Philibert Jean-Baptiste Curial

Philibert Jean-Baptiste Curial.

Philibert-Jean-Baptiste François Joseph, comte Curial (21 April 1774 - 30 May 1829) was a general in the French Imperial Army during the Napoleonic Wars.

He is the son of François Joseph Curial (1740-1801) and his wife, Marie Domenget. His father is a judge in the Mont Blanc Civil Court, Mont Blanc MP on the Council of Elders.

When the French invaded Savoy in 1792, the young Curial embraced the military career. He began his career in the Allobroges legion, with the rank of captain. He is sent, by the Convention, in the South under the command of General Carteaux, to pursue the federalist insurgents. He then joined the army of Italy, and from there, he went to Egypt, attended almost all the battles that the French armies gave in this country, and was promoted to the rank of battalion commander in 1799. Appointed colonel of the 88th infantry regiment on 12 Frimaire year XII, he received the decoration of the Legion of Honor on the 19th of the same month, that of officer the next 25 Prairial, and fight with distinction at Austerlitz. His conduct during this great battle earned him the cross of commander of the Legion of Honor, which he received on 4 Nivôse year XIII, and the rank of colonel major of the 2nd regiment of chasseurs-à-pied of the Imperial Guard.

Curial is particularly noticeable to Eylau, again signaling his courage to Friedland, he is elevated to the rank of Brigadier General, and obtains the title of Baron of the Empire in 1808. It is he who decides the success of the battle of Essling, removing the village of that name which had resisted seven consecutive attacks. This feat of arms earned him the rank of general of division, which the emperor conferred on him on 5 June 1809. Back in Paris, General Curial married the daughter of Count Beugnot, State Councilor. He made the campaign of Russia (1812) at the head of the hunters of the Guard, and deploys a lot of courage. After having escaped the disasters of this expedition, he was charged by the Emperor, in 1813, to organize twelve new battalions of the Young Guard, whose command is entrusted to him. He led these troops to Saxony, took part in the Battle of Wachau on 16 October, where he seized Dolitz's position, overthrew the enemy in the Pleiss River, and kidnapped a large number of which was the Austrian General Merfeldt.

On the 30th of the same month, he contributed strongly to repel the efforts of the Austro-Bavarians who wanted to cut the retreat of the French army at Hanau. He obtained, in reward for the eminent services he had rendered in this circumstance, the Grand Cross of the Order of Reunion. Curial takes part in all the combats of the campaign of France, and is particularly distinguished with the battles of Vauchamps, Craonne under the emperor, and Paris under Mortier. The Emperor created him count of the Empire on 22 March 1814.

The General Curial being one of the first general officers who give their adhesion to the acts of the conservative Senate and make their submission to Louis XVIII, the king creates the knight of Saint-Louis on 2 June, Peer of France on 4 June, grand officer of the Legion of Honor and Commander of the 19th Military Division on 14 July. At the same time his father-in-law, Count Beugnot, is appointed director of the police. Became grand cross of the same order on 14 February 1815, he is created gentleman of the king's chamber. On his return from the island of Elba, Napoleon does not treat him with so much favor. General Curial lost the command of the chasseurs de la Garde, which was entrusted to General Morand, and was ordered to go to Lyons to be employed with his rank in the army of the Alps under the orders of Marshal Suchet. The Emperor does not call him to the House of Peers he had just created.

Nevertheless, on the second return of the king, Count Curial finds all his civil and military dignities. Employed in the army as Inspector General of Infantry, he resumed his seat at the Luxembourg Palace, where he voted for deportation in the trial of Marshal Ney. Curial commissioned in 1823, the 5th division which is used in Catalonia, under the orders of Marshal Moncey. He distinguished himself on 9 July at the attack of Molins de Rei under Barcelona, and pushed several times the garrison of this city in the different sorties that she made during the campaign. His favor increasing more and more, he was appointed commander of St. Louis on 20 August 1823, first chamberlain and grand master of the king's wardrobe. It is in this quality that he attends, on 29 May 1825, the coronation of Charles X. During the trip to Reims, it is a serious fall. Since that time his health has deteriorated more and more every day, and he is soon forced by the disease to give up the active life to live in the most absolute retirement.

His son was Napoléon Joseph Curial (9 January 1809 – 22 September 1861), a French peer and politician.