- Édouard Jean Baptiste Milhaud
Édouard Jean-Baptiste Milhaud (
10 July 1766 -8 January 1833 ) was a French politician, "général d’Empire", and "comte d'Empire".French Revolutionary wars
Born in
Arpajon (Cantal) as the son of Louis Amilhaud and Marguerite Daudé, Milhaud was commissioned as an officer in 1789. Milhaud was elected to the National Convention and in the _fr. "proces" of Louis XVI he voted for the death of the king. He defendedJean-Paul Marat against the attacks of theGirondins . In 1793 he was send as a commissary to the armies of the Rhine and the Ardennes where he distinguished himself in his severity. Sent to thearmy of the Pyrenees , he was successful in aiding Dugommier in restoring order. He was recalled the next year and made a member of the military committee.After the fall of Robespierre, Milhaud was threatened with arrest but saved from this fate by his colleagues on the military committee. His political role effectively over, he was recalled to the army and he became commandant of the 5th dragoons and was sent to the Army of Italy. Milhaud distinguished himself at Brenta and in the
battle of Bassano . The following year he was again accused because of his role during the Terror but the Council of Elders decided not to act on the accusation. Milhaud took an active part in the conspiracy leading up to18 brumaire . Promoted to general de brigade in January 1800 he was employed in the army of England and was made commander of the 8th military division in theVaucluse .Napoleonic Wars
During the
War of the Third Coalition he served underJoachim Murat in the campaign leading up to the great battle of Austerlitz in which he took part. The next year on the outbreak of theWar of the Fourth Coalition , Milhaud distinguished himself at Jena. At the end of 1806 he was promoted to general de division and in 1807 he distinguished himself at Eylau.His performance brought him to the attention of
Napoleon Bonaparte , and having already been awarded theLégion d'honneur , on10 March he was made as a count. From 1808 until 1811 he fought in thePeninsular War . In November 1811 he was put on disponsability but in June 1812 he was recalled to active service and made commandant of the 25th military division.In 1813 he commanded a cavalry corps at the
Battle of Leipzig . Based on his experience with these commands in 1814 Milhaud became Inspector General of the cavalry. During the first Restoration he was given command of the 15th military division by Louis XVIII.During Napoleon's
Hundred Days , he supported Napoleon, and in the Waterloo campaign he commanded the IV Cavalry Corps. At theBattle of Ligny on16 June 1815 with his curassier-divisions he broke the centre of the Prussian army and helped to create Napoleon's last victory. Two days later at theBattle of Waterloo 18 June his divisions took part in the general cavalry attacks on the allied centre which ultimately proved a failure.After the second restoration Milhaud was banished by King
Louis XVIII as a regicide. After the July Revolution in 1830, he was called back to France, but died on8 January 1833 inAurillac .References
* August Niemann (Hrsg.): "Militär-Handlexikon". Adolf Bonz & Comp., Stuttgart 1881.
Further reading
*Senior Terry J. , [http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/commanders/c_milhaud.html The Top Twenty French Cavalry Commanders: #20 General Edouard-Jean-Baptiste Milhaud] , [http://www.napoleon-series.org Napoleon Series] , August 2002
* David, Jacques Louis. [http://www.myartprints.co.uk/a/david-jacques-louis/portrait-of-jean-baptiste-4.html Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Milhaud (1766-1833), Deputy of the Convention] , [http://www.myartprints.co.uk/ My Art Prints]
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