General Michel Ordener

Michel Ordener was a fighting cavalry general who received significant wounds during his service. In 1773 he enlisted in a regiment of dragoons of Condé, and twelve years later he transferred to the chasseurs of Franche-Comté. With the Revolution, Ordener became a sous-lieutenant in the 10th Chasseurs à Cheval. Throughout the years 1792 through 1795 he served in the Armies of the Rhine and the Moselle, and in this time was successively promoted up to chef d'escadrons. In 1796 he joined the Army of Italy and with them served at Lodi. That September he was promoted to chef de brigade and served in the 10th Cavalry Regiment for the next few years.

By 1799, Ordener was serving in the Army of Helvetia. In a fierce fight in August, he became legendary when he was wounded twelve times, surviving the action with eight saber wounds, three wounds from musket shots, and one wound from an artillery round. Somehow still fit for duty, the next month he was serving under Soult and took part in the crossing of the Linth. The next year Ordener fought at Landshut under Leclerc, and in July was given the honor of commanding the Grenadiers à Cheval of the Consular Guard.

A promotion to general de brigade came in 1803, and the next year General Ordener was tasked to arrest the Duke of Enghien on suspicion of royalist plots against Napoleon. Later that year he was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor and served in the camp of Boulogne.

With the Third Coalition rising against France, Ordener was given command of the cavalry of the Imperial Guard of the Grande Armée. Fighting furiously at Austerlitz, he was badly wounded, but within a few weeks had received a promotion to general de division in recognition of his services. Nevertheless, his wounds were catching up to him, and he retired from military life and became a senator. In later years he became a Count of Empire and was placed in charge of Empress Josephine's horses.

Sources:

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.