Piedmont - Sardinia
Victor Amadeus III, King of Sardinia, 1773 - 1796
For a short English biography of Victor Amadeus III and more information about him, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Amadeus_III_of_Sardinia
Marquis Filippo del Carretto di Camerano
Offspring of one of the oldest dynasties of overlords in Southern Piedmont, del Carretto was a Captain-Lieutenant, aide de camp of General Lazzary in Savoy, in 1792. Promoted to Major in 1793 for his excellent fighting qualities. In 1795, as aide de camp of the Austrian commander-in-chief De Vins, he led a column of Austrian troops to the storming of the strong French positions at Nostra Signora del Monte, in the Alps, then he proceeded to seize two forts and a redoubt also by bayonet charges. Several times wounded in action. in 1796 he rose to Lieutenant-Colonel rank and was appointed as commander of the elite 3rd Grenadier Battalion. At the head of his battalion and alongside Provera's Croatians, del Carretto was the hero of Cosseria, where he was killed in close combat.
Lieutenant-General Baron Michele Colli-Marchini
For a short English biography of General Colli, see
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_colli_michael.html
Luigi Leonardo Colli Ricci, marquis of Felizzano (1757 - 1809)
An outstanding military man and light troops commander, in 1792 Colli di Felizzano was a simple captain in the Acqui Provincial Regiment. In 1793-94 he fought valiantly on the southern front (Nice), rising to the rank of Major commanding the crack 2nd Chasseurs (Light Infantry) battalion. Throughout 1794 and 1795 he performed brilliantly. He played a key role in two of the most daring combat actions of the war, the taking by storm of the French Spinarda redoubts and the defense of the Saint Bernard positions near Garessio (Southern Piedmont). Severely wounded in action, he rose to Lieutenant Colonel rank, then Colonel and light infantry regiment commander in 1796. At the Pedaggera, his light infantry repulsed Joubert's attack column. After the King's abdication, Colli di Felizzano joined the French army and as commander of the 14th Demi-Brigade de Ligne he fought against the Allies in 1799. Wounded and captured at the battle of Novi, he did not change sides and kept serving under Napoleon, as a division commander posted to Corsica. However, because of his friendship with General Moreau (whom Napoleon disliked), he was forced to leave active service. His name is carved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, along with those of other topnotch Napoleonic military leaders.
Gaspar (Gaspare) Dichat de Toisinge (1740 - 1796)
Born to an aristocratic family in Chambéry, Savoy's capital city, Dichat entered the Sardinian Army in 1759 as a cadet. By the outbreak of the 1792 war he was a Major, then Lieutenant Colonel in the Aosta Infantry Regiment. Appointed as commander of a Grenadier battalion, in 1793 he became one of the heroes of the battle of the Authion, driving off three attacks by French grenadiers and decisively stiffening and supporting an Austrian regiment at a key point in the battle. Colonel in 1796, he was entrusted with the command of the 1st (Right) Division of the Ceva Army Corps. Always the fighting man despite his age, Dichat personally led his own Grenadier regiment from the front in the battles for Ceva. At S. Michele (Corsaglia), he faced heavy odds, was wounded and even temporarily captured until the French were finally repulsed. A few days later he fought to the end at Mondovì, where he was killed. His action at Mondovì was admired also by the French.
The Massena Family
All readers of Napoleonic history are acquainted with Marshal André Masséna, one of Napoleon's best and most brilliant generals. However, not many are aware that Massena - born in Nice as subject of the King of Sardinia, because the County of Nice had been a Savoy land since 1388 - had several relatives who proved good soldiers... fighting against him, on the other side: the side of their King.
Pietro Massena was a captain of the territorial militia, then lieutenant in the regular army. Wounded in action more than once and unable to actively fight any further, he was later posted to the garrison of the fortress of Verrua (Eastern Piedmont).
Onorato Massena was a sergeant major in 1794, promoted to ensign for his valor, then Lieutenant.
Maurizio Massena was a sergeant in the Piedmont Infantry Regiment. He earned the Gold Medal for Valor as the first Sardinian soldier to break into the French Spinarda redoubts, on 22 June 1795.
Another Maurizio Massena had also served, before the French Revolution, in the same French regiment André Massena had enlisted in - Royal Italien - and as a sergeant of the Sardinian Army he took part in the War of the Alps.
Pietro Massena was a captain of the territorial militia, then lieutenant in the regular army. Wounded in action more than once and unable to actively fight any further, he was later posted to the garrison of the fortress of Verrua (Eastern Piedmont).
Onorato Massena was a sergeant major in 1794, promoted to ensign for his valor, then Lieutenant.
Maurizio Massena was a sergeant in the Piedmont Infantry Regiment. He earned the Gold Medal for Valor as the first Sardinian soldier to break into the French Spinarda redoubts, on 22 June 1795.
Another Maurizio Massena had also served, before the French Revolution, in the same French regiment André Massena had enlisted in - Royal Italien - and as a sergeant of the Sardinian Army he took part in the War of the Alps.
Marquis Jean-Baptiste Silvestre (Giovambattista Silvestro) d'Oncieu de Chaffardon (1749 - 1800)
In 1796 this Savoyard aristocrat, two relatives of whom also distinguished themselves in the service of their King during the War of the Alps, was appointed as Colonel of His Majesty's Dragoons Regiment, and cavalry brigade commander. He led the successful Carassone cavalry charge near Mondovì on 21 April 1796. After the armistice he was awarded the Military Order of the Saints Maurice and Lazarus, the highest Sardinian decoration. In 1798, appointed as provisional commander of the city of Vercelli and its garrison. After the King's abdication in 1798, he continued to serve as an officer, in the French Army.
Marquis Giuseppe Solaro della Chiusa
In 1793 commander of the Pinerolo Regiment, Solaro was appointed as commander of a newly formed Grenadier Regiment composed of the 8th and 9th Battalions. He took notable part in the battle of the Authion. Promoted to brigadier rank, in October 1793 he stormed the French Alpine redoubt of Utelles, leading his 8th Grenadier battalion under a murderous French musket fire to a decisive attack, drawing his sword and shouting "Grenadiers hold your fire, bayonet charge!". In 1794 he distinguished himself in the attack on the French fortified lines of Parabouquel. In May 1794, promoted to Major General rank. In 1796 Solaro commanded the San Michele sector along the Corsaglia River line. A few days later he took part in the battle of Mondovì.
Austrian Empire (Holy Roman Empire)
Eugène-Guillaume Argenteau, comte de Mercy
For a short English biography of Argenteau, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne-Guillaume_Argenteau
Jean Pierre Beaulieu de Marconnay
Marquis Giovanni Provera
Provera was one of the many notable, or outstanding, Italian officers who rose through the ranks in the Habsburg armies since the 16th century - the greatest of them being of course a great commander, Montecuccoli, and a god of war, Prince Eugene. Born in Pavia (Austrian Lombardy) in 1736, he entered the Austrian army at age 18 as infantry ensign. After taking part in the Seven Years War, in 1773 he was promoted Lieutenant Colonel and commander of a grenadier battalion in the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778). In 1792, as a Major General Provera was sent to the Italian front with seven infantry battalions as a little Austrian expeditionary corps under Sardinian command. He was the senior Allied commander at Cosseria, at the remarkable age of 60. After Piedmont's armistice he stayed on active duty in Italy until the surrender of Mantua to Bonaparte (1797). Provera passed away in Venice in 1804.
France
Marshal Charles Pierre François Augereau
General Pascal-Antoine Fiorella
General Barthélemy-Catherine Joubert
Marshal André Masséna (Andrea Massena)
General Jean-Baptiste Dominique Rusca
For a short English biography of Rusca (but the French version expands much more on him), see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Dominique_Rusca
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Dominique_Rusca
Marshal Jean-Mathieu-Philibert Sérurier
For a short biography of Sérurier, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Mathieu-Philibert_S%C3%A9rurier
Henri Christian Michel de Stengel
For a short English biography of Stengel, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Christian_Michel_de_Stengel