Pierre-Augustin Berthemy

Knight of the Empire

Pierre Augustin Berthemy was born on May 16, 1778, in Montier-en-Der, Champagne, into a modest family (his father was a wigmaker). Enlisting on December 20, 1798 (30 Frimaire, Year VII) in the 8th Cavalry Regiment, he was assigned to the Army of the Rhine and became a second lieutenant in August 1800. The following year, Berthemy served as aide-de-camp to General Jean Joseph Ange d'Hautpoul.

He was wounded at Austerlitz on December 2, 1805, and again two years later at Preußisch Eylau (February 8, 1807). These two wounds earned him the Legion of Honour for the first, and the rank of captain and the position of aide-de-camp to the Emperor for the second.

At the end of 1807, Berthemy accompanied Anne Jean-Marie René Savary to Saint Petersburg; then he went to the Balearic Islands with the young astronomer and physicist François Arago, on the orders of Joachim Murat for a mission, full of adventures, which lasted more than a year and seriously damaged his health.

In March 1810, a few months after his return, promoted to squadron leader, Berthemy obtained the more relaxing post of governor of the Château de Valençay, where members of the former Spanish royal family resided. He retained this position, which had earned him the title of knight in September 1810, until February 1811.

Promoted to major in April 1812,, Pierre-Augustin Berthemy spent the following month in the service of the King of Naples, Joachim Murat, becoming his aide-de-camp. In August, he was promoted to colonel. Wounded again at the battle of Borodino (Moskowa), he nevertheless received from Marshal Louis-Alexandre Berthier the mission of delivering a letter to General Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (October 21 and 22, 1812).

Commander of the Legion of Honour in December 1812, Berthemy was made a general in Neapolitan capacity in December of the following year and showed himself to be a very devoted subject to his king by signing with General Sir James Graham, in January 1814, a convention very contrary to the interests of France.

Pierre-Augustin Berthemy returned to France in July 1814, rallied to the Bourbons, then returned for a few months to Naples to settle some affairs. He left the country before the failure of the attempt at reconquest led by Murat.

Having regained his status as a French colonel, Berthemy participated in the 1823 Spanish expedition and earned his rank of brigadier general. Placed on reserve until 1830, he returned to service under Louis-Philippe and did not definitively leave the army until 1840.

Pierre Augustin Berthemy died during the Second Empire, on January 31, 1855, and was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery, 28th division .

Detailed military career

Wounds in action

Received a gunshot wound in the left flank at Austerlitz on December 2, 1805.

Struck by a Biscayan at Eylau on February 8, 1807.

At the Battle of Borodino (Moskowa), September 7, 1812.

First engagement

Cavalryman in the 8th Cavalry Regiment, on December 20, 1798.

Career development

Fourrier on March 30, 1800.

Quartermaster Sergeant on May 11, 1800.

Second Lieutenant on a provisional basis on August 14, 1800, appointment confirmed on February 8, 1801 .

Lieutenant on September 5, 1806 .

Captain on February 14, 1807.

Squadron Leader on July 17, 1808 .

Second Major on April 19, 1812.

Colonel on August 4, 1812.

Brigadier General under the Neapolitan title on December 14, 1813 .

Field Marshal in the French army in 1823.

Service record

Aide-de-camp to General d'Hautpoul on September 12, 1800.

Ordinance of Napoleon I in 1807.

Governor of the Château de Valençay from March 1810 to February 1811.

Aide-de-camp to Marshal Joachim Murat on May 10, 1812.

Chief of staff of the Roussel d'Hurbal cuirassier division in 1823.