Marie Francois Auguste de Caffarelli du Falga French military leader, divisional general Date of Birth: 07.10.1766 Country: France

1. Early Life and Military Career
2. Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
3. Diplomatic and Ministerial Roles
4. Peninsular War and Later Years

Early Life and Military Career

Luigi Francesco Napoleone Caffarelli du Falga was born on October 7, 1766, in Haute-Garonne, France, to Franco-Italian nobility. He began his military service in the Sardinian army in 1783 and was commissioned as a junior lieutenant in 1785. In 1791, he joined the French service as a private in the 15th Dragoon Regiment.

Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars

Caffarelli fought with distinction in the revolutionary campaigns and the Wars of the First Coalition. He was wounded at Trullières and promoted to captain for his bravery. In 1795, he commanded a light infantry demi-brigade and participated in Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign. In 1800, Napoleon appointed Caffarelli as his aide-de-camp, and he was later awarded the Legion of Honour after distinguishing himself at the Battle of Marengo.

Diplomatic and Ministerial Roles

In 1804, Caffarelli was sent on a diplomatic mission to Rome to persuade Pope Pius VII to attend Napoleon's coronation in France. In 1805, he was promoted to divisional general and received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour for his actions at the Battle of Austerlitz. From 1806 to 1811, he served as Minister of War and Navy of the Kingdom of Italy and was given the title of count in 1807.

Peninsular War and Later Years

In 1811, Caffarelli was appointed to Spain, where he fought against guerrilla forces until 1813. He prevented a British landing at Laredo and captured Bilbao. In 1813, Napoleon placed him in command of the troops remaining in Paris and entrusted him with the protection of the empress. After Napoleon's fall, Caffarelli was appointed commander of the 13th Division. During the Hundred Days, he rejoined Napoleon and commanded the 1st Division in Paris.

After Napoleon's final defeat, Caffarelli was not brought to trial and was retired on pension. He became a peer of France in 1831 and, in 1840, was instrumental in the transfer of Napoleon's remains from St. Helena to France. He resigned from active service shortly after. Caffarelli died on January 24, 1849, in the department of Ain. His name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. His brother, Louis Marie Maximilien, was also a general in Napoleon's army and died during the Siege of Acre in Egypt.