Joseph Souham - Empire and Later Years

Empire and Later Years

He was unemployed from 1800 to 1809. In the latter year a shortage of available experienced officers caused him to be put back on active duty. He was sent to Spain where he took a notable part in Gouvion St Cyr's operations in Catalonia. The actions at Vic in which he was wounded won him the title of count.

In 1812, Marshal André Masséna declined the command of Marmont's army which had just been defeated at the Battle of Salamanca, but Masséna recommended Souham for the job. In October 1812, Souham's reinforced Army of Portugal forced Wellington to abandon the Siege of Burgos. After a pursuit which included the Battle of Venta del Pozo, he pressed the Anglo-Portuguese army back to Salamanca. In January 1813, he was recalled to France.

In 1813, he took command of a division in Marshal Michel Ney's III Corps. At the Battle of Lützen (1813) he greatly distinguished himself. Faced by the bulk of the combined Russian and Prussian armies, he bitterly defended the area around Gross-Gorschen. At the Battle of Leipzig he was wounded while leading III Corps.

After the fall of the First Empire he deserted the emperor and, having suffered for the Royalist cause, was well received by Louis XVIII, who gave him high commands. These honors Souham lost at the return of Napoleon and were regained once more after the Second Restoration. He retired in 1832, and died on 28 April 1837 in Versailles.