General Pierre Banel

Friend to Lannes who was killed at Cossaria

Born: July 30, 1766

Place of Birth: Lectoure, Gers, France

Died: April 13, 1796

Cause of Death: Killed in action

Place of Death: Cossaria, Italy

Arc de Triomphe: BANEL on the south pillar

Pronunciation:

Pierre Banel's military career began when he enlisted as a soldier in the regiment of Vintimille in 1784. In 1789 he was promoted to sergeant and then in June of 1792 he joined the 2nd Battalion of Volunteers of Gers and was elected an officer. A year later Banel was serving as a lieutenant colonel of the 7th Battalion of Aude. Serving with the Army of the Eastern Pyrenees, in September of 1793 he fought at the combat of Orles and later at Peyrestortes , and a month later he was promoted to chef de brigade. That December Banel took part in the attack of the camp of Villelongue and then he was promoted to général de brigade.

For the first half of 1794 Banel served in Pérignon's division, taking part in the fighting at Montesquieu and Llobregat. Next he joined Augereau's division and he took part in the combat of Bezalu that June, and then in November he fought at the Battle of Montagne Noire . 1795's notable events for Banel started in March when Banel was a witness at the wedding of his friend Jean Lannes.¹ Later that year he fought at Bascara and the Fluvia before transferring to the Army of Italy in September. He commanded Augereau's 2nd Brigade and was wounded by a shot at Loano in November. On April 4th of 1796, Banel replaced Rusca as commander of Augereau's 3rd Brigade, and barely more than a week later he was killed in action at Cossaria.

Notes

Margaret Chrisawn, The Emperor's Friend: Marshal Jean Lannes, (Westport: Greenwood Press, 2001), 14.

Bibliography

Six, Georges. Dictionnaire Biographique des Généraux & Amiraux Français de la Révolution et de l'Empire (1792-1814). 2 vols. Paris: Gaston Saffroy, 2003.

Related Pages:

Banel's friend Lannes

External Links:

Monuments to Banel

Updated June 2024