Nicolas Joseph Maison, marquis de Maison (; 19 December 1771 – 13 February 1840) was a French military officer who served in the

French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars () were a series of sweeping military conflicts resulting from the French Revolution that lasted from 1792 until 1802. They pitted French First Republic, France against Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain, Habsb ...

, the

Napoleonic Wars {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Napoleonic Wars , partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars , image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg , caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...

, and as commander of the

Morea expedition The Morea expedition () is the name given to the land intervention of the French Army in the Peloponnese between 1828 and 1833, at the time of the Greek War of Independence, with the aim of expelling the Ottoman-Egyptian occupation forces from ...

during the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

. He was made a

Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...

in 1829 and served as

Minister of War A ministry of defence or defense (see American and British English spelling differences#-ce.2C -se, spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and Mi ...

from 1835 to 1836.Nicolas Joseph Maison
, in Adolphe Robert and Gaston Cougny, Dictionnaire des parlementaires français (1789–1891), Bourloton, Paris, 1889.

Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars

Nicolas-Joseph Maison was born in

Épinay-sur-Seine Épinay-sur-Seine (, literally ''Épinay on Seine'') is a commune in the Seine-Saint-Denis department, in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris. The church of Notre-Dame-des-Missions-du-cygne d'Enghien, ...

, near Paris on 19 December 1771. He enlisted in the Army in 1789 and on 1 August 1791, he was named

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in the 9th Battalion of Volunteers of Paris and served in the infantry in the early

. He served as aide-de-camp to Minister of War

Jean Bernadotte Charles XIV John (; 26 January 1763 – 8 March 1844) was King of Sweden and King of Norway, Norway from 1818 until his death in 1844 and the first monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. In Norway, he is known as Charles III John () and before he be ...

in 1799. In 1805, he joined the I Corps of the

Grande Armée The (; ) was the primary field army of the French Imperial Army (1804–1815), French Imperial Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Commanded by Napoleon, from 1804 to 1808 it won a series of military victories that allowed the First French Empi ...

assembled by Emperor

Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

and participated in the

Battle of Austerlitz The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805/11 Frimaire An XIV French Republican calendar, FRC), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important military engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle occurred near t ...

. During the campaign of 1806, he served as a General de brigade in the corps of Marshal Bernadotte and took part in the chase of the Prussian army to

Lübeck Lübeck (; or ; Latin: ), officially the Hanseatic League, Hanseatic City of Lübeck (), is a city in Northern Germany. With around 220,000 inhabitants, it is the second-largest city on the German Baltic Sea, Baltic coast and the second-larg ...

after their defeat at

Jena Jena (; ) is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in Germany and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 in ...

. In 1808 he was sent to Spain where he served under Marshal Victor and was wounded at the capture of

Madrid Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...

. In 1812 he joined Napoleon in the invasion of Russia. At some point in the invasion Marshal

Michel Ney Michel Ney, 1st Prince de la Moskowa, 1st Duke of Elchingen (; 10 January 1769 – 7 December 1815), was a French military commander and Marshal of the Empire who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. The son of ...

saved his life, a deed he would later repay by refusing to join the court-martial which in 1815 was assembled to judge Ney after the

Hundred Days The Hundred Days ( ), also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition (), marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba to Paris on20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII o ...

. At the Beresina he was promoted to

General de division Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps g ...

and made a

baron of the Empire As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles in a newly established ' (imperial nobility) to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution. Like many others, both befo ...

. After the wounding of Marshal

Oudinot Nicolas Charles Oudinot, duc de Reggio (; 25 April 1767 – 13 September 1847), was a French general of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He is known to have been wounded 34 times in battle, being hit by artillery shells, sa ...

, he took over command of the II Corps and led it during the retreat to the Weischel. He served in the campaign of 1813 and after Marshal

Jacques MacDonald Jacques or Jacq are believed to originate from the Middle Ages in the historic northwest Brittany region in France, and have since spread around the world over the centuries. To date, there are over one hundred identified noble families related t ...

's defeat at the

Battle of Katzbach The Battle of the Katzbach on 26 August 1813, was a major battle of the Napoleonic Wars between the forces of the First French Empire under Marshal MacDonald and a Russo- Prussian army of the Sixth Coalition under Prussian Marshal Graf (Coun ...

was once again tasked with leading the retreat. After the

Battle of Leipzig The Battle of Leipzig, also known as the Battle of the Nations, was fought from 16 to 19 October 1813 at Leipzig, Saxony. The Coalition armies of Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia, led by Tsar Alexander I, Karl von Schwarzenberg, and G ...

, where he was wounded, he was given the Grand Cross of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

and was made a

count of the empire As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles in a newly established ' (imperial nobility) to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution. Like many others, both befo ...

. . In 1814, he was tasked with defending what is now Belgium and the port of

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

. With inadequate forces, he managed to hold his own against greatly superior Allied forces and defeated

Johann von Thielmann Johann Adolf, Freiherr von Thielmann (27 April 176510 October 1824) was a Saxon general who served with Saxony, Prussia and France during the Napoleonic Wars. Biography Thielmann was born at Dresden. Entering the Saxon cavalry in 1782, he saw se ...

's Saxons at the Battle of Courtrai.

Bourbon restoration

After the abdication of the emperor, Maison rallied to

Louis XVIII of France Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. Before his reign, he spent 23 ...

, who made him a Knight of St. Louis and appointed him Governor of Paris. During the

, Maison stayed loyal to the Bourbons and joined them when they fled to

Ghent Ghent ( ; ; historically known as ''Gaunt'' in English) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the Provinces of Belgium, province ...

. After the Second Restoration, he was made commandant of the 1st Military Division. He was put on the court martial appointed to judge Marshal

Ney The ney ( ; ) is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in traditional Persian, Turkish, Jewish, Arab, and Egyptian music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played for over 4,500 ye ...

on a charge of treason for joining Napoléon but after he and his colleagues declared themselves incompetent he was demoted to command of the 8th Military Division in

Marseille Marseille (; ; see #Name, below) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Bouches-du-Rhône and of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region. Situated in the ...

. In 1817, Maison was created a

marquis A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wido ...

and a

Peer of France The Peerage of France () was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 during the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France () was held by the greatest, highest-ranking members of the Fr ...

by Louis XVIII. In 1828, he was given command of the French expeditionary corps in

Morea Morea ( or ) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The name was used by the Principality of Achaea, the Byzantine province known as the Despotate of the Morea, by the O ...

(the

Peloponnese The Peloponnese ( ), Peloponnesus ( ; , ) or Morea (; ) is a peninsula and geographic region in Southern Greece, and the southernmost region of the Balkans. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridg ...

peninsula in Greece). This expedition consisted in a land intervention of the French Army in the Peloponnese at the time of the

, with the aim of liberating the region from the Turkish-Egyptian occupation forces commanded by Ibrahim Pasha. The military expedition was also accompanied by a scientific expedition mandated by the

French Academy French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

. After the soldiers took control of the principal strongholds held by the Turkish troops (

Navarino Navarino or Navarin may refer to: Battle * Battle of Navarino, 1827 naval battle off Navarino, Greece, now known as Pylos Geography * Navarino is the former name of Pylos, a Greek town on the Ionian Sea, where the 1827 battle took place ** Old Na ...

, Modon, Coron and

Patras Patras (; ; Katharevousa and ; ) is Greece's List of cities in Greece, third-largest city and the regional capital and largest city of Western Greece, in the northern Peloponnese, west of Athens. The city is built at the foot of Mount Panachaiko ...

), General Maison was created a

Charles X Charles X may refer to: * Charles X of France (1757–1836) * Charles X Gustav (1622–1660), King of Sweden * Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (1523–1590), recognized as Charles X of France but renounced the royal title See also * * King Charle ...

on 22 February 1829.Gaspard Roux,
Histoire médicale de l'armée française en Morée, pendant la campagne de 1828
' (Google books), Méquignon l'aîné père, Paris, 1829. Although he returned to France after 8 months, the French kept a military presence in the area until 1833. He left Greece on 22 May 1829.Nicolas-Joseph Maison (Lieutenant-general) : ''dépêches adressées au ministre de la Guerre Louis-Victor de Caux, vicomte de Blacquetot,'' October 1828, in Jacques Mangeart, Supplemental Chapter of the
Souvenirs de la Morée: recueillis pendant le séjour des Français dans le Peloponèse
', Igonette, Paris, 1830.

Later life

In 1830, Maison supported the

July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...

and served in November 1830 as Minister of Foreign Affairs for a couple of weeks, before being sent to

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

as ambassador. In 1833 he was made ambassador to Russia in St. Petersburg. Maison served as minister of war from 30 April 1835 to 19 September 1836 after which he retired from public life. Nicolas-Joseph Maison died in Paris on 13 February 1840. He is buried in the

Père Lachaise Cemetery Père Lachaise Cemetery (, , formerly , ) is the largest cemetery in Paris, France, at . With more than 3.5 million visitors annually, it is the most visited necropolis in the world. Buried at Père Lachaise are many famous figures in the ...

(division 5).

Honors, military grades and decorations

* Name engraved under the Arc de Triomphe (Eastern pillar, Column 13 and 14) * Ennoblement: **

Baron of the Empire As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles in a newly established ' (imperial nobility) to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution. Like many others, both befo ...

(2 July 1808). **

Count of the Empire As Emperor of the French, Napoleon I created titles in a newly established ' (imperial nobility) to institute a stable elite in the First French Empire, after the instability resulting from the French Revolution. Like many others, both befo ...

(14 August 1813). **

Marquess A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wid ...

(31 July 1817). * Successive military grades: ** National Guard:

Grenadier A grenadier ( , ; derived from the word ''grenade'') was historically an assault-specialist soldier who threw hand grenades in siege operation battles. The distinct combat function of the grenadier was established in the mid-17th century, when ...

, Corporal, Sergeant major, then Captain. ** Army : Captain on 1 August 1792,

Battalion commander A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several companies, each typically commanded by a major or a captain. The typical battal ...

(6 July 1796 provisionally, 16 August definitively), Adjutant general brigade chief on 3 July 1799, General of brigade on 10 February 1806, then

Divisional general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

on 21 August 1812. * Dignities: **

on 4 June 1817. **

on 22 February 1829. * French decorations: ** Legion_Honneur_Commandeur_ribbon

''Commander'' of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

on 22 November 1808. ** Legion_Honneur_GO_ribbon

''Grand Officer'' of the

on 28 September 1813. ** Legion_Honneur_GC_ribbon

''Grand Cross'' of the

on 22 July 1814. ** Ordre_Imperial_de_la_Reunion_Chevalier_ribbon

''Grand Cross'' of the

Order of the Reunion The Order of the Reunion () was an order of merit of the First French Empire, set up to be awarded to Frenchmen and foreigners to reward services in the civil service, magistracy and army, particularly those from areas newly annexed to France, such ...

on 19 November 1813. ** Ordre_Royal_et_Militaire_de_Saint-Louis_Chevalier_ribbon

Grand Cross of the

Order of Saint Louis The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis () is a dynastic order of chivalry founded 5 April 1693 by King Louis XIV, named after Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France). It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, notable as the fi ...

on 30 September 1818. * Foreign decorations: ** Military_Order_of_Max_Joseph_ribbon

Bavaria: ''Knight'' of the Military Order of Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria (1806). ** GRE_Order_Redeemer_1Class

Greece: ''Grand Cross'' of the Royal Order of the Redeemer (1834). ** ESP_Charles_III_Order_GC

Spain: ''Knight'' Grand Cross of the

Order of Charles III The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, originally Royal and Much Distinguished Order of Charles III (, originally ; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OC3) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bes ...

(1835). ** Grand_Crest_Ordre_de_Leopold

Belgium: ''Grand Cordon'' of the

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

(1836).

Political offices

References

Bibliography

* *
Nicolas Joseph Maison
, in Adolphe Robert and Gaston Cougny, ''Dictionnaire des parlementaires français (1789–1891)'', Bourloton, Paris, 1889.

External links

* Resources related to his public life: Base Léonore ; Base Sycomore : ** (National Order of the Legion of Honour) *

(French Senate) *

Defence Historical Service In France, the Defence Historical Service (''Service historique de la défense''; SHD) is the archives centre of Ministry of Defence and its armed forces. It was set up by decree in 2005. The SHD consists of the "Centre historique des archive ...

– Fort de Vincennes : ** File S.H.A.T. Reference : 6 Yd 34.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maison, Nicolas Joseph 1771 births 1840 deaths People from Épinay-sur-Seine Politicians from Île-de-France French marquesses Counts of the First French Empire Foreign ministers of France Ministers of war of France Military governors of Paris Members of the Chamber of Peers of the Bourbon Restoration Members of the Chamber of Peers of the July Monarchy Ambassadors of France to the Russian Empire 19th-century French diplomats Marshals of France French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars French commanders of the Napoleonic Wars French people of the Greek War of Independence Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe