Louis Leger Boyeldieu - colonel 4th line regiment, 1806
Louis Leger Boyeldieu - colonel 4e régiment de Infanterie 1806
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Louis-Leger Boyeldieu 1774-1815
The Painting shows Boyeldieu as the colonel of the 4th regiment of the line and was done
while on campaign in Germany in 1806.
(51x40cm)
Boyeldieu's military career began when he became a sous-lieutenant of the 3rd Batallion of
Volunteers of the Somme in 1791. Over the next three years he served with the Army of the
North, becoming a lieutenant in 1792 and a captain in 1794. From 1794 to 1796 he served
with the Army of the Sambre and Meuse, joining the 61st Infantry Regiment in June of 1796.
1797 was spent with the Army of Italy, and in 1798 he left France for Egypt with the Army of
the Orient.
By July of 1798 Boyeldieu was serving in Desiax's division, and fought at the Battle of the
Pyramids. Serving in Upper Egypt and the Delta, he fought at and was wounded at the siege of
Abukir the following year. In 1801, Boyeldieu was serving under Friant when he was hit in the
neck by a shot in the fighting around Lake Madieh. A month later, the commander in Egypt,
General Menou promoted him to chef de batallion.
After returning to France, Boyeldieu served with the Army of the Coasts of the Ocean, and was
named a member of the Legion of Honor in June of 1804. Another honor soon followed, as he
was appointed a chef de batallion in the Grenadiers à Pied of the Imperial Guard in
September of 1805. After serving in Austria, he was appointed colonel of the 4th Infantry
Regiment of the line on the 9 March 1806. On the 14th he was named Officer of the Legion
of Honour, Fighting at Bergfried in February 1807 Boyeldieu was wounded by a shot to the left
buttock but was well enough to return to duty for the battle of Heilsberg, 10 June 1807.
Unfortunately for Boyeldieu, he was wounded in that battle, this time taking canister shot to his
left shoulder. A month later, on 11 July he was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor,
On 17 March 1808 he received another honor, being made a Baron of the Empire.
1809 saw Boyeldieu serving in Germany with Dalesme's 2nd Brigade of Carra St. Cyr's division.
With this unit, he fought at Aspern-Essling and then in the culmination of the campaign at
Wagram was wounded by a shot to the left thigh and taken prisoner. Fortunately for Boyeldieu,
he was released a month later.
In July of 1811 he was promoted to general de brigade, and the next year Boyeldieu served in
the Russian campaign. While in Russia, he commanded the 1st Brigade of Roguet's 2nd
Division of Marshal Mortier's Young Guard. He received another honor in April of 1813, being
appointed a Knight of the Iron Crown. Taking part in the campaigns of Germany, Boyeldieu
again served with the Young Guard, this time as commander of the 3rd Brigade of Barrois' 2nd
Division. At the Battle of Dresden, Boyeldieu was wounded in his left shoulder again, this time
by a single shot. His contributions did not go unnoticed though, and a few weeks later he was
promoted to general de division. Unfortunately, his wounds were beginning to catch up with
him, and at the end of September of 1813, he was placed on leave to recover.
After the Emperor's abdication in April 1814, he was placed on non-activity. With Napoleon's
return to power in March 1815, General Boyeldieu was appointed as the commander of
Toulon, but he did not accept the position, citing ill health from his many wounds. Boyeldieu's
many wounds finally caught up with him shortly after Napoleon's second abdication, as he
died in August of 1815 from complications of his wounds.
His name is inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe.
Below is a recommendation for promotion for Jean Francios Paillon to the rank of Sous
Lieutenant, signed by Louis Leger Boyeldieu as colonel of the 4é Regiment de Linge, 26
October 1808.
Paillon was killed at the battle of Wagram in 1809.
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