At
seventeen years, Victor is drum in an artillery regiment of Grenoble.
After having fixed itself at Valence, where it Marie and launches
out in the trade, it leaves its fasteners. The declaration of
the fatherland in danger (1792) the conduit at the borders with
the third battalion of Drôme. It rises in little time to
the rank of head of battalion. With the head office of Toulon
(September December 1795), it is pointed out by gaining the cuttings
off of the Faron mount with only 800 men and while managing to
preserve the place against 6000 adversaries. it is named brigadier
general.
In the Army of Pyrenees-Eastern, then in the Army of Italy, it
makes also wonder: the Scherer General does not hesitate to entrust
the command of the avant-garde to him. In spring 1796, in front
of Bonaparte, Victor is quoted among the brave men who were distinguished
in the last battles. He is victorious in Peschiera, Provera,
the Favorite one, Rome, Faenza and Forli. He regains France after
the signature of the treaty of Campoformio.
He
receives the command of Nantes but request to pass in the Army
of England. He writes for that with the Directory: «To
remain in the interior while the republican gun will be made
hear on the Thames is a function which I then to exert».
He however finds Italy in 1799. With the head of a division of
the reserve army, it occupies the first line with the battle
the Marengo one, of which it ensures to a great extent the happy
exit. This blow of glare is worth to him to be rewarded by a
sabre for honor.
Victor is named general captain in Louisiana (1803), then plenipotentiary
ambassador in Denmark (1805). In 1806, it returns to its true
vocation during the campaign of Prussia by integrating the Grande
Armée as a head of staff of the fifth body. Then, the
following year, the Emperor places it at the head of the tenth
body, which has been just created. With the exit of the battle
of Friedland, Napoleon the pupil with the dignity of marshal.
Victor receives at the same time the government of Prussia. He
is made duke of Bellune in 1808.
In
Spain, it gains the significant victory of Medellin. When Napoleon
leaves the face to go to fight against the Austrians, it leaves
the initiative to Victor who joined the army of king Joseph.
At the time of the campaign of Russia, Victor is with the head
of the ninth Army corps Large, with which it organizes a heroic
defense against the enemy on bank is of Bérézina.
thanks to this resistance; he makes it possible all the army
to pass the river in November 1812. He is then the principal
craftsman of the victory of Dresden (1813).
He is distinguished last once during the campaign from 1814 by
releasing the village from Brienne to the force from the bayonet.
After the abdication of Napoleon, Victor offers his services
to Louis XVIII, who entrusts a command to him and raises with
peerage.
