Onore Relie Count, division general Date of Birth: 01.09.1775 Country: France

Biography of Honoré Régnier

Honoré Régnier, a French general and count, was born on June 29, 1808. He achieved the rank of divisional general on December 30, 1806. Régnier began his military career as a grenadier in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Var department on September 16, 1791. He fought in the Netherlands from 1792 to 1793 and was promoted to sub-lieutenant on September 15, 1792. He distinguished himself during the Siege of Toulon in 1793. From 1793 to 1798, Régnier served in Italy. He became an aide-de-camp to General André Masséna, whom he later married his daughter. On January 7, 1797, Napoléon Bonaparte appointed him as the commander of the 15th Dragoon Regiment squadron. From January 26, 1799, Régnier served as an aide-de-camp to the brigade staff and accompanied Masséna to Helvetia. He participated in the capture of Zurich on September 25-26, 1799. During the Battle of Monte-Faccio, he commanded the central column under General Miolis. On May 13, during the Battle of Monte-Cretto, Régnier replaced the wounded General Spital. He returned to France in August 1800. From 1800 to 1801, he served in the Observation Corps, and in 1802, he was transferred to Naples under General Louis Saint-Cyr. He was promoted to brigade general on August 29, 1803. Régnier participated in the expedition to San Domingo and held the position of the second commander (after General L'Ouverture) of the expeditionary forces under Admiral Villeneuve. In September 1805, he joined the Grand Army. On December 14, 1805, he became the commander of the 2nd brigade of General Suchet's division and took part in battles at Saalfeld and Jena. In November 1806, he replaced General Savary as the commander of the light cavalry brigade. He participated in the Battle of Pultusk. On January 7, 1807, he was appointed as the chief of staff of Marshal Masséna's 5th corps. On May 13, he was transferred to serve as a member of Napoleon's retinue for a short time. He took part in the Battle of Friedland and was then sent to Stralsund. In August 1807, he was appointed as an extraordinary commissioner in Tuscany. In April 1808, he was assigned to command in Madrid. On June 29, 1808, Régnier was appointed as the commander of the corps in Roussillon and led the invasion of Spain. He successfully operated in the Siege of Girona from June 24 to August 16, 1808. On September 7, he was transferred to the General Staff. On November 6, he besieged Roses and directed its siege until December 5, when he was appointed as the commander of the 1st division of General Saint-Cyr's 7th corps. On March 28, 1809, he was again transferred to serve in the emperor's retinue. During the Battle of Wagram on July 6, 1809, he personally led the attack of the Young Guard riflemen. On May 29, 1810, he was appointed as the governor of Navarre. From June 8, 1811, he served as the commander of the 1st division of the reserve Observation Corps in Spain. On June 14, 1811, he defeated General Mina at Sangüesa. From November 1811 to January 1812, he served under Marshal Suchet in Aragon. On January 25, 1812, he was appointed as the commander of the corps in Aragon and became the governor of Aragon from April 3. On October 16, 1812, he was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Portuguese Army but was replaced by General Souham on November 29. On June 21, 1813, during the Battle of Vitoria, he commanded the right wing of the French army. From July 6, he served as the commander of the right wing of Marshal Soult's forces. He participated in military actions at Cubières, Irun, Bayonne, and Nive. In March 1814, he retreated to Tarbes and took part in the Battle of Tolosa on April 10, 1814. After the restoration of the Bourbons on June 27, 1815, Régnier was appointed as the inspector general of infantry for the 14th and 15th military districts. During the "Hundred Days" period, he was appointed as the commander of the 2nd observation corps at Lille and Valenciennes on March 26, 1815. On June 2, 1815, he received the title of peer of France. His corps, which was part of the left wing (under the command of Marshal Ney) of the Army of Belgium, relocated to Sambre-et-Meuse by June 15. On June 15, he pushed back the Prussian forces from Marchienne to Pont-à-Celles. The next day, his corps became the main striking force in Ney's army during the unsuccessful Battle of Quatre Bras. After the defeat at Waterloo, he led his corps to the Loire. During the Second Restoration, he did not receive any immediate appointments but also avoided any accusations. On March 5, 1819, he became a peer of France again. From 1820, he held high positions at the royal court. On July 30, 1823, he became a member of the Defense Committee, and on February 17, 1828, he joined the Supreme Military Council. From February 1830, he served as the president of the Infantry Advisory Committee. After the July Revolution of 1830, Régnier, like other generals who served the Bourbons, was discharged. From November 15, 1836, he served as the president of the Committee for Infantry and Cavalry Affairs. Later, Régnier remained out of active service but continued to hold significant influence in military circles. On September 17, 1847, he was promoted to Marshal of France. From January 26, 1852, he became a senator. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving general of the empire.