Jean-Baptiste Bessières
| Jean-Baptiste Bessières | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
6 August 1768 Prayssac, France |
| Died | 1 May 1813 (aged 44) Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt |
| Allegiance |
 First French Empire 1804-1813 French First Republic 1792-1804 Kingdom of France 1791-1792
|
| Service/branch |
Grande Armée Army of the Pyrenees Army of the Moselle |
| Years of service | 1791–1813 |
| Rank | General of Division |
| Battles/wars |
French Revolutionary Wars, Napoleonic Wars |
| Awards |
Marshal of France, Légion d'honneur (Grand Eagle), Order of the Iron Crown (Commander), Name inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, Order of the Crown (Württemberg) (Knight), Duke of Istria, Military Order of St. Henry (Grand Cross), Order of Christ (Portugal) (Knight) |
| Relations |
Bertrand Bessières (brother), Julien Bessières (cousin) |
Jean-Baptiste Bessières, 1st Duc d' Istria (6 August 1768 – 1 May 1813) was a Marshal of France of the Napoleonic Era. His younger brother, Bertrand, followed in his footsteps and eventually became a Divisional General. Their cousin, Géraud-Pierre-Henri-Julien, also served Napoleon I as a diplomat and Imperial official.
Bessières was born in Prayssac near Cahors in southern France. He served for a short time in the Constitutional Guard of Louis XVI and as a non-commissioned officer took part in the war against Spain.
In the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees and in the Army of the Moselle he repeatedly distinguished himself for valour, and in 1796, as captain, he served in Napoleon Bonaparte's Italian campaign. At Rovereto his conduct brought him to his chief's notice, and after the Battle of Rivoli he was sent to France to deliver the captured colours to the Directory. Hastening back to the front, he accompanied Napoleon in the invasion of Styria in command of the Guides, who formed the nucleus of the later Consular and Imperial Guards.
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Wikipedia