French Revolutionary Wars general, royalist conspirator
In February 1794 he took command of the Army of the North and fought at Fleurus; crossing the frozen rivers in the winter of December 1794–January 1795, he entered Utrecht and Amsterdam, while French hussars captured the Dutch fleet over the ice.
French general of the Revolutionary Wars. In the Flanders campaign he overran the Austrian Netherlands and the Dutch Republic, then fought on the Rhine front; he later adopted Royalist positions, was deported to Cayenne after the Coup of 18 Fructidor (1797), escaped to exile in London and served on Korsakov's staff in 1799. He returned to France, was arrested in the royalist conspiracy against Napoleon, and was found dead in prison in April 1804.
Career Timeline
- 1783Entered the 1st artillery regiment; briefly served in the American Revolutionary War
- 1793Promoted brigade general, then divisional general and given command of the Army of the Rhine
- 1794Took command of the Army of the North; led the Flanders and Netherlands campaign
- 1795Crushed the 12 Germinal insurrection and was titled 'Saviour of the Fatherland'
- 1797Became a member of the Council of Five Hundred; arrested at 18 Fructidor and deported to Cayenne
- 1799Served on Korsakov's staff
- 1804Arrested in the royalist conspiracy and found dead in prison