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Frederic Francois Guillaume de VaudoncourtGeneral of Napoleon's army and French military writer
Date of Birth: 24.09.1772
Country:  France |
Content:
- Early Life and Military Career
- Revolutionary Wars and Captivity
- Napoleonic Wars and Command
- Return to France and Hundred Days
- Exile and Literary Pursuits
- Histoire campagnes d'Italie en 1803 et 1804 (1817)
- Legacy and Death
Early Life and Military Career
Antoine-Henri Jomini, a French general and military writer, was born in Vienna on September 24, 1772. His father was a French diplomat stationed at the Austrian court. Jomini received his education in Berlin and later in France, where he joined the military ministry in 1782. In 1791, he enlisted in the volunteer battalion of the Moselle department.
Revolutionary Wars and Captivity
Appointed commander of the volunteer battalion in 1793, Jomini led the capture of Homburg and the fortified positions at Karlsberg and Landstuhl. However, in the Battle of Pirmasens on September 14, 1793, he suffered six wounds and was taken prisoner. He remained in captivity until 1795.
Upon his release, Jomini joined Bonaparte's army in Italy and rose to the rank of colonel by 1800. He commanded the artillery of the Cisalpine Republic and distinguished himself in the campaigns of 1805 under Massena.
Napoleonic Wars and Command
In 1809, Jomini served in the army of Prince Eugene de Beauharnais and was appointed commandant of Raab. He successfully defended the city against Archduke Johann and earned the rank of brigadier general and the title of baron of the Italian Kingdom. During Napoleon's invasion of Russia, Jomini accompanied Prince Eugene but was captured during the retreat to Vilnius.
Return to France and Hundred Days
After returning to France in 1814, Jomini initially supported the Bourbons but switched sides to Napoleon during the Hundred Days. He was promoted to divisional general and served as inspector of the Alsace Guard. At the Battle of Metz, he fiercely resisted the allied army, leading to a death sentence from Louis XVIII.
Exile and Literary Pursuits
In 1816, Jomini settled in Munich and spent four years as a guest of Prince Eugene. The Neapolitan revolution of 1820 inspired him with hopes of uniting Italy under Prince Eugene's rule. However, his efforts in Turin were hampered by a defeat at Novara, forcing him to flee to England. In 1825, he was granted amnesty and returned to Paris.
During the July Revolution, Jomini led insurgents in the Tuileries and Louvre districts. He also made significant contributions to military literature, including:
Histoire des campagnes d'Ahhibal en Italie pendant la Deuxième Guerre Punique (1812)
Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de la guerre entre la France et la Russie en 1812 (1815)
Histoire campagnes d'Italie en 1803 et 1804 (1817)
Mémoires sur la campagne du vice-roy d'Italie en 1813 et en 1814 (1817)
Histoire de la guerre de soutenue par les Français en Allemagne en 1813 (1819)
Legacy and Death
Jomini founded the "Journal des connaissances militaires" and played a key role in the development of military strategy. He died on May 2, 1845, in Passy, near Paris, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential military theorists of his era.
