Jourdan, wire of a surgeon,
engages at 16 years, in 1778, in the Armies of the king and combat
in America. On its return in France, it is reformed for disease
and is established as draper. When comes the Revolution, its
liberal ideas and its military past make it elect Capitaine of
Hunters. He climbs the hierarchical levels and is distinguished
in Belgium in 1792. July 30, 1793, it is named major general
and obtains little after the command as a head of the Army of
North.
LE October 16 and 17,
it gains the battle of Wattignies. Suspect to have been opposed
to the plans of the Committee of the Public Hello, it is relieved
but soon recalled and placed at the head of the Army of the Moselle,
March 9, 1794. After have take Dinant and Charleroi, it gain
the decisive victory of Fleurus, the 26 June 1794, with head
of various body which take the name of Army of Sambre-and-Meuse.
It beats the Austrians on June 4, 1796 in Altenkirchen. In 1796,
beaten beyond the Rhine, it is replaced by Hoche.
Eread with the Council
of Cinq-Cents in 1797, it makes vote on March 5, 1798 the law
on the conscription which bears its name. In October 1798, it
takes the command of the Army of the Danube and beats the Austrians
with Stockach (March 26, 1799). But it is obliged to fold up
itself and is replaced by the Masséna General. It leaves
the army on April 3, 1799.
In October 1799, it starts by being opposed, as a néo-Jacobin
and a member of the Council of Cinq-Cents, with the coup d'etat
of the 18-Brumaire. However, it joins quickly in Bonaparte. The
First Consul, who wishes to be surrounded of the heroes of the
Revolution, names it on July 21, 1800 ambassador in Piedmont.
It is made advise of State in 1802, then senator and finally
marshal in 1804. But Napoleon does not entrust to him significant
stations, if not the Army of Italy in 1805.
Jourdan follows Joseph Bonaparte to Naples, as governor of the
city in 1806 then to Spain. It is named major-General of the
Spanish Army. It takes part in the campaigns of Spain in 1808
and 1809. It controls the French Armies at the time of the battle
of Vitoria (June 21, 1813).
Re-entered to France, it remains in a half-disgrace. Napoleon
makes it nevertheless even France during the Hundred Days and
controlling as a head of the Army of the Rhine.
Under the Restoration, Jourdan joins in Louis XVIII who confers
the title of count to him, then in Louis-Philippe, who appoints
it provisional police chief with the Foreign Affairs, finally
governor of the Invalids. It dies in Paris in 1833.
