Irishmen who fought for Napoleon ?

McArmalite

Heard once that the names of Irish officers are inscribed on the Arc De Triomphe. Any truth in it ? Or for that matter, does anyone know of Irishmen who fought for France during the era ?

MarchDub

McArmalite wrote: »

Heard once that the names of Irish officers are inscribed on the Arc De Triomphe. Any truth in it ? Or for that matter, does anyone know of Irishmen who fought for France during the era ?

Yes, it is true. They were part of the French army and known as Legion Irlandaise - formed in 1803. The Irish had been part of the French Army since the Wild Geese days of the 1690s.

I will try and find a link about them.

MarchDub

Here are a couple of links which should be of help.


http://www.napoleonichistoricalsociety.com/articles/irishlegion.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~rggsibiba/html/sib/sib4.html

"Irishmen have served with distinction in the Irish Brigades of both the French Monarchy and the Republic and Irish names are among those of the great Generals engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris."
From a lecture delivered by Seán Ó Brádaigh in Dublin on January 21, 1989 marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the First (All-Ireland) Dáil Éireann in the Mansion House on January 21, 1919 and the links between Irish and French Republicans "Partners in revolution 200 years ago".

McArmalite

MarchDub wrote: »

Here are a couple of links which should be of help.


http://www.napoleonichistoricalsociety.com/articles/irishlegion.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~rggsibiba/html/sib/sib4.html

"Irishmen have served with distinction in the Irish Brigades of both the French Monarchy and the Republic and Irish names are among those of the great Generals engraved on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris."
From a lecture delivered by Seán Ó Brádaigh in Dublin on January 21, 1989 marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the First (All-Ireland) Dáil Éireann in the Mansion House on January 21, 1919 and the links between Irish and French Republicans "Partners in revolution 200 years ago".

Great links again MarchDub. Maybe when I am in Paris again sometime and if their is a possible guided tour of the Arc de Triomphe I'll enquire about the Irish names enscribed on it.

pablomakaveli

i remember reading that the irish legion was once under the personal command of napoleon. I think they helped capture a town and were allowed to guard the town and napoleon until the imperial guard arrived.

Kimaine

Charles Edward Jennings aka General Kilmaine, I think is the most famous of Irishmen, who fought for France during the revolutionary wars under Napoleon I (and fought too in the American war of Independence).
I am directly related to the bugger and have visited the Arc de Triumph in Paris, where his name can be seen. I think there is only one other Irish born general up there. General Clarke is of Irish descent but French born.
I had never even heard of him until a few years ago, until my uncle did our family history, Pretty awesome.:o
Read about him here on the wiki;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Jennings_de_Kilmaine

McArmalite

Kimaine wrote: »

Charles Edward Jennings aka General Kilmaine, I think is the most famous of Irishmen, who fought for France during the revolutionary wars under Napoleon I (and fought too in the American war of Independence).
I am directly related to the bugger and have visited the Arc de Triumph in Paris, where his name can be seen. I think there is only one other Irish born general up there. General Clarke is of Irish descent but French born.
I had never even heard of him until a few years ago, until my uncle did our family history, Pretty awesome.:o
Read about him here on the wiki;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Edward_Jennings_de_Kilmaine

Great post, interesting stuff.

Hagar

Here are the names inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe.

Morlar

This is also covered in Collins Barracks Museum which would be worth a visit if you are curious about it.

Barry O D

The Irish legion that fought for Napoleon did indeed guard napoleon for a night, the irish legion gained significant victories for the emperor in spain, i remember reading that they were the only group that held their position under bombardment while the rest of the army withdrew and they also captured a crucial town when all others failed. Certain Irish officers who were injured and showed gallentry were the first and some of the very few who received the legion d'honneur from the emperor himself.
The Irish legion was in fact the first and founding legion that evolved into the french foreign legion we have today