Nicolas Oudinot is known to have been wounded 34 times in battle, being hit by artillery shells, sabers, and at least twelve bullets over the course of his military career.
17 Facts About Nicolas Oudinot
2.
Nicolas Oudinot's father was a brewer, farmer and distiller of brandy in Bar-le-Duc, Lorraine.
3.
Nicolas Oudinot decided upon a military career, and served in the regiment of Medoc from 1784 to 1787, when, having no hope of promotion on account of his non-noble birth, he retired with the rank of sergeant.
4.
Nicolas Oudinot continued to serve with distinction on the German frontier under Louis Lazare Hoche, Charles Pichegru and Jean Victor Marie Moreau, was repeatedly wounded and once taken prisoner after having been wounded again.
5.
Nicolas Oudinot was Andre Massena's right hand all through the Swiss campaign of 1799, first as a general of division, then as chief of staff, and won extraordinary distinction at the Second Battle of Zurich.
6.
Nicolas Oudinot was present under Massena at the Siege of Genoa, and so distinguished himself at the Battle of Monzambano that Napoleon presented him with a sword of honour.
7.
Nicolas Oudinot was made inspector-general of infantry, and, on the establishment of the empire, given the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, but was not included in the first creation of marshals.
8.
Nicolas Oudinot was elected a member of the chamber of deputies, but had little time to devote to politics.
9.
Nicolas Oudinot took a leading role in the war of 1805, commanding the famous division of "grenadiers Oudinot," made up of hand-picked troops and organized by him, with which he seized the Vienna bridges, received a wound at the Battle of Schongrabern in Lower Austria against the Russians.
10.
Nicolas Oudinot was made a titular duke in chief of the duche-grand fief of Reggio in the satellite Kingdom of Naples, and received a large money grant in April 1810.
11.
From 1810 to 1812 Nicolas Oudinot administered the government of the former Kingdom of Holland, and commanded the II Corps of La Grande Armee in the Russian campaign.
12.
Nicolas Oudinot's corps was instrumental in building the bridge over the Berezina that allowed the evacuation of troops after the defeat at the Battle of Berezina.
13.
Nicolas Oudinot was present at the Battle of Lutzen and the Battle of Bautzen, and when holding the independent command of the corps directed to take Berlin was defeated at the Battle of Grossbeeren.
14.
Nicolas Oudinot was then superseded by Marshal Ney, but the latter was defeated at the Battle of Dennewitz.
15.
Nicolas Oudinot held important commands at the Battle of Leipzig and in the campaign of 1814.
16.
Nicolas Oudinot died as Governor of the Parisian veterans institution Les Invalides.
17.
Nicolas Oudinot married secondly, in January 1812, Eugenie de Coucy and had 4 children:.