Eman Vovsi

General Antoine-henri De Jomini in 1812-1813: a New Retrospective View Eman Vovsi

A Swiss of the French extraction, Antoine-Henri Baron de Jomini (1779-1869) received first-hand experience in the Napoleonic Wars by serving in various capacities as a staff officer in 1805. He was quickly promoted, and by the end of 1810 Jomini had already become general de brigade, chevalier of the Legion of Honor and Baron of the French Empire. At that time, he was also a renowned military theorist, writing on history of Frederick the Great and Napoleon's campaigns in Italy. Jomini took part in the Russian campaign of 1812 where he served as a military governor of Vilna and then commandant of Smolensk. During the crossing of the Berezina, Jomini performed a series of reconnaissance missions, which allowed the Emperor Napoleon to save the remnants of his Grande Armée. In 1813 Jomini rejoined the French army as a Chief of Staff of Marshal Ney, and was nominated for a promotion and decoration for his distinctive service at the Battle of Bautzen. However, being unable to answer certain demands of his superiors, de Jomini was deprived of the long sought promotion; angry and frustrated, he joined allied forces in mid-August of 1813.