General Etienne-Marie-Antoine Champion de Nansouty

Nansouty was a noble and a career officer who did not desert France at the onset of the Revolution. While Nansouty was a talented cavalry officer, he did not fit the cavalry mold, being much more careful and restrained than his peers. Known for his sarcastic wit, his command style sometimes annoyed others, but he always took care of his men.

Due to his noble heritage, Nansouty preferred the old Ancien Régime queue for his hairstyle. Most of the other heavy cavalry divisions cut their hair shorter and by 1809 Nansouty's division was the only one still wearing queues. While Nansouty was on leave, a petition was drawn up by his men to let their hair be cut shorter, and his officers agreed to allow it. Nansouty was furious upon his return and had some officers temporarily arrested, but the damage was already done, the men had short hair and would not go back.

At Wagram, as General Nansouty was unable to support Macdonald's attack, the Emperor Napoleon asked him why not. As Nansouty gave his reasons, it became clear to him that Napoleon did not understand, so he sarcastically exclaimed, "After all, there is nothing your majesty can teach me about the handling of cavalry!" and turned and left.

While on the Russian campaign, Marshal Murat was unhappy with the health of Nansouty's horses and let him know about it. Nansouty replied that the horses did not have patriotic instincts.

With his health steadily declining in 1814, he was relieved of command shortly before the Battle of Craonne began. When informed of this, Nansouty responded that he could still do his duty, and was therefore left in command. After leading his men throughout the battle, he immediately retired.

Sources:

Elting, John R. Swords Around a Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armee. USA: Da Capo Press, 1997.

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. Who Was Who in the Napoleonic Wars. London: Arms & Armour, 1998.

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Generaux & Amiraux Francais de la Revolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

• Napoleon Series Biography