Charles du Houx de Viomesnil
Encyclopedia
Charles Joseph Hyacinthe du Houx de Vioménil, Marquis of Vioménil
(August 22, 1734 - March 5, 1827) was a Marshal of France
.
Viomesnil entered the French army at age 13 as a lieutenant of the regiment of Limousin. He served in the War of the Austrian Succession
where he took part in the Battle of Lauffeld
and the capture of Bergen op Zoom
. During the Seven Years' War
he served as an aide de camp to general François de Chevert
(1757-1758). Viomesnil was made a knight of the Order of Saint Louis
in 1760. He was promoted to colonel in 1761. In 1768 he commanded an infantry brigade during the annexation of Corsica
. Upon his return to France in 1769 he was made colonel of the Légion de Lorraine en 1770.
Promoted maréchal de camp in 1780, Viomesnil served under Rochambeau
in America during the Yorktown campaign. After his return from the American Revolutionary War
he was made inspector-general of the cavalry (1783-1788). In 1789-1790 he served as governor of Martinique
.
After the outbreak of the French Revolution
in 1791 Viomesnil decided to emigrate and join the army of Condé
. In 1798 he entered Russian service and with the rank of lieutenant-general he commanded an army in Lithuania. Originally designated to command the Russian forces sent to Italy he was replaced by Alexander Suvorov
and sent instead to Jersey
and Guernsey
in anticipation of a joined invasion of France. When the Russian troops returned home, Viomesnil went to Portugal
but had to leave Portugal in 1803 upon the demand of the French ambassador Jean Lannes
.
After the Bourbon Restoration
in 1814 Viomesnil was a made a Peer of France
. During the Hundred Days
he followed Louis XVIII of France
to Ghent
. After Waterloo
and the Second Restoration, he was given command of a military division centered at Bordeaux
. In 1816 at age 82 he was made a Marshal of France, the next year he was made a marquis
. in 1820 he was given the Order du Saint-Esprit
and in 1823 he was made an Officer in the Légion d'honneur
.
Vioménil
Vioménil is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are known as Viamanciliens, after the Roman name of the commune, Viamansalis.-Geography:...
(August 22, 1734 - March 5, 1827) was a Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
.
Viomesnil entered the French army at age 13 as a lieutenant of the regiment of Limousin. He served in the War of the Austrian Succession
War of the Austrian Succession
The War of the Austrian Succession – including King George's War in North America, the Anglo-Spanish War of Jenkins' Ear, and two of the three Silesian wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.The...
where he took part in the Battle of Lauffeld
Battle of Lauffeld
The Battle of Lauffeld, also known as the Battle of Lafelt or Battle of Maastricht, also Battle of Val, took place on 2 July 1747, during the French invasion of the Netherlands. It was part of the War of the Austrian Succession...
and the capture of Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
. During the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
he served as an aide de camp to general François de Chevert
François de Chevert
François de Chevert was a French general.Chevert entered service in 1706, became major in Beauce's regiment in Toul in 1728, later in 1739 lieutenant-colonel. He distinguished himself in Flanders, Piemont and Germany and herefore rewarded by a more important command...
(1757-1758). Viomesnil was made a knight of the Order of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
in 1760. He was promoted to colonel in 1761. In 1768 he commanded an infantry brigade during the annexation of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. Upon his return to France in 1769 he was made colonel of the Légion de Lorraine en 1770.
Promoted maréchal de camp in 1780, Viomesnil served under Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
in America during the Yorktown campaign. After his return from the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he was made inspector-general of the cavalry (1783-1788). In 1789-1790 he served as governor of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
.
After the outbreak of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in 1791 Viomesnil decided to emigrate and join the army of Condé
Army of Condé
The Army of Condé was a French field army during the French Revolutionary Wars. One of several émigré field armies, it was the only one to survive the War of the First Coalition; others had been formed by the Comte d'Artois and Mirabeau-Tonneau...
. In 1798 he entered Russian service and with the rank of lieutenant-general he commanded an army in Lithuania. Originally designated to command the Russian forces sent to Italy he was replaced by Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Suvorov
Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov , Count Suvorov of Rymnik, Prince in Italy, Count of the Holy Roman Empire , was the fourth and last generalissimo of the Russian Empire.One of the few great generals in history who never lost a battle along with the likes of Alexander...
and sent instead to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
in anticipation of a joined invasion of France. When the Russian troops returned home, Viomesnil went to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
but had to leave Portugal in 1803 upon the demand of the French ambassador Jean Lannes
Jean Lannes
Jean Lannes, 1st Duc de Montebello, was a Marshal of France. He was one of Napoleon's most daring and talented generals. Napoleon once commented on Lannes: "I found him a pygmy and left him a giant"...
.
After the Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
in 1814 Viomesnil was a made a Peer of France
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
. During the Hundred Days
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
he followed Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
to Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. After Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and the Second Restoration, he was given command of a military division centered at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. In 1816 at age 82 he was made a Marshal of France, the next year he was made a marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
. in 1820 he was given the Order du Saint-Esprit
Order of the Holy Spirit
The Order of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Order of the Knights of the Holy Spirit, was an Order of Chivalry under the French Monarchy. It should not be confused with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost or with the Order of the Holy Ghost...
and in 1823 he was made an Officer in the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.