François Gédéon Bailly de Monthion explained

François Gédéon Bailly, Count of Monthion (pronounced as /fr/; 1776–1850) was a French general.

Early career

Monthion enlisted in an infantry regiment in February 1793 and saw active service at Marengo (1800) and Austerlitz (1805).[1]

Peninsular War

See main article: Peninsular War.

On 20 September 1808, Monthion's troops were routed at Bilbao by Blake, who had previously set in motion a plan to threaten Burgos with a small portion of his army of some 32,000 Galicians and Asturians, while with the main body he would march on Bilbao.[2] Having sent his 'vanguard' and 'reserve' brigades towards Burgos, Blake moved on Bilbao with four complete divisions, with the Marquis of Portazgo's division routing the 1,500-strong French garrison, and Monthion withdrawing to Durango.[3] [4] The Spanish troops abandoned the city the following week as Ney's troops approached.

In July 1811, General Monthion's Reserve of the Army of Spain, stationed at Bayonne, numbered 8,047 men, with 251 officers.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Mullié, Charles (1852). "François Gédéon Bailly de Monthion". Biographie des célébrités militaires des armées de terre et de mer de 1789 à 1850, pp. 33–34. Wikisource. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  2. [Charles Oman|Oman, Charles]
  3. [William Francis Patrick Napier|Napier]
  4. Martín-Lanuza Martínez, Alberto. "Francisco de Paula Gómez de Terán y Negrete". Diccionario Biográfico electrónico. Real Academia de la Historia. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. [Charles Oman|Oman, Charles]