Jean-Antoine Verdier
Encyclopedia
Jean-Antoine Verdier was a French General during the Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars
.
Born in Toulouse
, he enlisted into the Régiment de la Fère on 18 February 1785. He served as Aide-de-camp
to Augereau
in 1792 with the army of the Eastern Pyrenees
.
In 1793, during the war with Spain, Verdier, with only a battalion
of riflemen, captured a redoubt
outside Figueres
defended by 4,000 Spanish troops and 80 guns, gaining promotion from Captain to Adjutant-General. He was promoted to Brigadier
in 1795, and the following year in Italy, at the head of three Grenadier
battalions, captured the fortress of Medolano. He was made General of Brigade on the battlefield of Castiglione
, was wounded at Arcole
, and fought on until the end of the war of the First Coalition
.
In Egypt, he commanded a brigade in Kléber
's division at the Battle of the Pyramids
. At the siege of Acre
he was wounded by a bayonet thrust. On 1 November 1799 with only 1,000 men Verdier attacked 8,000 Janissaries which had landed close to Damiette
, killed 2,000, took 800 prisoners and captured 10 guns and 32 standards. Kléber presented him with the Sabre of Honour and promoted him to General of Division
.
Recalled in France before the evacuation of Egypt, Verdier served in Italy and Austria from 1801 to 1806. On 10 June 1807, he took part in the battle of Heilsberg
and took many prisoners. His division also saw notable action at the Battle of Friedland
.
In Spain, he took part in the battle of Logrono and the first siege of Saragossa
, which was abandoned after the French defeat at Bailén
. Napoleon awarded him the title of Count on 19 March 1808. The next year he seized Gerona
, and several other positions.
In the Russian campaign, Verdier distinguished himself again, and was seriously wounded at Polotsk
.
In 1813 and 1814 he commanded a Franco-Italian corps under Eugène de Beauharnais
. At the battle of Aca, shot through the thigh by a musket ball, he remained at his station, supported by his aide-de-camp. On 8 February 1814 at the Battle of the Mincio River, Verdier, though heavily outnumbered, gallantly held off a force of Austrians, and eventually counter-attacked.
On the first restoration of King Louis XVIII
he was retired, but was awarded the Cross of Saint-Louis
, and on 17 January 1815, he was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
. He had already been made Commander of the Iron Crown
by Napoleon.
During the Hundred Days
, he was made a Peer of France
by Napoleon, and commanded the 8th Military District (Marseilles). In the chaos after Waterloo
he preserved Toulon
from being plundered.
The ordinance of 1 August 1817 obliged him to retire once again, though he was briefly reactivated in the reserves in 1830, he soon retired for good.
While on active service his wife was widely admired for accompanying her husband in the field.
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 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...
.
Born in Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, he enlisted into the Régiment de la Fère on 18 February 1785. He served as Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Augereau
Pierre François Charles Augereau, duc de Castiglione
Charles Pierre François Augereau, 1st Duc de Castiglione was a soldier and general and Marshal of France. After serving in the French Revolutionary Wars he earned rapid promotion while fighting against Spain and soon found himself a division commander under Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy...
in 1792 with the army of the Eastern Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
.
In 1793, during the war with Spain, Verdier, with only a battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
of riflemen, captured a redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
outside Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors...
defended by 4,000 Spanish troops and 80 guns, gaining promotion from Captain to Adjutant-General. He was promoted to Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in 1795, and the following year in Italy, at the head of three Grenadier
Grenadier (soldier)
A grenadier was originally a specialized soldier, first established as a distinct role in the mid-to-late 17th century, for the throwing of grenades and sometimes assault operations. At this time grenadiers were chosen from the strongest and largest soldiers...
battalions, captured the fortress of Medolano. He was made General of Brigade on the battlefield of Castiglione
Battle of Castiglione
The Battle of Castiglione saw the French Army of Italy under General Napoleon Bonaparte attack an army of Habsburg Austria led by Feldmarschall Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser on 5 August 1796. The outnumbered Austrians were defeated and driven back along a line of hills to the river crossing at...
, was wounded at Arcole
Battle of the Bridge of Arcole
The Battle of Arcole, or Battle of Arcola saw a bold manœuvre by Napoleon Bonaparte's French Army of Italy to outflank the Austrian army under József Alvinczi and cut its line of retreat...
, and fought on until the end of the war of the First Coalition
First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition was the first major effort of multiple European monarchies to contain Revolutionary France. France declared war on the Habsburg monarchy of Austria on 20 April 1792, and the Kingdom of Prussia joined the Austrian side a few weeks later.These powers initiated a series...
.
In Egypt, he commanded a brigade in Kléber
Jean Baptiste Kléber
Jean Baptiste Kléber was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars. His military career started in Habsburg service, but his plebeian ancestry hindered his opportunities...
's division at the Battle of the Pyramids
Battle of the Pyramids
The Battle of the Pyramids, also known as the Battle of Embabeh, was fought on July 21, 1798 between the French army in Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte, and local Mamluk forces. It occurred during France's Egyptian Campaign and was the battle where Napoleon put into use one of his significant...
. At the siege of Acre
Siege of Acre (1799)
The Siege of Acre of 1799 was an unsuccessful French siege of the Ottoman-defended, walled city of Acre and was the turning point of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Syria.-Background:...
he was wounded by a bayonet thrust. On 1 November 1799 with only 1,000 men Verdier attacked 8,000 Janissaries which had landed close to Damiette
Damietta
Damietta , also known as Damiata, or Domyat, is a port and the capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt. It is located at the intersection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Nile, about north of Cairo.-History:...
, killed 2,000, took 800 prisoners and captured 10 guns and 32 standards. Kléber presented him with the Sabre of Honour and promoted him to General of Division
Divisional General
Divisional General is a rank used in many armies to denote a rank of general, corresponding to command of a division. For convenience Divisional General is almost always translated into English as Major-General, the equivalent rank used by the UK, USA, etc., although this translation is, strictly...
.
Recalled in France before the evacuation of Egypt, Verdier served in Italy and Austria from 1801 to 1806. On 10 June 1807, he took part in 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...
and took many prisoners. His division also saw notable action 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...
.
In Spain, he took part in the battle of Logrono and the first siege of Saragossa
Siege of Saragossa (1808)
The First Siege of Saragossa was a bloody struggle in the Peninsular War. A French army under General Jean-Antoine Verdier besieged, repeatedly stormed, and was repulsed from the Spanish city of Saragossa over the summer of 1808....
, which was abandoned after the French defeat at Bailén
Battle of Bailén
The Battle of Bailén was contested in 1808 between the Spanish Army of Andalusia, led by Generals Francisco Castaños and Theodor von Reding, and the Imperial French Army's II corps d'observation de la Gironde under General Pierre Dupont de l'Étang...
. Napoleon awarded him the title of Count on 19 March 1808. The next year he seized Gerona
Siege of Gerona (1809)
The Siege of Gerona of May 6, 1809, sometimes called the Third Siege of Gerona or Girona , involved the French Grande Armée's seven-month struggle to conquer the Spanish garrison at Girona...
, and several other positions.
In the Russian campaign, Verdier distinguished himself again, and was seriously wounded at Polotsk
First battle of Polotsk
In the First battle of Polotsk, which took place on 17–18 August 1812, Russian troops under the command of Peter Wittgenstein fought French and Bavarian troops led by Nicolas Oudinot and stopped their advance to Saint Petersburg...
.
In 1813 and 1814 he commanded a Franco-Italian corps under Eugène de Beauharnais
Eugène de Beauharnais
Eugène Rose de Beauharnais, Prince Français, Prince of Venice, Viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy, Hereditary Grand Duke of Frankfurt, 1st Duke of Leuchtenberg and 1st Prince of Eichstätt ad personam was the first child and only son of Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais and Joséphine Tascher de la...
. At the battle of Aca, shot through the thigh by a musket ball, he remained at his station, supported by his aide-de-camp. On 8 February 1814 at the Battle of the Mincio River, Verdier, though heavily outnumbered, gallantly held off a force of Austrians, and eventually counter-attacked.
On the first restoration of King Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
he was retired, but was awarded the Cross of Saint-Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
, and on 17 January 1815, he was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Légion 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...
. He had already been made Commander of the Iron Crown
Order of the Iron Crown
The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was established June 5, 1805 by Napoleon Bonaparte . It took its name from the ancient Iron Crown of Lombardy, a medieval jewel with an iron ring, forged from what was supposed to be a nail from the True Cross as a band on the inside. This crown also gave its...
by Napoleon.
During the Hundred Days
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
, he was made a Peer of France
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
by Napoleon, and commanded the 8th Military District (Marseilles). In the chaos after Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
he preserved Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
from being plundered.
The ordinance of 1 August 1817 obliged him to retire once again, though he was briefly reactivated in the reserves in 1830, he soon retired for good.
While on active service his wife was widely admired for accompanying her husband in the field.