French general who led the 1849 expedition that besieged Rome and overthrew the Roman Republic
Born at Bar-le-Duc in 1791, the eldest son of Napoleon's marshal Nicolas Oudinot, he fought in Napoleon's later campaigns from 1809 to 1814, commanded the cavalry school at Saumur under the Restoration (1822–1830) and was inspector-general of cavalry under the July Monarchy (1836–1848). Elected a deputy in 1842, he sat on the left. In 1849 Louis Napoleon's government gave him command of the expedition to Rome; he landed at Civitavecchia on 25 April but was checked before the walls of Rome on 30 April. Reinforced to 30,000 men with a siege train, he broke his assurance not to attack before 4 June and resumed the assault on 3 June, entered Rome on 3 July, crushed the Roman Republic and restored the temporal power of Pius IX. He resisted the coup of 2 December 1851 on the side of the Second Republic and then retired.
Also known as: Nicolas Charles Victor Oudinot
Activities and affiliations
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1809–1814
Consulate and First Empire state institutions
Military command -
1814–1830
French monarchy state institutions
Military command -
1830–1851
Military command
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1842–1848
Legislature and state representation
Career Timeline
- 1809–1814Served in Napoleon's later campaigns
- 1822–1830Commander of the cavalry school at Saumur
- 1836–1848Inspector-general of cavalry
- 1842Deputy
- 1849Commander of the expedition to Rome
Related historical events
- 1848.02–1851.12The French Revolution of 1848 and the Second RepublicCommander of the expedition to RomeLed Louis Napoleon's expedition ashore in April 1849, was reinforced despite the Assembly's censure, ignored Lesseps's agreement and besieged Rome in June, taking it on 3 July. The protest of 13 June against the expedition brought down the Mountain.
- 1848.01–1849.08The Italian Revolutions of 1848–1849 and the First War of IndependenceCommander of the French expedition that took RomeLanded at Civitavecchia on 24–25 April and was thrown back on 30 April by Garibaldi's legion and the citizens. Reinforced to 30,000 men with siege guns, he broke his promise not to attack before 4 June, struck on 3 June and entered Rome on 3 July, ending the Roman Republic and restoring papal rule.