THREE FRENCH GENERALS RIVAUD (Jean, 1755-1803, French General of Division), MILET (Jacques Louis François, 1763-1821, General of Brigade, Baron, 1808) and FRANCESCHI (Jean-Baptiste, 1766-1813, General of Brigade, Baron, 1810)

Discharge Certificate Signed by all three, in French with translation, in a neat and attractive hand, for Citizen Jacques Théard, son of Louis Théard and Marie Anne Martin, of the 8th Regiment of Dragoons, native of Ibigny, département of the Meurthe, aged 28, "who has served in the said Regiment with zeal, honour and probity as Dragoon from the 12th Pluviôse Year 2 [31st January 1794] up to the 21st of the same month Year 5 [9th February 1797] when he was made Brigadier, and in that rank up to the present, when by reason of the wounds he received at the battle of Marengo", 14th June 1800, Napoleon's famous defeat of the Austrians in NW Italy, "in which he lost his sight ... he has been discharged to enjoy the benefits of the National Recompense to which he is entitled", conducting himself in "the campaigns of the Years 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, on all occasions ... perfectly", signed by the eight members of the Regiment's administrative council, including 3 Captains and a Sergeant Major, with, in the margins, the signed approvals of Rivaud as Divisional Commander, Milet as General of Brigade, and Franceschi as Deputy Chief of Staff, also by Louis La Morie as Deputy Inspector of Reviews, and Chapotot, Commissioner for Wars (from central government). The verso contains "a true copy" of his certificate from the Military Hospital at Milan that he is no longer fit for service, detailing the nature of his wounds, and dated 17 Vendémiaire Year 9 [9th October 1800]. 2 sides oblong folio, Army of Italy, Casale (Casale Monferrato, east of Turin), 4th Brumaire Year 9, 26th October

The 8th Dragoons were raised in 1674 and were only disbanded in 1977.
Rivaud commanded a cavalry brigade of 700 at Marengo.
Milet was appointed Colonel of the 8th in 1797, General of Brigade, 1800.
Franceschi was born at Bastia, then the capital of Corsica. He took part in the defence of the island, captured by the British in 1794, and in 1795 left to join the Army of Italy. After the retreat from Moscow, he took refuge in Danzig, and died during its siege.

Item Date:  1800

Stock No:  55532      £750

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