Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova General of Napoleon's army; distant relative of the Bonapartes Date of Birth: 08.03.1778 Country: France

1. Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova: A General of Napoleon's Army
2. Early Education and Military Service
3. The Egyptian Expedition and Beyond
4. The First Dragoon Regiment
5. The 1805 Campaign and the Legion of Honor
6. The Imperial Guard and the Prufsian Campaign
7. The 1809 Campaign and Inspector General of Cavalry
8. The 1812 Campaign and Leipzig
9. The Battle of the Nations and the 1814 Campaign
10. The Later Years

Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova: A General of Napoleon's Army

Born on March 8, 1778, in Corte, Corsica, Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova was a distant cousin of Napoleon Bonaparte on his mother's side. His father, Hyacinthe Arrighi de Casanova, was a royal advocate who later became prefect of the Corsican department.

Early Education and Military Service

In 1787, Arrighi enrolled as a royal student at the military school of Rebais near Meaux. After the dissolution of military schools on September 9, 1793, he continued his education at the University of Pisa. Upon the expulsion of the British from Corsica, Arrighi returned to the island and met Joseph Bonaparte, who took him to the Italian Army.

The Egyptian Expedition and Beyond

During the Italian Campaign, Arrighi fought as a lieutenant in a free Corsican company of the 75th Line Demi-Brigade. After the Treaty of Leoben (1797), he joined the staff as an adjutant colonel and later served as embassy secretary in Parma and Rome. In 1798, he participated in the Egyptian Expedition. Following the Battle of the Pyramids, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Berthier and was severely wounded at the Siege of Acre. For his actions, he was awarded a saber of honor.

The First Dragoon Regiment

After returning from Egypt, Arrighi fought bravely at the Battle of Marengo with the 1st Dragoon Regiment. On November 3, 1801, he was appointed squadron commander and was promoted to colonel on August 31, 1803, taking command of the 1st Dragoon Regiment.

The 1805 Campaign and the Legion of Honor

In the 1805 campaign, Arrighi's regiment distinguished itself at the Battle of Wertingen. Despite sustaining several wounds and losing two horses, he remained on the battlefield and captured a village with his dismounted dragoons, attacked the enemy's rear, and forced a Hungarian grenadier battalion to surrender. For his valor, he received the Legion of Honor.

The Imperial Guard and the Prufsian Campaign

After the 1805 campaign, Napoleon created a dragoon regiment within the Imperial Guard and appointed Arrighi as its commander. During the Prussian Campaign (1807), he fought at the Battle of Friedland and was promoted to brigadier general for his exceptional conduct.

The 1809 Campaign and Inspector General of Cavalry

In 1809, Arrighi commanded the brigade of Guard Dragoons at the Battle of Aspern-Essling, where he was promoted to divisional general. He then took command of the 3rd Division of Heavy Cavalry and played a crucial role in the Battle of Wagram. Following the battle, Arrighi was appointed inspector general of cavalry.

The 1812 Campaign and Leipzig

In 1812, Napoleon tasked Arrighi with the defense of the French coast and the formation of reserves for the Grand Army. During the 1813 campaign, he commanded the III Cavalry Corps at the Battle of Dennewitz, where he effectively neutralized Prussian and Swedish attacks, ensuring Marshal Ney's safe withdrawal.

The Battle of the Nations and the 1814 Campaign

At the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig, Arrighi's corps was drawn into a pursuit of Don Cossacks and was suddenly attacked by four of Blücher's hussar regiments, forcing it to retreat under the protection of the city walls. In 1814, Arrighi took part in the battles of Nogent, Laon, and the defense of Paris.

The Later Years

In 1815, Napoleon elevated Arrighi to the peerage and appointed him governor of Corsica. However, he was exiled from France on June 24, 1815, and lived in Lombardy until 1820, when he was amnestied. He returned to France in 1848 as a representative of Corsica in the French government. In 1852, he became a senator and director of the Hôtel des Invalides.

Arrighi died in Paris on March 22, 1853. His name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. His son, Louis Arrighi de Casanova, was interior minister under Napoleon III.