General Jean-Toussaint Arrighi de Casanova
Born: March 8, 1778
Died: March 2, 1853
Place of Birth: Corte, Corse
Cause of Death: Natural causes
| Battle | Unit | Rank |
| Jaffa | Capitaine | Army of the Orient - ADC to Berthier |
| Acre | Capitaine | Army of the Orient - ADC to Berthier |
| Marengo | Capitaine | Army of the Reserve - ADC to Berthier |
| Austerlitz | Colonel | |
| Friedland | Colonel | |
| Aspern-Essling | Général de brigade | |
| Wagram | Général de division | II Corps (Oudinot) - 3rd Division of Cuirassiers |
| Dennewitz | Général de division | III Cavalry Corps |
| Leipzig | Général de division | |
| Hanau | Général de division | |
| Craonne | Général de division | |
| Lâon | Général de division |
Arrighi de Casanova was a cousin of Napoleon Bonaparte, and married the daughter of Napoleon's chamberlain Montesquiou.
The first significant event in Arrighi de Casanova's life was when the king's orders admitted him to the Ecole Militare of Rebais. By 1793, he was a student at the University of Pisa, but the Revolution was soon to change his path. After the English left Corsica in 1796, Arrighi joined and was elected a sous-lieutenant in the 3rd French Company of Liamone, a département of Corsica at the time. Within a month, he was promoted to lieutenant.
In April of 1797, his now famous cousin Napoleon appointed him as a lieutenant to the 75th Demi-Brigade of the Line of the Army of Italy. Soon afterwards he worked as the secretary to the Ambassador to Rome, Joseph Bonaparte. While in Rome, he was by the side of General Duphot when that general was unfortunately killed in a riot.
Appointed to the staff of the Army of the Orient, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Salahieh, receiving a saber blow to the head but also being promoted to captain after the battle by General Bonaparte. He became an aide-de-camp to Berthier in February of 1799, and was one of the first soldiers in the assault on Jaffa.
Assaulting Acre with Lannes, Arrighi de Casanova arrived at the front only to be hit by a ball that passed through his neck. Blood splurting everywhere, he fell to the ground, and a soldier rushed to him and put a finger in each hole on the sides of his neck, slowing the bleeding. Dr. Larrey was called for, and he quickly applied bandages while ignoring the shots falling all around them, saving Arrighi de Casanova's life. This was enough to put him out of action for a while, and he did not fight again until Marengo, where he was again Berthier's aide-de-camp.
He was promoted to chef d'escadrons later that year, then in 1803 was promoted to chef de brigade, and in 1804 became a Commander of the Legion of Honor. The next year, Arrighi received more saber blows to the head at the combat of Wertingen, and fought at Austerlitz. In May of 1806, he became Major-Colonel of the Dragoons of the Guard. After fighting at Friedland, he was promoted to general de brigade but retained his rank in the Imperial Guard.
One of the new nobility, he became Duke of Padoue in March of 1808. When the French moved into Spain, Arrighi commanded the Dragoons of the Guard, leading them into battle at Benavente. Returning to serve in the Austrian campaign, he fought at Aspern-Essling and after the battle was promoted to general de division, replacing the fallen General Espagne as head of the 3rd Division of Cuirassiers. With this unit, he fought at Wagram.
In July of 1810, Arrighi became the inspector general of cavalry, and for the next few years filled administrative posts, mostly with the National Guard. Assuming command of the 3rd Cavalry Corps in March of 1813, he drove out partisans in his area and then became Governor of Leipzig, succesfully defending it from an attack by the Russian General Czernischeff on June 7, 1813. Continuing to lead his cavalry corps, he fought under both Oudinot and Ney in the coming months, distinguishing himself at Dennewitz. After fighting at Leipzig, he was pushed back to Weimar, and then fought at Hanau.
During the defense of France of 1814, Arrighi fought at many battles, usually under Marshals Macdonald or Marmont. He was wounded defending Paris, and then with the return of the Bourbons, put on non-activity. With the Emperor's return to power, Arrighi was appointed Governor of Corsica for the duration of the Hundred Days. The vengeful Bourbons proscribed him upon their return, and he escaped to Lombardy. Finally in 1819, he was allowed to return to France.
Sources: Richardson (Larrey), Six (Dictionnare Biographique)
External Links: