General of 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 ...
Baron Pierre Decouz (18 July 1775 – 18 February 1814) became a French division commander during the later
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 ...
. He was born in the
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia, also referred to as the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica among other names, was a State (polity), country in Southern Europe from the late 13th until the mid-19th century, and from 1297 to 1768 for the Corsican part of ...
but after the region was annexed to France, he joined a volunteer battalion in 1793. He fought in Italy during the
War of the First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition () was a set of wars that several European powers fought between 1792 and 1797, initially against the Constitutional Cabinet of Louis XVI, constitutional Kingdom of France and then the French First Republic, Frenc ...
. He participated in the
French campaign in Egypt and Syria
The French invasion of Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was a military expedition led by Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolutionary Wars. The campaign aimed to undermine British trade routes, expand French influence, and establish a ...
, fighting at
the Pyramids,
Acre
The acre ( ) is a Unit of measurement, unit of land area used in the Imperial units, British imperial and the United States customary units#Area, United States customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one Chain (unit), ch ...
and
Abukir. After distinguishing himself at
Austerlitz in 1805, he was promoted to command an infantry regiment. In 1806–1807 he led his regiment at
Auerstädt,
Pultusk and
Eylau. In 1809 he fought at
Eckmühl,
Ratisbon and
Wagram, winning promotion to
general of brigade. After leading an
Imperial Guard brigade at
Lützen and
Bautzen
Bautzen () or Budyšin (), until 1868 ''Budissin'' in German, is a town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and the administrative centre of the Bautzen (district), district of Bautzen. It is located on the Spree (river), Spree river, is the eighth most ...
in 1813, he was promoted
general of 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 ...
. He commanded a Young Guard division at
Dresden
Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...
and
Leipzig
Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
. Still leading a Young Guard division, he was fatally wounded at the
Battle of Brienne and died three weeks later. His surname is one of the
names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 17.
Early career
Decouz was born on 18 July 1775 in
Annecy
Annecy ( , ; , also ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Haute-Savoie Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, regi ...
in the
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia, also referred to as the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica among other names, was a State (polity), country in Southern Europe from the late 13th until the mid-19th century, and from 1297 to 1768 for the Corsican part of ...
but after the
Duchy of Savoy
The Duchy of Savoy (; ) was a territorial entity of the Savoyard state that existed from 1416 until 1847 and was a possession of the House of Savoy.
It was created when Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, raised the County of Savoy into a duchy f ...
was annexed to France, he joined the
Republican French army as a volunteer. In March 1793 he enrolled in the 2nd Battalion of the Volunteers of
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc (, ) is a mountain in the Alps, rising above sea level, located right at the Franco-Italian border. It is the highest mountain in Europe outside the Caucasus Mountains, the second-most prominent mountain in Europe (after Mount E ...
and became a
sous-lieutenant two months later. He fought at the
Siege of Toulon
The siege of Toulon (29 August – 19 December 1793) was a military engagement that took place during the Federalist revolts and the War of the First Coalition, part of the French Revolutionary Wars. It was undertaken by forces of the French Re ...
later in the year. After its conclusion, he was posted to the 19th Infantry
Demi-brigade
A ''demi-brigade'' () is a military formation used by the French Army since the French Revolutionary Wars. The ''demi-brigade'' amalgamated the various infantry organizations of the French Revolutionary infantry into a single unit. Each one wa ...
of the
Army of Italy. In 1795 the 19th fought at the
Battle of Loano. In 1796, the 19th became the 69th Line Infantry Demi-brigade and the unit fought at the
Battle of Mondovì
The Battle of Mondovì was fought on 21 April 1796 between the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte and the army of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont led by Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi. The French victory meant that they had put the Li ...
,
Battle of Castiglione
The Battle of Castiglione saw the French Army of Italy under General Napoleon Bonaparte attack an army of the Habsburg monarchy led by '' Feldmarschall'' Dagobert Sigmund von Wurmser on 5 August 1796. The outnumbered Austrians were defeated ...
and the
Siege of Mantua.
Having been promoted to
first lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...
Decouz joined the staff of François Rambeaud in 1797. He participated in the
French campaign in Egypt and Syria
The French invasion of Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was a military expedition led by Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Revolutionary Wars. The campaign aimed to undermine British trade routes, expand French influence, and establish a ...
where he fought at the
Battle of the Pyramids in 1798 and was promoted
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 ...
on the battlefield. He was promoted again to ''
chef de bataillon'' during the
Siege of Acre in 1799. He became
aide-de-camp to
Jean Lannes and distinguished himself at the
Battle of Abukir. Lannes sent him on an important mission to the Pasha of Syria after which Decouz became an
adjutant
Adjutant is a military appointment given to an Officer (armed forces), officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of “human resources” in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed ...
lieutenant colonel. He then transferred to
Louis Friant's staff as aide-de-camp.
After his repatriation from Egypt, Decouz was appointed
chief of staff
The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supportin ...
of the 7th Military Division. At
Grenoble
Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...
he married a daughter of a former Paris
justice of the peace.
Empire
Regimental commander
In 1805 Decouz went to war as deputy chief of staff to
Marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...
Lannes. At 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 ...
he had two horses killed under him and showed such valor that Emperor
Napoleon
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 ...
appointed him
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
of the 21st Line Infantry Regiment. He assumed his new rank on 27 December 1805. His regiment was assigned to
Charles-Étienne Gudin de La Sablonnière's division. The 21st Line fought at the
Battle of Auerstädt on 14 October 1806. In this action, Marshal
Louis Nicolas Davout's
III Corps defeated the main Prussian army, inflicting 10,000 casualties and capturing at least 57 cannons. French losses were also severe: 7,000 men. Gudin's division was the first French division on the field at 7:00 am and fought alone until the second division arrived at 9:30 am.
Decouz led his regiment at the
Battle of Pułtusk on 26 December 1806. The 21st Line also fought at the
Battle of Eylau
The Battle of Eylau (also known as the Battle of Preussisch-Eylau) was a bloody and strategically inconclusive battle on 7 and 8 February 1807 between Napoleon's and the Imperial Russian Army under the command of General Levin August von Be ...
on 8 February 1807. He became a
Baron of the Empire on 27 November 1807. In 1809, his regiment fought at the battles of
Eckmühl,
Ratisbon and
Aspern-Essling. During the operations leading up to the
Battle of Wagram
The Battle of Wagram (; 5–6 July 1809) was a military engagement of the Napoleonic Wars that ended in a costly but decisive victory for Emperor of the French, Emperor Napoleon's French and allied army against the Austrian Empire, Austrian arm ...
, Decouz led the seizure of an island in the
Danube
The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
River in which his men captured 600 Austrians, Colonel Saint-Julien and many artillery pieces. This feat earned him promotion to
general of brigade on 12 July 1809 and the commander's cross 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 21 September 1809.
General officer
Decouz was transferred to Italy and entrusted by Marshal
Joachim Murat
Joachim Murat ( , also ; ; ; 25 March 1767 – 13 October 1815) was a French Army officer and statesman who served during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Under the French Empire he received the military titles of Marshal of the ...
with command of the port of
Otranto
Otranto (, , ; ; ; ; ) is a coastal town, port and ''comune'' in the province of Lecce (Apulia, Italy), in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").
...
. Later, Napoleon assigned him to watch over all ports of the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
. He was given command of the 3rd Brigade of the Army of Observation of Italy in 1811. About this time he was awarded the
Order of the Iron Crown. Murat, the
King of Naples
The following is a list of rulers of the Kingdom of Naples, from its first Sicilian Vespers, separation from the Kingdom of Sicily to its merger with the same into the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Kingdom of Naples (1282–1501)
House of Anjou
...
wanted to be the godfather of Decouz's son but the general was recalled to France in October 1812. Napoleon appointed Decouz commander of the 1st Foot Chasseur Regiment of the Old Guard.
Decouz fought at the
Battle of Lützen. In the
Battle of Bautzen on 20–21 May 1813, Decouz was the only brigade commander in the 1st Old Guard Division, commanded by
François Roguet. The division was made up of the 1st and 2nd Guard Foot Grenadier Regiments and the 1st and 2nd Guard Foot Chasseur Regiments, each including the 1st and 2nd Battalions, plus the Vélites of Turin and Florence. Late in the afternoon of 21 May, the divisions of the Imperial Guard launched an assault against the Allies' position.
On 4 August 1813 Decouz received promotion to
general of 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 ...
. In the
Battle of Dresden on 26–27 August, Decouz led the 3rd Division of the Young Guard.
Joseph Boyer de Rébeval's 1st Brigade included the 4th, 5th and 8th Voltigeur Regiments and
Jean-Jacques Germain Pelet-Clozeau's 2nd Brigade was made up of the 9th and 10th Voltigeur Regiments. Each regiment consisted of two battalions. At 5:30 pm on the first day, Napoleon sent in the Young Guard divisions and they retook all the ground captured by the Allied attacks. During the night, Napoleon shifted the Young Guard from the center to the left flank where they pushed back the Allied right wing on the second day.

At 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 ...
on 16–19 October 1813, Decouz led the 3rd Division in the I Young Guard Corps under Marshal
Nicolas Oudinot. The 4,731-man division consisted of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Voltigeur Regiments and the 1st Battalion of the 12th Voltigeurs. Boyer de Rébeval's 1st Brigade included the 5th, 6th and 7th Regiments while Pelet's 2nd Brigade was made up of the remaining infantry units. The 9th, 11th and 13th Young Guard Foot Artillery Companies and the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Guard Train Regiment were attached to the division. Each of the three artillery batteries had six
6-pounder System Year XI cannons and two 5 ½-inch howitzers. At 2:00 pm on 16 October, Napoleon ordered a general attack and Oudinot's corps rolled south from Wachau toward Anenhayn. Though the Allies were pressed back, the hoped-for decisive victory eluded Napoleon. Under the direction of Oudinot he led the army's
rearguard
A rearguard or rear security is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or Withdrawal (military), withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as Line of c ...
, fighting against
Jean Baptiste Bernadotte
Charles XIV John (; 26 January 1763 – 8 March 1844) was King of Sweden and 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 became royalty in ...
's Swedes.
Decouz's 2nd Young Guard Division with a strength of 2,840 men arrived at
Nancy on 10 January 1814 and joined Marshal
Auguste de Marmont's corps at
Metz
Metz ( , , , then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle (river), Moselle and the Seille (Moselle), Seille rivers. Metz is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments ...
a few days later. By 18 January, the division had retreated to
Verdun
Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department.
In 843, the Treaty of V ...
and on 24 January the troops were marching through
Bar-le-Duc
Bar-le-Duc (), formerly known as Bar, is a commune in the Meuse département, of which it is the capital. The department is in Grand Est in northeastern France.
The lower, more modern and busier part of the town extends along a narrow valley, ...
. On 25 January at
Châlons-sur-Marne, Decouz's division included the 1st Brigade of Pelet and the 2nd Brigade of
Auguste Julien Bigarré. Pelet's 1,313-man brigade was made up of the 5th and 6th Voltigeur Regiments while Bigarre's 1,387-man brigade consisted of the 7th and 8th Voltigeur Regiments. Each regiment had two battalions.
Napoleon struck at
Saint-Dizier, believing
Field Marshal
Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (; 21 December 1742 – 12 September 1819), ''Graf'' (count), later elevated to ''Fürst'' (prince) von Wahlstatt, was a Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (field marshal). He earned his greatest ...
's Allied army to be there. On 27 January, the French emperor found that he had missed the Prussian field marshal and directed his army southwest toward
Brienne-le-Château in three columns. The
Battle of Brienne was fought on 29 January. After some cavalry skirmishes, Napoleon ordered
Guillaume Philibert Duhesme's division to attack
Zakhar Dmitrievich Olsufiev's Russians in Brienne. Duhesme's first assault was repulsed. Napoleon ordered another attack with Decouz's division on Duhesme's right. At this point, Duhesme's division was forced back by a Russian cavalry charge and a French brigade under Louis Huguet-Chateau seized the château, nearly capturing Blücher. The Prussian field marshal ordered
Fabian Wilhelm von Osten-Sacken's Russian corps to clear the French from Brienne and Olsufiev to retake the château. In the event, Olsufiev failed but Sacken succeeded after desperate fighting. Decouz was mortally wounded and his successor Admiral
Pierre Baste was killed. Decouz was shot twice in the chest. The first wound occurred early in the battle but Decouz refused to leave the field. The second wound proved fatal. Pelet became the division's acting commander until 11 February.
Decouz died on 18 February 1814 in Paris. His name is on the east pillar of the
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, often called simply the Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Plac ...
. Decouz is buried in the 22nd division of
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 ...
in Paris.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Decouz, Pierre
1775 births
1814 deaths
French generals
French military personnel of the French Revolutionary Wars
French commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
People from Annecy
Barons of the First French Empire
Commanders of the Legion of Honour
Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery
Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe
People of the War of the First Coalition