Honoré Théodore Maxime Gazan de la Peyrière

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Honoré Théodore Maxime Gazan de la Peyrière

Honoré Théodore Maxime Gazan de la Peyrière (born October 29, 1765 in Grasse , † April 9, 1845 in Grasse) was a French general of the coalition wars .

biography

Early life

He was born in Grasse in the French department of Alpes-Maritimes, the son of a lawyer.

He received his training at the Military Academy of Sorèze (in what is now the Tarn department ). In 1786 he joined the Royal Bodyguard.

After the outbreak of the French Revolution he returned to Grasse and joined the National Guard .

Coalition wars

1st and 2nd coalition (1792–1802)

1790 became a lieutenant in the National Guard in the Var department . In 1792, when France declared war on Austria, he was sent to Strasbourg as a captain with his regiment . He took part in the Battle of Weissenburg in Alsace (December 26-27, 1793).

From 1794 to 1796 he took part in various battles in southern Germany. In 1794 he fought near Trippstadt , took over the leadership of the 10th half-brigade in June 1796 and distinguished himself on July 9th during the battle of Malsch near Kuppenheim and on August 11th in the battle of Neresheim . On November 22nd, 1796 he was injured during the siege of Kehl and brought to Strasbourg , where he married Marie Madeleine Reiss.

On April 4, 1799, Gazan was promoted to command of a brigade . He served in the Danube Army under his friend André Masséna . On September 27, he distinguished himself at the Second Battle of Zurich .

In 1799 Napoleon commissioned Masséna and Gasan to keep the fortress in Genoa . Gazan's head was injured during the Austrian siege of Genoa . After the surrender by Massena, he withdrew with his troops and joined General Suchet . He was appointed commander of a division of the Italian Army and fought victoriously in the Battle of Pozzolo on December 25, 1800.

3rd coalition (1805)

In 1805 he became divisional commander of the Grande Armée in Lille in preparation for the invasion of England.

In the battle of Ulm he commanded a division.

During the advance on Vienna, his division was assigned to Marshal Mortier's corps and formed the vanguard. In the battle of Dürnstein it faced a superior Russian force under General Kutuzov . Nevertheless, he initially succeeded in pushing back the enemy, only when his troops were clasped that he had to retreat across the Danube. For the merits of this battle he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, during the Battle of Austerlitz he was in Vienna .

Until the declaration of war by Prussia, the Gazan division was in Würzburg .

4th Coalition (1806-1807)

The Gazan Division fought on October 10, 1806 in the battle near Saalfeld and on October 14, 1806 in the battle of Jena and Auerstedt . After a few skirmishes in Prussia, he moved to winter quarters in Silesia. He was appointed Count of Pyrière.

The War on the Iberian Peninsula (1808–1813)

In October 1808, Gazan's division went to Spain with the V Corps. There he took part in the second siege of Saragossa and excelled when the city was stormed on January 22nd, 1809. After the surrender of the last Spanish troops under Palafox , the V Corps occupied northern Aragon .

In November General Gazan was sent to Andalusia . In September 1810 he fought against the Spanish under General La Romana. In January 1811 he crossed the Sierra Morena to assist Marshal Soult in the siege of Badajoz .

In February 1812, Gazan Soult replaced as commandant of the Armée du Midi . He held this command on an interim basis until 1813. Wellington took many prisoners while withdrawing from Spain, which turned into an escape . Gazan's family were also arrested.

When Soult took command of the new Pyrenees Army, Gazan became Chief of Staff until Napoleon's abdication.

Hundred Days (1815)

Gazan hesitated during the reign of the Hundred Days , then joined Napoleon. He received no command, but was nevertheless taken by Louis XVIII. sent to Grasse to retire.

Next life

After the July Revolution of 1830 he received the title of peer and command of a division in Marseille .

In 1832 he retired because of his poor health. He died in Grasse on April 9, 1845.

Honors

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Egger "The battle near Dürnstein-Loiben 1805", Bundesverlag, Vienna 1986 "
  2. ↑ Entry Triumphal Arch (French)

literature

  • Natalia Griffon de Pleineville: General Gazan de la Peyriere ( History Today , April 2003)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Gazan de la Peyrière, Honoré Théodore Maxime
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Peyrière, Honoré Théodore Maxime Gazan de la
BRIEF DESCRIPTION French general
DATE OF BIRTH October 29, 1765
PLACE OF BIRTH Grasse
DATE OF DEATH April 9, 1845
Place of death Grasse