The Uniforms of the French Army under Napoleon I. (1800 - 1815) - Marshals and Generality II. - General Jean-Joseph Ange d’Hautpoul
The illustration shows General Jean-Joseph Ange d’Hautpoul as a general in the uniform of the cuirassiers. He was born on 13.05.1754 at Château de Salette (Cahuzac-sur-Vère, Département Tarn) and died on 14.02.1807 from the wound received at the Battle of Preußisch Eylau. His family came from the Languedoc. d’Hautpoul had already served in the French army since 1769 and, until the outbreak of the French Revolution, served in particular as an officer in a dragoon regiment. He remained attached to the cavalry and later was commander of the 1st, 5th and 10th Cuirassiers. With the cuirassiers he took part in the battles of Austerlitz (02.12.1805) and Jena (14.10.1806). At Preußisch Eylau d’Hautpoul commanded three cuirassier brigades and was severely and subsequently fatally wounded in the battle. His heart was later interred in the Invalides dome (Hôtel des Invalides) in the "Crypte des gouverneurs".
Between 1805 and 1815 a total of 259 divisional and 703 brigade generals were appointed1. As with the marshals of the empire, special uniform regulations applied to officers of general rank. These derive primarily from the regulation of 24.01.1803. The full dress uniform consisted of a blue - likewise lined - long coat, which featured elaborate gold embroidery on the front panels, the pockets, and the rear skirts and pleats. This was accompanied by a bicorne adorned with tresse (braid) and black boots worn with the blue knee-breeches. There was also a small (undress) uniform. The various service ranks of the generals were indicated by differences in the embroidery, the plume and the stars on the epaulettes or the sash. In addition, the generals also wore a special uniform that mostly followed the respective branch of service - as here - or in particular was modeled on the uniforms of the light cavalry.
