Sigismond Frédéric de Berckheim

Paris Arc de Triomphe Tribute to Berckheim Tafel Ost

Sigismond Frédéric de Berckeim , also Sigismund Friedrich von Berckheim, (born May 9, 1775 in Ribeauvillé , † December 28, 1819 in Paris ) was a French general during the French Revolution and the subsequent Empire.

origin

The family is named after its original headquarters in Mittel-Berckheim in Alsace . It was probably a branch of the Lords of Andlau , had an inheritance agreement with them and also continued their family arms. It is documented under his name for the first time between 1163 and 1179 with Ludovicus de Berchheim, [2] who probably justified the separation from the Andlau house. The uninterrupted family line begins in 1323 with Cunnemann. His son Cuno von Berckheim was under King Rudolf from 1274 to 1280 governor in Lower Alsace.

The family shared with the three sons of Egenolf (Egenolph) III. von Berckheim (1552–1629) and his wife Margaretha von Lichtenfels in three tribes. Wilhelm II. († 1665) founded the older (Protestant) line to Jebsheim , Hans Rudolph II. The middle line to Krautergersheim , and Egenolf IV. († around 1639) the younger (Catholic) line to Rappoltsweiler . The line to Krautergersheim expired in the male line on November 12, 1787 with the grandson of its founder, Franz Samuel, French colonel, Stettmeister to Strasbourg and rector of the university there. From the younger line came u. a. the Baden Minister of State Karl Christian von Berckheim (1774–1849).

Parents and siblings

His father was Philippe Frédéric von Berckheim, Herr von Schoppenwihr (1732-1812). His mother was Marie Octavie Louise von Glaubitz (1750-1821). He had numerous siblings.

Louise Sophie Octavie de Berckheim (1771–1852) married Frederic von Stein zu Nordheim
Henriette Sophie Luise de Berckheim (1772–1863) married Augustin-Charles Périer , a student of the École polytechnique in Paris with a doctorate in 1790, deputy from Isère (1830–1837), peer of France (1832) and knight of the Legion of Honor (1833) . He came from an upper-class merchant family. The couple's descendants or relatives became presidents of the Bank of France, interior ministers and even presidents of the French Republic.
Sigismund Frédéric de Berckheim (1775-1819), imperial French general; married to Elisabeth Bartholdi
Amélie de Berckheim (1776–1855)
Friederike, called Fanny, de Berckheim (1778–1802) died early at the age of 23. She was engaged to Alexander Louis Baron de Landsberg , of her grandmother's family.
Christian Friedrich de Berckheim (1781–1832), father of the lord of the Weinheim Palace , his second-born son also became a French general (father of Christian Friedrich Gustav von Berckheim )
Gustav de Berckheim (1784–1812), Imperial French Rittmeister

resume

As a 14-year-old Sigismond Frédéric de Berckheim became a soldier in the historically significant Königsmark infantry regiment, where he quickly passed through the lower military ranks. At the age of 30 he was already a colonel in a cuirassier regiment. He took part in countless battles, such as B. the Battle of Heilsberg in Poland on June 10, 1807, the Battle of Friedland (now Pravdinsk / Russia) on June 14, 1807, the Battle of Eggmühl (between Munich and Regensburg) on April 22, 1809, the Battle of Aspern (Near Vienna) from May 20 to 22, 1809, the Battle of Wagram (near Vienna) from July 5 to 6, 1809 and the Battle of Znojmo (now Znojmo in the Czech Republic) (90 km northwest of Vienna) from July 10 to 11, 1809, partly already as Brigadier General and Major General. In Polotske (Belarus) he fought as a member of the Great Army in August 1812 and while retreating in the swamps and swamps at the Battle of the Beresina near Borilow at the end of 1812, now as a member of Napoleon's imperial guard. For his services, he was appointed baron of the empire on March 9, 1810 . During the period of the subsequent French Restoration , he was appointed Deputy of the Upper Rhine Area in 1815 and 1816, and then General Inspector of the Cavalry, although he had also supported Napoleon during his brief return and rule of the Hundred Days .

Sigismond Frédéric de Berckeim is one of 558 Napoleon's officers whose name was posthumously engraved on a tablet in the Arc de Triomphe . You can find the name Berckheim on site on the so-called East Panel (EST).

He married Elisabeth Bartholdi (1789-1858). Their son Gustav (1818–1824) died early and their daughter Elisabeth (1820–1820) died shortly after the birth. His grave is in Paris (Paris pére-lachaise cemetery, 24th division, 1st line).

The widow married Adolphe de Boubers (1791–1864) in 1827 and had two other children.

Awards

August 6, 1805: Knight of the Legion of Honor
July 11, 1809: Officer of the Legion of Honor
May 14, 1813: Commander of the Legion of Honor

literature

Becke-Klüchtzner, Edmund von der Stamm-Tafeln of the nobility of the Grand Duchy of Baden: a newly edited nobility book, Baden-Baden, 1886, Barons von Berckheim
Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de la Révolution et de l'Empire (1792–1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Berckheim, Sigismond Frédéric de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Berckeim, Sigismond Frédéric de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	French general
DATE OF BIRTH	May 9, 1775
PLACE OF BIRTH	Ribeauvillé
DATE OF DEATH	December 28, 1819
Place of death	Paris