Jean Joseph Guieu
Encyclopedia
Jean Joseph Guieu, also Jean Guyeux, (30 September 1758 - 5 October 1817) joined the French royal army and quickly rose in rank during the French Revolutionary Wars
. He fought in the War of the Pyrenees
against Spain and became a general officer. After transferring to Italy, he held important commands under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Italian campaign of 1796-1797. He retired from the army in 1803 and his surname is one of the Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
.
, Hautes-Alpes
, France in 1758, Guieu enlisted in the French artillery in 1774. In 1791 he served as captain of a volunteer battalion in the Army of the Alps. Between 1793 and 1795 he fought under Pierre Augereau in the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees. On 4 October 1793, he was appointed colonel
and on 25 December he was promoted general of brigade. From 29 April to 1 May 1794, he led a brigade under Augereau at the Battle of Boulou. He also fought at the Battle of the Black Mountain
in November 1794. After the Peace of Basel
with Spain
in July 1795, he transferred to the Army of Italy
.
's division during the Montenotte Campaign
in April 1796. During the action at San Michele Mondovi
on 19 April, his brigade flanked the Sardinians out of position, though the Sardinians later drove the French back when they dispersed to plunder the village. During the Battle of Mondovì
on 21 April, Guieu's brigade played a prominent role and helped capture the village of Vicoforte
.
During the first Austrian attempt to relieve the Siege of Mantua
, Guieu led a brigade in Pierre Sauret
's division. Surprised by the attack of Peter Ott
on 29 July, Guieu rallied 400 men and withdrew to the Palazzo Martinengo in the village of Salò
. Though without food, Guieu withstood a siege by Joseph Ocskay
's brigade until the 31st, when Sauret drove the Austrians away after a sharp action. During the Battle of Lonato
on 3 August, Guieu led Sauret's division when the latter was injured. He recaptured Salò and attacked Gavardo
from the east. Though driven back on Salò, he held his ground. The presence of a French division so close to the Austrian line of retreat helped Peter Quasdanovich
make up his mind to withdraw in the early hours of 4 August.
On the first day of the Battle of Arcola, Bonaparte ordered Guieu to take the 18th and 25th Demi-Brigades across the Adige River at a ferry near Albaredo d'Adige
. Guieu successfully carried out this assignment and drove the Austrians out of Arcole
late on the evening of 15 November. Bonaparte later withdrew the troops and the village had to be fought over on the following two days. On 6 December, Guieu received promotion to general of division. In March 1797, he led a division in driving the Austrian army out of northeast Italy, fighting at Sacile
and seizing Palmanova
. He helped André Masséna
and Sérurier trap the division of Adam Bajalics
near Tarvisio
.
in 1817. The name GUYEUX is inscribed on the 24th column of the Arc de Triomphe
in Paris
.
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...
. He fought in the War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees
War of the Pyrenees refers to the Pyrenees front of the First Coalition's war against the First French Republic. Also known as Great War, War of Roussillon, or War of the Convention, it pitted Revolutionary France against the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal from March 1793 to July 1795 during the...
against Spain and became a general officer. After transferring to Italy, he held important commands under Napoleon Bonaparte in the Italian campaign of 1796-1797. He retired from the army in 1803 and his surname is one of the Names 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 ....
.
Early career
Born at ChampcellaChampcella
Champcella is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes
Hautes-Alpes is a department in southeastern France named after the Alps mountain range.- History :Hautes-Alpes is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, France in 1758, Guieu enlisted in the French artillery in 1774. In 1791 he served as captain of a volunteer battalion in the Army of the Alps. Between 1793 and 1795 he fought under Pierre Augereau in the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees. On 4 October 1793, he was appointed 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...
and on 25 December he was promoted general of brigade. From 29 April to 1 May 1794, he led a brigade under Augereau at the Battle of Boulou. He also fought at the Battle of the Black Mountain
Battle of the Black Mountain
The Battle of the Black Mountain was fought from 17 to 20 November 1794 between the army of the First French Republic and the allied armies of the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Portugal...
in November 1794. After the Peace of Basel
Peace of Basel
The Peace of Basel of 1795 consists of three peace treaties involving France .* The first of the three treaties of 1795, France made peace with Prussia on 5 April; , * The Second was with Spain on 22 July, ending the War of the Pyrenees; and*...
with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in July 1795, he transferred to 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...
.
Italy
Guieu commanded a brigade in Jean SérurierJean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier
Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier, 1st Comte Sérurier , was a French soldier and political figure who rose to the rank of Marshal of France.-Early life:...
's division during the Montenotte Campaign
Montenotte Campaign
The Montenotte Campaign began on 10 April 1796 with an action at Voltri and ended with the Armistice of Cherasco on 28 April. In his first army command, Napoleon Bonaparte's French army separated the army of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont under Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi from the allied...
in April 1796. During the action at San Michele Mondovi
San Michele Mondovì
San Michele Mondovì is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 30 km east of Cuneo...
on 19 April, his brigade flanked the Sardinians out of position, though the Sardinians later drove the French back when they dispersed to plunder the village. During 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 21 April, Guieu's brigade played a prominent role and helped capture the village of Vicoforte
Vicoforte
Vicoforte is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in Italy. It is located in Val Corsaglia above sea level, 32 km east of Cuneo and 6 km from Mondovì....
.
During the first Austrian attempt to relieve the Siege of Mantua
Siege of Mantua (1796-1797)
In the Siege of Mantua, which lasted from 4 July 1796 to 2 February 1797 with a short break, French forces under the overall command of Napoleon Bonaparte besieged and blockaded a large Austrian garrison for many months until it surrendered...
, Guieu led a brigade in Pierre Sauret
Pierre Francois Sauret
Pierre François Sauret de la Borie enlisted in the French army as a private, fought in the Seven Years War, and became a general officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. He served with distinction during the War of the Pyrenees before being transferred to the Army of Italy...
's division. Surprised by the attack of Peter Ott
Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz
Peter Karl Ott von Bátorkéz joined the Austrian army and fought in the wars against the Kingdom of Prussia, Ottoman Turkey, and the First French Republic in the last half of the 18th century. During the French Revolutionary Wars, he rose in rank to general officer and twice campaigned against the...
on 29 July, Guieu rallied 400 men and withdrew to the Palazzo Martinengo in the village of Salò
Salò
Salò is a town and commune in the Province of Brescia in the region of Lombardy on the banks of Lake Garda. The city was the capital of Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945, with the ISR often being called the "Republic of Salò" .-History:Salò was founded in the Roman period as Pagus...
. Though without food, Guieu withstood a siege by Joseph Ocskay
Joseph Ocskay von Ocsko
Joseph Ocskay von Ocskó joined the army of the Habsburg Empire and rose to the rank of general officer during the French Revolutionary Wars. He fought in numerous actions in the 1796-1797 Italian campaign against the French army commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte...
's brigade until the 31st, when Sauret drove the Austrians away after a sharp action. During the Battle of Lonato
Battle of Lonato
The Battle of Lonato was fought on 3 and 4 August 1796 between the French Army of Italy under General Napoleon Bonaparte and a corps-sized Austrian column led by Feldmarschallleutnant Peter Quasdanovich. A week of hard-fought actions that began on 29 July and ended on 4 August resulted in the...
on 3 August, Guieu led Sauret's division when the latter was injured. He recaptured Salò and attacked Gavardo
Gavardo
Gavardo is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.As of 2007 Gavardo had an estimated population of 11,337....
from the east. Though driven back on Salò, he held his ground. The presence of a French division so close to the Austrian line of retreat helped Peter Quasdanovich
Peter Quasdanovich
Peter Vitus Freiherr von Quosdanovich was a general of the Austrian Empire. Feldmarschall-Lieutenant and Commander of the Order of Maria Theresa...
make up his mind to withdraw in the early hours of 4 August.
On the first day of the Battle of Arcola, Bonaparte ordered Guieu to take the 18th and 25th Demi-Brigades across the Adige River at a ferry near Albaredo d'Adige
Albaredo d'Adige
Albaredo d'Adige is a comune in the Province of Verona in the Italian region Veneto, located about 80 km west of Venice and about 25 km south of Verona...
. Guieu successfully carried out this assignment and drove the Austrians out of Arcole
Arcole
Arcole , historicaslly also known as Arcola, is a comune with 5,274 inhabitants in the province of Verona. It is known as the site of the Battle of the Bridge of Arcole.-History:...
late on the evening of 15 November. Bonaparte later withdrew the troops and the village had to be fought over on the following two days. On 6 December, Guieu received promotion to general of division. In March 1797, he led a division in driving the Austrian army out of northeast Italy, fighting at Sacile
Sacile
Sacile is a town and comune in the province of Pordenone, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-east Italy. It is known as the "Garden of the Serenissima" after the many palaces that were constructed along the river Livenza for the nobility of the Most Serene Republic of...
and seizing Palmanova
Palmanova
Palmanova is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, close to the border with Slovenia. It is located 20 km from Udine, 28 km from Gorizia and 55 km from Trieste near the junction of the Autostrada Alpe-Adria and the Autostrada Venezia-Trieste .Palmanova is famous for its fortress...
. He helped 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....
and Sérurier trap the division of Adam Bajalics
Adam Bajalics von Bajahaza
Adam Bajalics von Bajaháza, also Adam Bajalić von Bajaházy or Adam Bayalitsch, entered Austrian military service and fought against Prussia, Ottoman Turkey, and France...
near Tarvisio
Tarvisio
Tarvisio is a town in the Province of Udine, in the northeastern part of the autonomous Friuli–Venezia Giulia region in Italy...
.
Later career
Guieu's active service ended in 1799 and retirement from the army followed in 1803. He died at ChâteaurouxChâteauroux
Châteauroux is the capital of the Indre department in central France and the second-largest town in the province of Berry, after Bourges. Its residents are called Castelroussines or Castelroussins....
in 1817. The name GUYEUX is inscribed on the 24th 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...
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...
.
Books
- Boycott-Brown, Martin. The Road to Rivoli. London: Cassell & Co., 2001. ISBN 0-304-35305-1
- Chandler, David. Dictionary of the Napoleonic Wars. New York: Macmillan, 1979. ISBN 0-02-523670-9