French Cuirassier Regiments and the Colonels who Led Them: 1792 to 1815

Part II: 8 - 14 Regiments

By Tony Broughton, FINS Some of the hardest fighting units of Napoleon's Grande Armee were his cuirassier regiments. Theirs is a distinguished record in all the major campaigns between 1792 and 1815

8e Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Created in 1665 from Regiment de Villequier which had been originaly formed in 1638 and named Cuirassiers du Roi. 1791 saw the Regiment renamed the 8e Regiment de Cavalerie and finally becoming the 8e Regiment de Cuirassiers in 1803 Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade 1792: Randon de Pully (Charles-Joseph) - Colonel 1792: De la Marliere (Albert-Victor-Marie Desprez) - Colonel 1795: Dore (Jean-Baptiste) - Chef-de-Brigade 1796: Espagne (Jean-Louis-Brigette) - Chef-de-Brigade 1799: Merlin (Jean-Baptiste-Gabriel) - Chef-de-Brigade and later Colonel in 1803 1805: Grandjean - Colonel 1813: Lafaivre (Louis-Jean-Claude-Clement) - Colonel 1815: Garavaque - Colonel Of the above Officers four attained the rank of General de Brigade and above. Randon de Pully, (Charles-Joseph) Born: 18 August 1751 Colonel: 25 February 1792 General-de-Brigade: 19 September 1792 General-de-Division: 8 March 1793 Member of the Legion d'Honneur: 7 December 1803

Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804 Grand Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 23 March 1814 Count of the Empire: 15 August 1809 Died: 20 April 1820 De la Marliere, (Albert-Victor-Marie Desprez) Born: 23 October 1745 Colonel: 19 September 1792 General-de-Brigade: 13th June 1795 Died: 18 December 1825 Espagne, (Jean-Louis-Brigette) Born: 16 February 1769 Chef-de-Brigade: 16 December 1796. General-de-Brigade: 10 July 1799 General-de-Division: 1 February 1805 Member of the Legion d'Honneur: 11 December 1803 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804 Grand Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 11 July 1807 Count of the Empire: April 1808 Died: 21 May 1809 Merlin, (Jean-Baptiste-Gabriel) Born: 17 April 1768 Chef-de-Brigade: 20 November 1799 Colonel: 24 September 1803 General-de-Brigade: 5 June 1809 Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur: 11 December 1803 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804

Baron of the Empire: 28 January 1809 Died: 27 January 1842 Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 8e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonel Dore: Killed 6 August 1796. Colonel Merlin: Wounded 21/22 May 1809 Colonel Grandjean: Wounded 7 September 1812 Colonel Lefaivre: Wounded 30 October 1813 Colonel Garavaque: Wounded 16 June 1815 Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 8e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815. Officers killed: Eight Officers died of wounds: Twelve Officers wounded: Eighty-one Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1792: Valmy 1793: Hondschoote and Wattignies 1794: Fleurus and Aldenhoven 1796: Schweinfurth, Hirschaid, Bamberg, Wurtzbourg, and Neuwied 1800: Stokach, Engen, Moeskirch, Biberach, Hochstett, and Hohenlinden 1805: Caldiero and Tagliamento 1807: Heilsberg 1809: Essling and Wagram 1812: La Moskowa 1813: Leipzig and Hanau 1814: Vauchamps 1815: Quatre-Bras and Waterloo

Battle Honours Fleurus 1794, Wagram 1809, La Moskowa 1812, and Hanau 1813

9e Regiment de Cuirassiers.
Originally formed as the Regiment de Villars in 1666, in 1686 it became the Regiment d'Anjou. The year 1753 saw it become the Regiment d'Aquitaine and then the Regiment d'Artois in 1761. The 9e Regiment de Cavalerie came into existance in 1791 and finally in 1803 it became the 9e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade 1791: De Bourbon-Busset (Louis-Antoine-Paul) - Colonel 1792: Badda de Bodsalva (Gabriel) - Colonel 1792: Loubat de Bohan (Jean-Claude) - Colonel 1793: De Nasouty (Etienne-Marie-Antoine Champion) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1799: Doumerc (Jean-Pierre) - Chef-de-Brigade and Colonel in 1803 1806: Paultre de Lamotte (Pierre-Louis-Francois) - Colonel 1811: De Murat-Sistrieres () - Colonel 1813: Habert (Jean-Nicolas) - Colonel 1814: Bigarne (Francois) - Colonel The officers who reached the rank of General de Brigade and above were: Loubat de Bohan, (Jean-Claude) Born: 28 November 1754 Colonel: 29 October 1792 General-de-Brigade: 20 May 1793 Member of the Legion d'Honneur: 6 November 1805 Died: 12th October 1832 De Nansouty, (Etienne-Marie-Antoine Champion) Born: 30 May 1768

Chef-de-Brigade: 9 November 1793 General-de-Brigade: 29 August 1799 General-de-Division: 24 March 1803 Grand Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 December 1805 Grand Eagle of the Legion d'Honneur: 11 July 1807 Count of the Empire: 27 July 1808 Died: 12th February 1815 Doumerc, (Jean-Pierre) Born: 7 October 1767 Chef-de-Brigade: 3 September 1799 Colonel: 1803 General-de-Brigade: 31 December 1806. General-de-Division: 30 November 1811 Chevalier of theLegion d'Honneur: 11 December 1804 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 December 1805 Baron of the Empire: 2 August 1808 Died: 29 March 1847 Paultre de Lamotte, (Pierre-Louis-Francois) Born: 3 February 1774 Colonel: 31 December 1806. General-de-Brigade: 6 August 1811 Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 March 1804 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 11 July 1807 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 17 August 1814 Baron of the Empire:

Died: 6 June 1840 Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 9e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonel Loubat de Bohan: Wounded 30 March 1793 Colonel Paultre de Lamotte: Wounded 14 June 1807 & 6 July 1809 Colonel Murat-Sistrieres: Wounded 7 September 1812 & 26/27 August 1813 Colonel Habert: Wounded 16/18 October 1813 Colonel Bigarne: Wounded 18 June 1815 Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 9e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815. Officers killed: Ten Officers died of wounds: Five Officers wounded: Sixty-four Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1792: Limbourg 1793: Oberflersheim, Landau, and Gambsheim 1794: La Rehutte and Schwegenheim 1796: Neresheim and Biberach 1800: Hochstett and Hohenlinden 1805: Austerlitz 1806: Jena 1807: Friedland 1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, and Wagram 1812: Ostrowno, La Moskowa, and Winkowo 1813: Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden, and Leipzig 1814: Saint-Dizier, Brienne, La Rothiere, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Craonne, and FereChampenoise 1815: Ligny and Waterloo

Battle Honours Hohenlinden 1800, Austerlitz 1805, La Moskowa 1812, and Fleurus 1815

10e Regiment de Cuirassiers.

Created in 1643 by the Comte de Balthazard and entitled Royal Cravates, in 1791 the Regiment became the 10e Regiment de Cavalerie and in 1803 the 10e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade. 1791: Randon de Pully, (Charles-Joseph) - Colonel 1792: De la Turmeliere, (Marc-Pierre) - Colonel 1793: De Grave, (?) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1794: Ossvald, (Christophe) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1795: Dubouchat, (Gaspard) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1797: Lataye, (Pierre-Francois) - Chef-de-Brigade and Colonel in 1803 1806: L'Heritier, (Samuel-Francois) - Colonel 1809: Frank, (Louis-Bernard) - Colonel 1812: De la Huberdiere, (Pierre-Adrien) - Colonel Four of the above Colonels became General-de-Brigade and above. Randon de Pully, (Charles-Joseph) Born: 18 August 1751 Colonel: 5 February 1792 General-de-Brigade: 19 September 1792 General-de-Division: 8 March 1793 Member of the Legion d'Honneur: 7 December 1803 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 June 1804 Grand officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 23 August 1814 Count of the Empire: 15 August 1809

Died: 20 April 1820 Ossvald, (Christophe) Born: 25 March 1737 Chef-de-Brigade: 21 March 1794 General-de-Brigade: 22 June 1794 Died: ? Lataye, (Pierre-Francois) Born: 14 March 1755 Chef-de-Brigade: 22 April 1797 Colonel: 24 August 1805 General-de-Brigade: 5 October 1806. Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 December 1805 Baron of the Empire: 10 February 1809 Died: 24 February 1827 L'Heritier, (Samuel-Francois) Born: 6 August 1772 Colonel: 5 October 1806. General-de-Brigade: 21 July 1809 General-de-Division: 15 March 1813 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 May 1807 Baron of the Empire: May 1808 Died: 23 August 1829 Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 10e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonel L'Heritier: Wounded 8 February 1807, 22 May 1809, 11 July 1809 Officers killed and wounded whist serving with the 10e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815.

Officers killed: Eleven Officers died of wounds: Seven Officers wounded: Fifty-eight Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1792: Valmy 1794: Kirchheimboland, Gosselies, and Fleurus 1795: Kreutznach 1796: Giessen and Neuwied 1799: Offenbourg 1800: Erlach and Hohenlinden 1805: Austerlitz 1806: Jena 1807: Eylau and Hoff 1809: Eckmuhl and Wagram 1812: La Moskowa 1813: Leipzig 1814: Hambourg 1815: Waterloo Battle Honours Fleurus 1794, Austerlitz 1805, Eckmuhl 1809, and La Moskowa 1812

11e Regiment de Cuirassiers.

Created in 1665 from the Regiment de Montclair which had existed between the years 1652 and 1661. In 1668, the Regiment became Royal-Roussillon and in 1791 the 11e Regiment de Cavalerie. Finally in 1803 the 11e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade 1791: De Lardemelle, (Toussaint-Joseph) - Colonel

1792: Ligonier, (Francois) - Colonel 1792: Clapiers de Collongues, (Jacques-Auguste-Michel-Marie) - Colonel 1794: Desbordelieres, (Anne-Marie-Louis-Guillot) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1801: Fouler, (Albert-Louis-Emmanuel) - Chef-de-Brigade and Colonel in 1803 1806: Brancas, (Antoine-Constant-Dioville) - Colonel 1809: Duclaux, (Pierre) - Colonel 1813: Lefebvre, (Francois-Nicolas) - Colonel 1815: Courtier, (Eleonore-Ambroise) - Colonel Three of the above became Generals. De Lardemelle, (Toussaint-Joseph) Born: 14 September 1734 Colonel: 25 July 1791 General-de-Brigade: 10 June 1792 Died: 12th November 1806 Fouler, (Albert-Louis-Emmanuel) Born: 9 February 1769 Chef-de-Brigade: 20 November 1801 Colonel: 1803 General-de-Brigade: 31 December 1806. General-de-Division: 23 March 1814 Grand Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 19 March 1815 Count of the Empire: 16 September 1808 Died: 17 June 1831 Duclaux, (Pierre) Born: 2 December 1775 Colonel: 1 June 1809

General-de-Brigade: 3 September 1813 Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 March 1804 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 March 1806. Baron of the Empire: 21 November 1810 Died: 18 August 1828 Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 11e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonel Clapiers: Killed 22 June 1794 Colonel de Brancas: Wounded 21 May 1809 Colonel Courtier: Wounded 18 June 1815 Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 11e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815 Officers killed: Fourteen Officers died of wounds: Eight Officers wounded: Sixty-eight Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1793: Pirmasens 1794: Kayserslautern 1797: Passage of the Tagliamento 1800: Hohenlinden 1805: Austerlitz 1807: Eylau and Friedland 1809: Eckmhl, Ratisbonne and Essling 1812: La Moskowa, Winkowo, and Tholoschinn 1813: Dresden and Leipzig 1814: Laon 1815: Ligny and Waterloo

Battle Honours Hohenlinden 1800, Austerlitz 1805, Eckmuhl 1809, and La Moskowa 1812

12e Regiment de Cuirassiers.

Created in 1668 from numerous regiments, it became the 12e Regiment de Cavalerie in 1791 and in 1803 the 12e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Colonels and Chef-de-Brigade 1791: De Lanay de Vallerie, (Charles-Michel) - Colonel 1792: Tauzia de la Litterie, (Francois-Durand) - Colonel 1793: Vrigny, (?) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1793: Colart, (Jean-Baptiste) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1795: Verreaux, (Jean) - Chef-de-Brigade. 1796: Belfort, (Jacques-Renard) - Chef-de-Brigade and Colonel in 1803 1805: Dornes, (Joseph) - Colonel 1809: De Curnieu, (Jean-Louis-Matheron) - Colonel 1813: Daudies, (Michel-Jean-Paul) - Colonel 1815: Thurot, (Charles-Nicolas) - Colonel The 12e Cuirassiers produced two Generals. Belfort, (Jacques-Renard) Born: 26 December 1753 Chef-de-Brigade: 1 May 1796. Colonel: 1803 General-de-Brigade: 24 December 1805 Commander of the Legion d'Honneur: 25 December1805 Baron of the Empire: 18 June 1809 Died: 18 January 1819 Dornes, (Joseph)

Born: 28 January 1760 Colonel: 27 December 1805 General-de-Brigade: 3 August 1809 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 14 May 1807 Baron of the Empire: 19 March 1809 Died: 29 December 1812 Colonels killed and wounded while in command of the 12e Cuirassiers. Colonel De Curnier: Wounded 21 November 1812 Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 12e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815 Officers killed: Twenty five Officers died of wounds: Nine Officers wounded: Fifty seven Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1793: Stromberg, Alzey, Brumpt, Haguenau, and Gambsheim 1794: Rehutte and Schweigenheim 1795: Frankenthal 1796: Mindelheim 1797: Passage of the Rhine 1799: Blockade of Philippsbourg 1800: Moeskirch and Hohenlinden 1805: Wertingen, Elchingen, Hollabrunn, and Austerlitz 1806: Jena 1807: Heilsberg and Friedland 1809: Eckmuhl, Ratisbonne, Essling, and Wagram 1812: Mohilew, La Moskowa, and Winkowo

1813: Bautzen, Reichenbach, Jauer, Dresden, Wachau, and Leipzig 1814: La Rothiere, Rosnay, Champaubert, Vauchamps, Valjouan, Athies, Reims, FereChampenoise, and Paris 1815: Ligny and Waterloo Battle Honours Austerlitz 1805, Jena 1806, and La Moskowa 1812

13e Regiment de Cuirassiers.

Created in 1807 as the 1er Regiment Provisoire de Grosse Cavalerie which had been formed from existing Cuirassier and Carabinier Regiments. It became the 13e Regiment de Cuirassiers in 1808 Colonels 1807: D'Aigremont (Guillaume-Francois) - Colonel of the 1er Regiment Provisoire de Grosse Cavalerie. 1808: D'Aigremont (Guillaume-Francois) - Colonel 1813: Bigarne (Francois) - Colonel Only one officer to become a General D'Aigremont, (Guillaume-Francois) Born: 1 April 1770 Colonel: 1er Regiment Provisoire de Grosse Cavalerie: 6 December 1807 Colonel:13e Cuirassiers: 13th February 1808 General-de-Brigade: 10 April 1813 Officer of the Legion d'Honneur: 8 July 1809 Baron of the Empire: 25 May 1811 Died: 7 January 1827 Colonels killed and wounded while commanding the 13e Regiment de Cuirassiers. None.

Officers killed and wounded while serving with the 13e Cuirassiers during the period 1805-1815. Officers killed: Three Officers died of wounds: Two Officers wounded: Twenty-six Regimental war record (Battles and Combats) 1808: Tudela and the Siege of Saragosse (December 1808 - February 1809) 1809: Saragosse 1810: Villareal, Siege of Lerida, and Margalef-Lerida 1811: Siege of Tarragone and Sagonte 1812: Castella 1813: Col d'Ordal 1814: Lyon Battle Honours Lerida 1810, Sagonte 1811, and Col d'Ordal 1813

14e Regiment
It is my intention to deal with the 14e Regiment de Cuirassiers in an article on foreign regiments in the service of France. The 14e Cuirassiers were incorporated into French service in 1810, previously being the Dutch 2 Regiment of Cuirassiers.