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COMMANDER // 1766–1830

Pierre Merle

divisional generalFrance3 battles2 wars

Lifespan

1766 – 1830

1770178017901800181018201830Peninsular War · 1808-1814Napoleonic Wars · 1803-1815Battle of Cabezón — June 12, 1808 · French Empire · Peninsular WarPeninsular War — May 2, 1808 · France · Napoleonic WarsBattle of Corunna — January 16, 1809 · France · Peninsular War

Active service 1808–1809 — 3 battles across 2 wars; first command at age 42.

Profile

Pierre Hugues Victoire Merle was a French general during the First French Empire of Napoleon. He joined the French army as a private in 1781 but after the French Revolution, the pace of promotion quickened. He was appointed a general officer in 1794 for distinguishing himself during the War of the Pyrenees. After leading a brigade at Austerlitz in December 1805, he was promoted again. His division was in the first wave of the 1808 invasion of Spain, which precipitated the Peninsular War. In Spain, he led his division at Medina de Rioseco, Corunna, First and Second Porto, Bussaco, Sabugal, and Fuentes de Oñoro. After being sent home from Spain, Merle was assigned to lead a division in the French invasion of Russia. He led his troops at First and Second Polotsk. He embraced the Bourbon cause in 1814, retired from the army in 1816, and died at Marseille in 1830. Merle is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe on Column 35.

Source · Wikipedia · Q3385478

Battles (3)

Last verified June 2026
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