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Laurent de Gouvion-Saint-CyrMarshal of France
Date of Birth: 13.04.1764
Country:  France |
Content:
- Laurent, Comte de Gouvion Saint-Cyr
- Revolutionary Hero
- Napoleon's Lieutenant
- Russian Campaign
- Dresden and After
- Minister of War
- Legacy
Laurent, Comte de Gouvion Saint-Cyr
Infantryman to MarshalBorn to a humble family of a tanner father and a washerwoman mother, Laurent Gouvion Saint-Cyr had no noble lineage. Despite training as an artist at the Roman Academy of Fine Arts, he abandoned his artistic aspirations.
Revolutionary Hero
With the outbreak of the French Revolution, Gouvion Saint-Cyr joined the military. His popularity with the troops led him to elective officer positions in volunteer revolutionary battalions. By 1794, he attained the rank of divisional general and distinguished himself in the Revolutionary Wars.
Napoleon's Lieutenant
In 1801, Gouvion Saint-Cyr served as commander-in-chief of French forces in Spain during the Orange War. He later held the position of ambassador in Madrid. Subsequently, he fought under Murat in the Kingdom of Naples. However, his refusal to follow Berthier's order to simultaneously besiege Girona, Tarragona, and Tortosa led to his replacement and house arrest.
Russian Campaign
In the 1812 Russian campaign, Gouvion Saint-Cyr commanded the VI Corps (Bavarian troops). Despite losing the Second Battle of Polotsk, he displayed remarkable talent in his maneuvers against Wittgenstein. He was elevated to the rank of Marshal on August 27, 1812.
Dresden and After
In 1813, Gouvion Saint-Cyr formed the 14th Corps, which he led at the Battle of Dresden. After the defeat at Leipzig, he attempted to join Davout's forces in Hamburg but failed. He surrendered to General Bulatov on November 11, 1813.
Minister of War
Under the restored Bourbon monarchy, Gouvion Saint-Cyr served twice as Minister of War in 1815 and 1817-1819. He devoted himself to modernizing the French army.
Legacy
Throughout his military career, Gouvion Saint-Cyr made sketches of camp scenes and even caricatured enemy generals. He drew several caricatures of Generalissimo Suvorov, whose military genius he witnessed firsthand during the Battle of Novi. Gouvion Saint-Cyr was interred in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.
