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Louis Charles Antoine DesaixFrench General
Date of Birth: 17.08.1768
Country:  France |
Content:
- Louis Charles Antoine Desaix: A Life of Valor and Dissent
- Involvement in the French Revolution
- Suspicions and Controversy
- Campaigns with Bonaparte
- Egyptian Campaign
- Return to France and Imprisonment
- Legacy
Louis Charles Antoine Desaix: A Life of Valor and Dissent
Early Life and Military CareerLouis Charles Antoine Desaix was born on August 17, 1768, in Ayat-sur-Sioule, France. At the age of 15, he enrolled in the Royal Military School in Paris. In 1783, he graduated and joined the Brittany Infantry Regiment as a second lieutenant.
Disillusioned with the corruption within the royal army, Desaix resigned in 1791. He briefly served as a military commissioner in Clermont-Ferrand before becoming an aide-de-camp to General de Broglie in the Army of the Rhine.
Involvement in the French Revolution
Desaix supported the principles of the French Revolution but opposed its extremism. When the decision was made to remove Louis XVI from the throne, he and Broglie spoke out against such a measure. Their protest angered the government, and both men were dismissed from their posts. Desaix was even arrested and imprisoned for two months.
Released through the intervention of General de Custine, Desaix returned to the Army of the Rhine. After a series of military distinctions, he was promoted to division general at the age of 26, becoming the youngest general in the French army.
Suspicions and Controversy
Despite his military prowess, Desaix was perceived as a royalist and feared by the government. He openly denounced the execution of Custine and the abuses inflicted on his mother and sister, who were imprisoned by the Jacobins. Despite positive reports from generals Pichegru and Saint-Just, the National Convention again ordered his arrest. However, when the arresting officers arrived at his camp, his soldiers, who adored their commander, drove them away. The Convention, apprehensive of the army, left Desaix alone.
Campaigns with Bonaparte
In 1796, while serving under Moreau's army, Desaix played a crucial role in the famous retreat from Bavaria. He fortified himself in Kehl, stalling the advance of Archduke Charles and delaying the Austrians until all threat to Moreau had passed.
Inspired by Bonaparte's exploits, Desaix arranged for a posting to the Army of Italy. He so impressed Napoleon that he invited Desaix to join him on the Egyptian Expedition.
Egyptian Campaign
During the Egyptian campaign, Desaix participated in the capture of Malta, Alexandria, and the Battle of the Pyramids. Commanding the vanguard, he defeated the Arabs at Samhout and conquered much of Upper Egypt.
In the Egyptian army, Desaix enjoyed the same charisma as he had in the Army of the Rhine. Like the legendary knight Bayard, he was known as the "knight without fear and without reproach." Napoleon highly valued Desaix's contributions, sending him a saber with a flattering letter for his exploits in Egypt.
Return to France and Imprisonment
When Napoleon left for France, he intended to bring Desaix with him. However, Desaix missed the rendezvous and remained in Egypt. After concluding the El-Arish Convention with the British and Turks, Desaix set sail for France.
Stopping in Livorno, he was intercepted by the British. Despite the convention allowing his passage to France, he was declared a prisoner of war. Admiral Keith rationed his provisions to one franc per day, mocking Desaix's republican ideals. Desaix responded, "I am content, Admiral, but I have dealt with Turks, Mamelukes, Arabs, and Negroes in Egypt, and they all kept their word, which you have not. All I ask is that you rid me of your presence."
Legacy
Louis Charles Antoine Desaix was a brilliant military commander and a man of principle. His courage, loyalty, and strategic brilliance earned him respect from both friends and enemies. Despite his tragic death at the Battle of Marengo in 1800, his legacy as a true French hero lives on.
