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Chearles-Nicola AntuarCount of the Empire, divisional general.
Country:
 France |
Content:
- Count of the Empire, Divisional General
- Service in the Revolutionary Wars
- Egyptian Campaign
- Napoleonic Wars
- Austrian and Peninsular Campaigns
- Later Career
- Retirement and Death
Count of the Empire, Divisional General
Early Life and CareerAnthouard de Vraincourt, Comte de Vraincourt (1773-1852), was born on April 7, 1773, in Verdun-sur-Meuse, France. The son of a captain in the Picardy regiment, he entered the military school of Pont-à-Mousson as a cadet on October 1, 1787.
On September 1, 1798, Vraincourt graduated as a lieutenant in the artillery and was assigned to the corps of miners. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a lieutenant in the Besançon Artillery Regiment on July 30, 1790, and a captain in the 4th Regiment of Foot Artillery on April 1, 1791.
Service in the Revolutionary Wars
From 1792-1793, Vraincourt fought in the Southern Army and the Army of the Alps. He was promoted to captain in the 1st Regiment of Foot Artillery on April 15, 1793, and was wounded in the thigh during the Siege of Lyon.
Vraincourt served under generals Wobau and Bonaparte, and became deputy chief of the artillery park of the Army of the Alps. He also held various staff positions in the Italian and Eastern armies.
Egyptian Campaign
In 1798, Vraincourt joined the Eastern Army and participated in the Egyptian campaign. He fought in the capture of Malta and Alexandria, and in the Battle of the Pyramids on July 21, 1798. He later commanded the artillery of Cairo.
Napoleonic Wars
Vraincourt returned to France in 1801 and was appointed commander of the 1st Horse Artillery Regiment. He served in the Italian Army under Murat and Jourdan, and was appointed chief of staff of the artillery school at Plaisance in 1804.
In 1805, he became aide-de-camp to Prince Eugène de Beauharnais, and was later inspector of pages at the Italian court. Vraincourt was promoted to Brigadier General in 1806 and served in Dalmatia, at the Siege of Danzig, and at the Siege of Grodentz.
Austrian and Peninsular Campaigns
As inspector of the Roman army group in 1808, Vraincourt was wounded in the Battle of Raab in 1809. He also participated in the Battle of Wagram.
Later Career
In 1810, Vraincourt was made a Count of the Empire and promoted to Divisional General. He served as acting governor-general of the Illyrian Province, commander of the artillery of the Army of Italy, and inspector of the coastlines of Livorno and Rome.
During the invasion of Russia in 1812, Vraincourt commanded the artillery of Prince Eugène de Beauharnais's 4th Infantry Corps. He was wounded near Moscow and sent to Thorn to recover.
After the war, Vraincourt served in various official capacities under the Bourbon Restoration. He was a member of the central artillery committee, inspector-general of artillery, and chaired several commissions.
Retirement and Death
Vraincourt retired from active service in 1841 and was granted a pension in 1848. He died on March 14, 1852, in Paris. His name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
