Jean-Joseph Ange d'Hautpoul

Jean-Joseph Ange d'Hautpoul (May 13, 1754- February 14, 1807) was a French cavalry general of the Napoleonic wars.

Early life

Born in an ancient noble family from the Languedoc he entered the French royal army as a volunteer in 1769. After having served in the Corsican legion, he transferred in 1771 to a Dragoon regiment. From 1777 on he served as an officer in the Regiment of the Languedoc and by 1792 he had become its colonel.

Revolutionary Wars

Despite his noble birth, at the exortions of his soldiers he was allowed to remain in the French revolutionary army and he served in the 1794-1795 campaigns. d'Hautpoul was promoted to general de brigade in April 1794 and he commanded the under Desjardin and Marceau. After having served at Fleurus, his unit was transferred to the division of Lefebvre. In June 1795 his provisional rank of general de brigade was made permanent by the comité de Salut Public. He distinguished himself in a fight at Blankenberge on September 13, 1795. In June 1796 d'Hautpoul was promoted to general de division and inspector of the cavalry. At Altenkirchen he was wounded in the shoulder by a musket ball.

After his recovery he was given command of the heavy cavalry of the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse under Grenier. After having distinguished himself at Neuwied, he was transferred to the Army of England under Lazare Hoche. When the invasion of England came to nought he again was employed on the German front where he distinguished himself at Ostrach and Stockach. After failing to lead a charge in April 1799, he was suspended on orders of Jourdan. Acquitted by a court-martial in Strasbourg, he resumed his duties at the end of July 1799.

Until 1800 d'Hautpoul went on to command cavalry under Ney, Lecourbe and Baraguey d'Hilliers. In the German campaign of 1800 he served under Moreau and distinguished himself at Biberach and Hohenlinden.

Napoleonic wars

In July 1801 he was made inspector-general of the cavalry by the First Consul Bonaparte and then commanded the cavalry in the camps of Compiègne and Saint-Omer. In August 1805 d'Hautpoul was given command of the 2nd division of cuirassiers under Joachim Murat. At Austerlitz d'Hautpoul distinguished himself by breaking the Russian center at the Pratzen heights.

Napoleon made him a grandcordon of the Légion d'honneur and a senator with a yearly income of 20 000 francs. In the War of the Fourth Coalition, d'Hautpoul served at Jena and in the capture of Lübeck. Transferred to the Corps of Marshal Bessières in December 1806, he again served under Murat at Eylau. Called upon to charge the Russian center after the defeat of the Corps of Marshal Augereau, he was heavily wounded during his third charge. Against the advise of Larrey, he refused to have his leg amputated and he died five days after the battle.

Having been buried at Vornen, his son brought home his remains in 1840 to be buried in the family crypt. His heart is buried in Les Invalides and his name is incribed on the Arc de triomphe.