Armand Philippon

Armand Philippon ( , ; 27 August 1761 – 4 May 1836), sometimes called Phillipon, was a French military officer of the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.

Despite enlisting in the army as a private soldier, Philippon rose to the rank of general of division during the Peninsular War, and was created Baron in 1809. He was Governor of Badajoz between 1811 and 1812, when he was captured by the British following the Battle of Badajoz. After his capture, Philippon was taken to the UK, but he broke his parole and returned to France and the Grande Armée before retiring from military service on 15 January 1814.

Biography

Philippon was born in Rouen on 27 August 1761, and enlisted as a soldier in the Regiment of Lorraine on 15 April 1778. He was promoted to corporal on 16 April 1785, sergeant in November 1786 and sergeant major on 15 April 1790.

Philippon was transferred to the Army of the West in Year IV (1795–1796), then posted to the Army of the Danube in Year VII (1798–1799) where he was given command of the 87th demi-brigade. The years IX–XI (1800–1803) were spent campaigning in Grisons, Valais, Switzerland and Italy,

After moving to the French Army of Hanover, Philippon was made a member of the Légion d'honneur on 19 Frimaire Year XII (November 1803) and an officer of that order on 25 Prairial (14 June 1804). While Sir William Beresford, the commander of the Allied Anglo–Spanish–Portuguese corps besieging Badajoz, was defending against Soult's attempt to relieve the siege at the Battle of Albuera, Philippon led a sally from Badajoz and destroyed much of the abandoned siege-works, and continued to offer resistance to Allies until the siege was lifted on 20 June.

Siege of Badajoz. Watercolour en grisaille by Richard Caton Woodville Jr.

In recognition of his defence of Badajoz, Philippon was promoted to general of division on 9 July 1811, and he remained in command of the fortress's garrison.

Returning to France at the time of the First Restoration, Philippon was created a Knight of Saint Louis, retired from military service on 15 January 1814, and died on 4 May 1836.