Count of the Empire
Pronunciation:
César Charles Étienne Gudin de la Sablonnière, more commonly known as Charles Étienne Gudin, was born in Montargis, Orléanais [now Loiret] on February 13, 1768, into a noble family with a strong military tradition.
On February 5, 1799, Gudin was promoted to brigadier general in the army of observation stationed under Mannheim.
On May 23, 1800, he led a division for the first time, temporarily replacing Dominique René Vandamme.
A consular decree of August 22, 1800 confirmed his rank
During the Russian campaign of 1812, Gudin commanded the 3rd division of Marshal Davout's 1st Corps.
Gudin was mortally wounded on the August 19th, 1812 during the battle of Valoutina-Gora. Transported to Smolensk, Gudin died of his wounds three days later (only two, according to some sources), after a visit from Napoleon. He was buried in one of the citadel's bastions.
His body was found during excavations in Smolensk in 2019.
"General Charles Étienne Gudin de la Sablonnière" by Georges Rouget (Paris 1783 - Paris 1869).
