Marie-Victor-Nicolas de Fay La Tour-Maubourg

Born at La Motte-de-Galaure (Dauphiné), La Tour-Maubourg entered cavalry service under the Ancien Régime and was already a field-grade officer on the eve of the Revolutionary Wars. In February 1792 he became colonel of the 3rd chasseurs à cheval. During the political crisis of August 1792, he was associated with the circle of Lafayette; in the course of the general’s attempted flight he was taken prisoner with him and remained in captivity for a time.

He returned to French service under the Consulate and was sent to Egypt late in 1799. There he served as aide-de-camp to General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, and subsequently continued on the Egyptian staff after Kléber’s death. By the opening of the Imperial wars he had resumed line cavalry command.

In the 1805 campaign he served with the mounted arm and was present at Austerlitz; on 24 December 1805 he was promoted général de brigade. In the 1806–1807 operations against Prussia and Russia he fought at Jena, then in East Prussia and Poland, including Heilsberg and Friedland; his advancement to général de division followed in 1807.

Created baron de l’Empire in 1808, he was then employed in the Peninsular War, where he held Major cavalry commands under successive army and corps commanders. His service in Spain and Portugal included participation in operations around Madrid (1808), the actions of Uclés, Medellín, Talavera, and Ocaña, and later campaigning on the Portuguese frontier (including La Gévora and Albuera), with additional duties in Andalousie.

In 1812 Napoleon appointed him to command the IV Cavalry Corps for the invasion of Russia. He served through the main actions of the advance and retreat, including Borodino, and survived the withdrawal to return to Germany. In 1813 he again held corps-level cavalry responsibilities in the Saxon campaign; he was severely wounded at Leipzig and lost a leg, an injury that ended his field employment.

During the 1814 crisis he adhered to the Bourbon restoration and was made a Pair de France. After 1815 his public career continued under the Restoration; he later served as Minister of War (1819–1821) and as governor of Les Invalides (from late 1821). His name is among those inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe (appearing as “L.Tr Maubourg”).

Sources

• Wikipedia: “Victor de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg”
• Napoleon Series: “General Marie-Victor-Nicolas de Faÿ de La Tour-Maubourg”
• FrenchEmpire.net: “General Marie-Victor-Nicolas de Fay Latour-Maubourg”
• British Museum: “Marie Victor Nicolas de Fay de La Tour-Maubourg”
• Wikipedia: “Names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe”
• Napoléon & Empire: “Marie-Victor-Nicolas de Faÿ de Latour-Maubourg”