Charles Étienne de Ghigny
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Charles Étienne de Ghigny (14 January 1771 – 1 December 1844) commanded a Kingdom of the Netherlands light cavalry brigade at the Battle of Waterloo. He joined a French light cavalry regiment in 1792 and served in the same regiment for 22 years, becoming its lieutenant colonel in 1806. He fought in the Peninsular War in 1810–1811 and in the latter year became colonel of the regiment. He fought in the 1812 French invasion of Russia, the 1813 German Campaign and the 1814 French Campaign. In 1814 he led a cavalry regiment at Fère-Champenoise and Paris. He changed his allegiance to the Netherlands in 1815 and was appointed major general. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 1826. He switched allegiance to the Kingdom of Belgium in 1831 and received the Order of Leopold in 1837.
Charles Étienne de Ghigny | |
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Born | 14 January 1771 (1771-01-14) Brussels, Austrian Netherlands |
Died | 1 December 1844 (1845-01) (aged 73) |
Allegiance | France Netherlands Belgium |
Service/ | Cavalry |
Years of service | 1792–1814 1815–1831 1831–1837 |
Rank | Colonel Lieutenant General Lieutenant General |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | Légion d'Honneur, CC, 1814 Order of Saint Louis, 1814 Military William Order, 1815 Order of Leopold, 1837 |
Other work | Baron of the Empire, 1813 |