General Jean-Louis-Brigitte Espagne

A distinguished cavalry officer, Espagne's start in the military began in 1787 when he enlisted in the regiment of the Queen's Dragoons. With the Revolution heating up in 1792, he served in the Army of the North and by the end of the year had risen to become a lieutenant-colonel. The next year he received a promotion to chef de brigade and served in the Army of the Western Pyrenees. In May of 1794 he joined the Army of the Alps as an aide-de-camp to General Alexandre Dumas, and distinguished himself in the fighting at Mont Cenis. After assisting different armies for the rest of the year, he joined Jourdan's staff in the Army of the Sambre and Meuse.

In December of 1796, Espagne took a command with the 8th Cuirassiers, and distinguished himself at the passage of the Rhine at Neuwied in April of 1797. Serving a short stint in the Army of Germany, he then joined the Army of Mayence and served under Hatry. A promotion to general de brigade finally came for Espagne in July of 1799, and later that year he was serving in the Army of the Rhine under Moreau. Taking command of a brigade of carabiniers in Hautpoul's division, he fought at Moesskirch and Hochstaedt before being wounded in the arm at Neubourg in June of 1800. That December, at Hohenlinden he commanded a brigade of the cavalry reserve and contributed to the victory, then followed it up with more fighting at Erding.

The next year, with peace finally achieved, General Espagne was temporarily put on non-activity before being employed in the 21st Military Division. In 1805 he received a promotion to general de division and took command of a cavalry division of the Army of Italy. Leading his chasseurs à cheval into action, he fought at San-Michele and Caldiero and then seized Gradisca. In 1806 he commanded the province of Labour, and his men defeated and captured the bandit Fra Diavolo.

Returning to the main force of La Grande Armée in November, Espagne took command of the 3rd Division of Cuirassiers and took part in the siege of Danzig the following March. Joining Murat's cavalry reserve, he led the division into battle at Heilsberg where he was wounded. In recognition of his service, he was named a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor the next month. Another reward came in 1808, when he was made a Count of the Empire.

In October of 1808, his division of cuirassiers was serving in the Army of the Rhine under Marshal Davout. With the Austrians resuming hostilities in the spring of 1809, his division became part of Lannes' II Corps and took part in the Danube campaign. During the first day of the Battle of Aspern-Essling, Espagne's cocked hat was shot and damaged, and in response he simply turned his hat so the undamaged side faced the front. Unfortunately, later in the day he was directly hit, and bleeding profusely, was transported to the isle of Lobau by his men. He died within a matter of minutes.

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.

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