Louis-François Lejeune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis-François Lejeune
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Louis-François Lejeune - by Constantin Prévost
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| Born | 3 February 1775 Strasbourg |
| Died | 29 February 1848 (aged 73) Toulouse |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of France, French First Republic, First French Empire, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of France |
| Service/ |
Engineers, Artillery |
| Years of service | 1792–1824 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards | Commander of the légion d'honneur Chevalier de Saint-Louis |
| Other work | Mayor of Toulouse Painter and engraver |
Louis-François, Baron Lejeune (born February 3, 1775, in Strasbourg – died February 29, 1848) was a French general, painter, and lithographer. He was famous for his military service and his art. His name is even carved on the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Contents
Life and Military Career
Louis-François Lejeune first studied painting. He learned from a famous artist named Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. But in 1792, he decided to join the army instead. He volunteered for the Compagnie des arts de Paris.
Early Military Service
Lejeune had his first experience in battle at the battle of Valmy in 1792. He quickly rose through the ranks. By 1793, he was a sergeant in the 1st Arsenal battalion. He then joined the artillery at La Fère. He helped in the attacks on cities like Landrecies, Le Quesnoy, and Valenciennes. At Valenciennes, he became a personal assistant, called an aide-de-camp, to General Jacob. Later, as a lieutenant, he took part in campaigns in Holland (1794) and another in 1795.
Napoleonic Wars
In 1798, Lejeune passed his exams with flying colors. He became a captain in the engineers. By 1800, he was an aide-de-camp to Marshal Berthier. He stayed in this important role until 1812. During this time, he was part of almost all the Napoleonic campaigns.
He was wounded and captured during the war in Spain. After the Marengo, he was promoted to full captain. After the Austerlitz, he became a chef de bataillon, which means he led a group of soldiers. He also received the Légion d'honneur award. During the Siege of Saragossa, he became a colonel.
Introduction of Lithography
In 1806, during a campaign in Germany, Lejeune visited Munich. There, he met Alois Senefelder, who invented lithography. Lithography is a special way of printing images. Lejeune was very excited about this new method. He quickly made a drawing on a stone, which was then printed. This drawing was of a Cossack soldier. One hundred copies were printed very quickly. Lejeune showed one to Napoleon. Lejeune played a big part in bringing lithography to France.
Later Campaigns and Retirement
In 1812, during the French invasion of Russia, Lejeune became a général de brigade (brigadier general). He was also the chief of staff for Davout. During the difficult retreat from Russia, Lejeune suffered severe frostbite on his face. He had to leave his post, which led to a brief arrest ordered by Napoleon.
He was freed in March 1813. Lejeune was then sent to the Illyrian provinces. Later, he rejoined the army under Marshal Oudinot. He became Oudinot's chief of staff. Lejeune was present at several battles, including the Battle of Lutzen (1813) and Bautzen. He was made an officer of the Légion d'honneur. He also received the Order of Maximilian of Bavaria.
At the battle of Hoyersverda, Lejeune showed great bravery. He went into enemy lines with a small group of soldiers and cannons. He managed to break the Prussian artillery. This action helped save Marshal Oudinot and his army. Lejeune was wounded several times. His last injury was at the Battle of Hanau. In November 1813, after more than 20 years of service, he was allowed to leave the army. After leaving the military, he focused on his painting.
Life After the Army
Lejeune was made a baron d'Empire in 1810. He received many honors for his service. He was made a knight of St Louis by Louis XVIII. In 1823, he became a commander of the Légion d'honneur.
He returned to the army for a short time from 1818 to 1824. In 1831, he became commander of Haute-Garonne. On September 2, 1821, he married Louise Clary. She was the sister of General Marius Clary and the niece of Désirée Clary, who became the Queen of Sweden. In 1824, the King of Sweden gave Lejeune the grand-cross of the Order of the Sword.
In 1837, Lejeune became the director of the École des beaux-arts et de l’industrie in Toulouse. He later became the mayor of Toulouse in 1841. He died in Toulouse from a heart attack at the age of 73.
Honours and Awards
Louis-François Lejeune received many important awards during his life:
- 1808: Knight of the Legion of Honour (France)
- 1810: Order of Leopold (Austrian Empire)
- 1813: Officer of the Legion of Honour
- 1823: Commander of the Legion of Honour
- 1824: Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword (Sweden)
- Knight of the Order of Saint Louis (France)
His name is also written on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. This is a great honor for French military heroes.
Works as a Painter
Lejeune created many important paintings of battles. He often kept his paintbrushes with him on the battlefield. This allowed him to make sketches and studies right there. People loved his work because it felt very real and powerful. His paintings often showed a wide, panoramic view of the entire battle. When his battle paintings were shown in London, they were so popular that a rail had to be put up to protect them from the crowds.
Some of his most famous works include:
- The Battle of Guisando (1819)
- The Battle of Borodino (considered his masterpiece)
- The Entry of Charles X. into Paris, 6 June 1825 (at Versailles)
- Episode of the Prussian War, October 1807 (at Douai Museum)
- Marengo (1801)
- Lodi, Thabor, Aboukir (1804)
- The Pyramids (1806)
- Passage of the Rhine in 1795 (1824)
Many of his battle paintings were later made into prints by artists like Jacques Joseph Coiny and Edme Bovinet. He also drew studies of uniforms worn by the French Imperial Army.
In Fiction
Louis-François Lejeune is a main character in the historical novel The Battle.
