"Le Beau Soleil"

1764 December 7 - Born at Lamarche (Vosges district)
1781 October 16 - Enlist in Grenoble Artillery Regiment as a private
1791 October 12 - Re-enlist as grenadier in 3rd Battalion, Drome Volunteers
1793 December 1 - As lieutenant-colonel distinguished himself in storm on Mount Faron, Toulon
1793 December 17 - Gravely wounded leading decisive attack at Toulon
1793 December 20 - Promoted provisional general de brigade
1796 September 15 - Distinguishes himself (wounded) repelling an Austrian sortie from Mantua
1797 January 14 - Leads elite reserves at Rivoli
1797 January 18 - Promoted provisional general de division (confirmed March 10)
1799 June 18 - Wounded at Trebbia in Italy under Macdonald
1800 April 21 - Appointed corps commander, l'Armee du Reserve
1800 June 9 - Rescues Lannes at Montebello by "marching on the sound of the cannon"
1800 June 14 - Distinguished service at Marengo
1802 August 9 - Named captain general of Lousiana, but does not go
1806 October 7 - Appointed chief of staff to Marshal Lannes
1806 October 14 - Wounded at Jena
1807 January 20 - Captured in Poland by Prussian partisans
1807 June 14 - Commands I Corps at Friedland with distinction
1807 July 13 - Appointed Marechal d'Empire (nineteenth in order of appointment)
1808 September 18 - Created duc de Bellune; posted to Spain
1809 March 28 - Commands an independent corps and wins Medellin
1809 July 27/28 - Commands night attack, then defeat of Talavera
1811 March 5 - Defeated at Barossa by General Graham
1812 November 27 - Commanding IX Corps in Russia, saves the army at the Berezina
1813 August 27 - Commands II Corps at the victory of Dresden
1814 February 18 - Relieved of command by Napoleon aftter poor performance at Montereau
1814 March 7 - Given an Imperial Guard command; wounded at Craonne
1815 March 22 - Accompanies Louis XVIII into exile at Ghent
1815 October 12 - Appointed president of commission investigating veterans activities during the Hundred Days
1821 December 14 - Appointed minister of war
1830 August - Declines all further duties on political grounds
1841 March 1 - Dies in Paris aged 77

Victor "[He] was better than you might think. At the passage of the Beresina he commanded his corps very well indeed".

N

by Gipsy