Empire General Nansouty

Of noble descent, he was a student at the Brienne military school, then was a graduate of the Paris military school.
Nansouty began his military career in 1785, as a sublieutenant in the regiment Bourgogne-Infanterie, where his father had served during the wars of Louis XV. A cavalry officer at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1792, Nansouty was commissioned as an aide-de-camp to Marshal Nicolas Luckner. During the War of the First Coalition, he saw service as a lieutenant-colonel and squadron commander in the 9th Cavalry Regiment, campaigning with the French armies on the Rhine and in Germany. Promoted to Colonel in 1793 and given the command of the 9th Cavalry Regiment, he was noted for several well-led cavalry actions.
Made a Brigadier General in 1799, Nansouty fought the next year under General Jean Victor Moreau in southern Germany, in a decisive campaign of the War of the Second Coalition.

Promoted to the top military rank of General of Division in 1803, Nansouty was called to the command of the 1st Heavy Cavalry Division in Emperor Napoleon I's newly created Grande Armée. Commanding this division from 1804 to 1809, Nansouty was present at some of the most significant battles of the Third Coalition, Fourth Coalition and Fifth Coaltion, leading glorious cavalry actions at the battles of Austerlitz, Friedland, Abensberg, Eckmühl, Aspern-Essling and Wagram. In 1812, During the campaign in Russia, Nansouty was given command of the 1st Cavalry Corps, which he led with distinction at battles such as Ostrovno or Borodino, where he received a severe knee wound. The next year, he was given command of the Imperial Guard cavalry, which he commanded in many battles, including Dresden, Leipzig and Hanau, where he was again wounded. In 1814 he led his troopers in several major engagements, including La Rothière, Montmirail, Vauchamps or Craonne until his incapacitation from wounds that year.

A member of the military élite of the First French Empire, Comte de Nansouty was a Grand Aigle de la Légion d'Honnerur, was a part of the Military Household of the Emperor as First Squire of the Emperor, and held the position of Colonel-General of Dragoons. During the Bourbon Restoration, he was also gratified with a number of honours and commands, including one in the Military Household of the King of France.

General Nansouty died in February 1815 and is buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

His name is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe and a street in the 14th arrondissement of Paris is named after him.