Marshal Laurent Gouvion St. Cyr
Born: April 13, 1764
Place of Birth: Toul, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France
Legion of Honor: Grand Eagle
Died: March 17, 1830
Cause of Death: Apoplexy
Place of Death: Hyères, France
Arc de Triomphe: East
Nicknamed the Owl, Marshal Gouvion Saint-Cyr was known for his icy disposition that rarely showed emotion. Quite honest and despising looters, he had integrity but never won the affection of his soldiers due to the distant attitude he took with them. Many considered him an intellectual who fought war as if it were a chess game, showing little emotion or élan and leaving most inspiration of his soldiers to his subordinates.
Gouvion St. Cyr originally wanted to be an artist, and even tried being an actor for a short time, but with the Revolution underway he joined a battalion of volunteers in 1792. His excellent drawing skills initially helped him rise through the ranks as a staff officer.
Refusing to involve himself with politics, Gouvion St. Cyr refused to sign a proclamation praising and swearing allegiance to Napoleon. Needless to say this did not go over well and he was given minor commands until 1808.
Russia proved to be Gouvion St. Cyr's opportunity to shine. Annoyed by Marshal Oudinot's attitude at the Battle of Polotsk, Gouvion St. Cyr refused to run the battle for Oudinot. Whenever Oudinot would ask him for advice, he would reply simply, "Napoleon made you the marshal. Who am I, a mere general, to advise you?" That evening, both Oudinot and Gouvion St. Cyr were wounded, but Oudinot was wounded badly enough to have to leave the field, and turned over command to Gouvion St. Cyr. Despite his wounds and the fact that Oudinot considered the battle to be lost, Gouvion St. Cyr led the French to a brilliant victory the next day. The Emperor rewarded him with a marshal's baton for his victory at Polotsk.
During the Hundred Days, Gouvion St. Cyr did not take sides. Afterwards, the King made him Minister of War for a short time. In this position, he tried to lessen the punishments for those who had joined Napoleon, including Marshal Ney. Having a military trial for Ney was his idea, hoping that his fellow marshals would at best give Ney a slap on the wrist, or at worst have him exiled. Unfortunately, this backfired when the marshals who were to sit in judgment on Ney refused to try him. When Ney was then tried by the Chamber of Peers, Gouvion St. Cyr voted for deportation of Ney.
Gouvion St. Cyr was good friends with General Desaix.
Sources:
Chandler, David G. Napoleon's Marshals. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987.External Links:
Elting, John R. Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee. USA: Da Capo Press, 1997.
Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.
Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Generaux & Amiraux Francais de la Revolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.
