Christophe Antoine Merlin

Christophe Antoine Merlin
General of Division Christophe Antoine Merlin
Born	27 May 1771 (1771-05-27) Thionville, France
Died	9 March 1839 (1839-03-10) (aged 67) Paris, France
Allegiance	France
Service/branch	Cavalry
Years of service	1791–1825, 1830–1836
Rank	General of Division
Battles/wars	War of the First Coalition War of the Pyrenees Rhine Campaign of 1795 Rhine Campaign of 1796 Battle of Neuwied (1797) War of the Second Coalition Battle of Ostrach (1799) Second Battle of Zurich (1799) Battle of Hohenlinden (1800) War of the Fourth Coalition Invasion of Naples (1806) Peninsular War Battle of Talavera (1809) Battle of Almonacid (1809) Battle of Ocaña (1809) War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Vauchamps (1814) Battle of Gué-à-Tresmes (1814) Battle of Laon (1814) Battle of Reims (1814) Battle of Fère-Champenoise (1814) Battle of Paris (1814)
Awards	Légion d'Honneur, GC 1834 Order of Saint Louis, 1814

Christophe Antoine Merlin (27 May 1771 – 9 March 1839) became a French division commander during the Napoleonic Wars. He joined a volunteer regiment in 1791 and fought against the Kingdom of Spain in the War of the Pyrenees. After becoming an officer in the 4th Hussar Regiment, he participated in the Rhine and Italian campaigns. In 1805 he was promoted general of brigade and fought in Italy and in the 1806 Invasion of Naples. Later he became an equerry to Joseph Bonaparte when that individual headed the Kingdom of Naples.

When Joseph accepted the crown of Spain in 1808, Merlin went with him and was assigned to Joseph's Spanish army as a general of division. He fought at Talavera, Almonacid and Ocaña in 1809. After re-entering the French service in 1814 he led a cavalry division at Gué-à-Tresmes, Laon, Reims, Fère-Champenoise and Paris. In 1815 he led soldiers on the Rhine. He held peacetime commands until 1825 when he retired, but was again employed from 1830 to 1836. His surname is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 30.