Army of the Moselle | |
---|---|
Active | 1791–1795 |
Country | First French Republic |
Branch | Army |
Type | Army |
Size | Seven divisions |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette Nicolas Luckner François Christophe Kellermann Jean Nicolas Houchard Lazare Hoche Jean-Baptiste Jourdan Jean René Moreaux Jean-Jacques Ambert |
The Army of the Moselle (Armée de la Moselle) was a French Revolutionary Army from 1791 through 1795. It was first known as the Army of the Centre and it fought at Valmy. In October 1792 it was renamed and subsequently fought at Trier, First Arlon, Biesingen, Kaiserslautern, Froeschwiller and Second Wissembourg. In the spring of 1794 the left wing was detached and fought at Second Arlon, Lambusart and Fleurus before being absorbed by the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse. In late 1794, the army captured Trier and initiated the Siege of Luxembourg. During the siege, the army was discontinued and its divisions were assigned to other armies.
Originally known as the Army of the Centre, it was renamed by decree of the National Convention on 1 October 1792 and kept under that name in the decrees of 1 March and 30 April 1793. By the decree of 29 June 1794 its left wing joined with the Army of the Ardennes and the right wing of the Army of the North to form the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse.
The right wing remained under the orders of Jean René Moreaux as the Army of the Moselle. However, this new army's right wing was joined with the left wing of the Army of the Rhine by a decree of 29 November 1794 under the name of the Armée devant Mayence (Army before Mainz), while the rest of the army was named the Army before Luxembourg under Moreaux. Finally what remained of the Army of the Moselle was merged with the Army of the Rhine by a decree of 3 March 1795 (executed on 20 April) to form the Army of the Rhine and Moselle.