Dürenstein
The Battle of Dürenstein , on 11 November 1805, was an engagement in the Napoleonic Wars during the War of the Third Coalition...
it was able to cut its way out of the trap, though it suffered heavy losses. At the Battle of Austerlitz
Battle 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...
, Taupin's actions brought him to the attention of Napoleon, who made him a commandant in the Legion d'Honneur shortly afterward.
Taupin's regiment served in Lannes' V Corps at the Battle of Jena in October 1806. In December, the 103rd fought in the Battle of Pultusk
Battle of Pultusk
The Battle of Pułtusk took place on 26 December 1806 during the War of the Fourth Coalition near Pułtusk, Poland. Approximately 35,000 Russian soldiers with 128 guns under General Levin August, Count von Bennigsen resisted the attacks of 25,000 First French Empire soldiers under Marshal Jean...
. After the 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 was promoted to general of brigade
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. He went to Spain in 1808, returning to fight in the 1809 Danube campaign. He missed the 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...
, being assigned to command a brigade in Marshal
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
François Kellermann
François Christophe de Kellermann
François Christophe Kellermann or de Kellermann, 1st Duc de Valmy was a French military commander, later the Général d'Armée, and a Marshal of France...
's Reserve Corps at Frankfurt am Main. In 1810, he returned to Spain and commanded a brigade in Bertrand Clausel's division of Jean-Andoche Junot
Jean-Andoche Junot
Jean-Andoche Junot, 1st Duke of Abrantès was a French general during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
's VII Corps at the Battle of Bussaco and 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 invasion of Portugal.
Taupin served at the Battle of Salamanca
Battle of Salamanca
The Battle of Salamanca saw Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish armies under the Duke of Wellington defeat Marshal Auguste Marmont's French forces among the hills around Arapiles south of Salamanca, Spain on July 22, 1812 during the Peninsular War....
in July 1812. In January 1813, he was promoted to general of division
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. He took command of the 4th Division in Honoré Reille
Honoré Charles Reille
Honoré Charles Michel Joseph Reille was a Marshal of France, born in Antibes.Reille served in the early campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars under Dumouriez and Masséna, whose daughter Victoire he married. In 1800, Reille was appointed commander of the Italian city of Florence...
's Army of Portugal in March. He fought at the Battle of Vitoria
Battle of Vitoria
At the Battle of Vitoria an allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish army under General the Marquess of Wellington broke the French army under Joseph Bonaparte and Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan near Vitoria in Spain, leading to eventual victory in the Peninsular War.-Background:In July 1812, after...
in June. After Marshal Nicolas Soult reorganized the army in July, Taupin assumed command of the 8th Division. He led his division in the battles of the Pyrenees
Battle of the Pyrenees
The Battle of the Pyrenees was a large-scale offensive launched on 25 July 1813 by Marshal Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult from the Pyrénées region on Emperor Napoleon’s order, in the hope of relieving French garrisons under siege at Pamplona and San Sebastián...
, San Marcial
Battle of San Marcial
At the Battle of San Marcial, 31 August 1813, the Spanish Army of Galicia under General Freire turned back MarshalNicolas Soult's last major offensive against Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington's allied army.-Background:...
, the Bidassoa
Battle of the Bidassoa (1813)
In the Battle of the Bidassoa on 7 October 1813 the Allied army of Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington wrested a foothold on French soil from Nicolas Soult's French army. The Allied troops overran the French lines behind the Bidassoa River on the coast and along the Pyrenees crest between the...
, the Nivelle
Battle of Nivelle
The Battle of Nivelle took place in front of the River Nivelle near the end of the Peninsular War . After the Allied siege of San Sebastian, Wellington's 80,000 British, Portuguese and Spanish troops were in hot pursuit of Marshal Soult who only had 60,000 men to place in a 20-mile perimeter...
and the Nive
Battle of the Nive
The Battles of the Nive were fought towards the end of the Peninsular War. Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese and Spanish army defeated Marshal Nicolas Soult's French army in a series of battles near the city of Bayonne.Unusually, for most of the battle, Wellington...
.
In January 1814, Taupin was named to lead the 4th Division in Soult's newly reorganized army. At the Battle of Orthez
Battle of Orthez
The Battle of Orthez saw the Anglo-Portuguese Army under Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, Marquess of Wellington defeat a French army led by Marshal Nicolas Soult in southern France near the end of the Peninsular War.-Preliminaries:...
in February, his troops repelled a British attack on Soult's right flank and recovered the church of Saint-Boes in a counterattack. At the Battle of Toulouse
Battle of Toulouse (1814)
The Battle of Toulouse was one of the final battles of the Napoleonic Wars, four days after Napoleon's surrender of the French Empire to the nations of the Sixth Coalition...
on April 10, his division defended the Heights of Calvinet (Mont Rave) against the main Anglo-Allied thrust. During the fighting Taupin was mortally wounded and died at 11:00 am. He was buried in the Cathedral of Saint-Etienne. On April 12, the official couriers arrived from 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...
with news that Napoleon had abdicated and the war was over. The name TAUPIN appears on the 37th column 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...
.