Étienne Tardif de Pommeroux de Bordesoulle facts for kids

Étienne Tardif de Pommeroux, also known as Count de Bordesoulle (born April 4, 1771, in Luzeret – died October 3, 1837, in Fontaine-Chaalis, Oise), was a French nobleman and brave soldier. He fought in many important wars, including the Napoleonic Wars and a special mission to Spain in 1823. His name is even carved on the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris!

Quick facts for kids Étienne Tardif de Pommeroux de Bordesoulle
General Count Bordessoulle, painted by Jean-François Brémond
Born	4 April 1771 Luzeret, Indre
Died	3 October 1837 (aged 66) Fontaine-Chaalis, Oise
Battles/wars	French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars, Peninsular War, Spanish expedition
Awards	Name engraved on the Arc de Triomphe

A Soldier's Life: Étienne de Bordesoulle

Starting His Military Journey

Étienne Bordesoulle joined the army in 1789 as a private soldier. He was part of the 2nd mounted chasseurs regiment. He fought bravely in almost all the battles of the French Revolutionary Wars. These wars took place along the River Rhine and in other parts of Europe from 1792 to 1801.

He was wounded several times, showing his dedication. Because of his courage, he quickly moved up the ranks. He became a second lieutenant in 1794, then a lieutenant in 1796, and a captain in 1798. He showed great bravery at the Battle of Novi in 1799, even though he was wounded again while helping his army retreat. He was promoted to squadron leader in 1799 and received a special honorary sword in 1802.

Leading Light Cavalry

From 1805 to 1807, Bordesoulle fought in campaigns across Austria, Prussia, and Poland. He was part of the Grande Armée, which was Napoleon's main army. In December 1805, he became a colonel, leading the 22nd regiment of chasseurs.

He fought at the famous Battle of Austerlitz in December 1805. In June 1807, he led 60 of his men to charge a Russian battalion, completely defeating them. He was wounded twice during this brave action. He also fought well at Battle of Heilsberg and Battle of Friedland. For his bravery, he was promoted to general of the light cavalry in June 1807.

In 1808, he was sent to Spain. There, he commanded the 2nd brigade of mounted chasseurs. In December, he helped defeat a Spanish army near Madrid. In March 1809, he played a key role in the French victory at the Battle of Medellín. He led his chasseurs to destroy 6,000 Spanish soldiers, even when other French forces were retreating.

Commanding Cuirassiers

In May 1809, Bordesoulle was called back to Germany to command a cavalry brigade. He was wounded again at the Battle of Wagram in July. For his service, Napoleon made him a "baron of the Empire" in May 1810. For the next few years, he commanded several light cavalry brigades in Germany.

During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, he served in the light cavalry. In June, he fought against the Russian vanguard. In July, he led the vanguard of Marshal Davout's corps. He captured the city of Mohilev, taking 900 prisoners and enemy supplies. He also fought bravely at the Battle of Smolensk and the Battle of Borodino. At Borodino, he was seriously injured in the jaw. He also fought at Battle of Krasnoi, where he captured cannons and many prisoners.

He was promoted to general of division in December 1812. He then led the 1st division of cuirassiers (heavy cavalry) in all the major battles of the 1813 Saxony campaign. This included battles like Lützen and Bautzen. He was recognized as a commander of the Légion d'honneur in May 1813.

At the Battle of Dresden in August 1813, he led powerful charges. He broke through enemy lines, took 6,000 prisoners, and helped force the enemy to retreat. He also showed great bravery at the Battle of Leipzig in October. In November, he took command of the 2nd cavalry corps.

In 1814, Bordesoulle continued to fight. He commanded two cavalry divisions and helped the French succeed against their enemies at battles like Battle of Champaubert and Battle of Vauchamps. He also took part in recapturing Reims and fought in the Battle of Paris.

Loyalty to the King

When the Bourbon monarchy returned to France, Bordesoulle's noble background helped him. He was appointed inspector general of the cavalry in May 1814. He also received high honors, becoming a knight of the Order of Saint Louis and a grand officer of the Légion d'honneur.

When Napoleon returned from exile in 1815, Bordesoulle remained loyal to King Louis XVIII of France. He followed the King to Ghent and became chief of staff to the Comte d'Artois (who later became King Charles X of France). After Napoleon's final defeat, Bordesoulle returned to France. He was made a grand-cross of the Légion d'honneur and was put in charge of reorganizing the cavalry of the royal guard.

He was also elected as a representative for Indre in the French parliament. He became a member of a group investigating the conduct of officers during Napoleon's brief return to power.

In 1816, he was made a commander of the Order of Saint Louis. His Napoleonic title of baron was changed to the Bourbon title of "comte" (count). He continued to serve the royal family, becoming an honorary aide-de-camp to the Comte d'Artois. He also became governor of the École polytechnique, a famous French engineering school, in 1822.

In 1823, he took part in the Spanish expedition. He was the commander-in-chief of the guard-troops. He helped organize the attack and blockade of Cadiz and was praised for his role in taking Trocadéro.

After the war, he became a peer of France and received another high honor, the grand-cross of the Order of Charles III. He was known for his strong patriotic and constitutional views. He gave important advice to the Comte d'Artois, helping to pass laws that supported liberty. He continued to command the royal guard's cavalry division.

After King Louis XVIII died, Charles X became king. Bordesoulle continued to be involved in military affairs and became a member of the superior council for war in 1828.

In 1830, during the July Revolution, he tried to support the king. When the king's power ended, Bordesoulle retired. He was allowed to fully retire from the army in 1832. He lived a quiet life after that, occasionally attending meetings in the French parliament until his death in 1837.

Images for kids

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  General Count Bordessoulle, painting by Jean-François Brémond

See also

In Spanish: Étienne Tardif de Pommeroux de Bordesoulle para niños