General Raymond Gaspard de Bonardi de Saint-Sulpice

Heavy cavalry commander who distinguished himself at Eylau and throughout the Danube campaign of 1809

Born: December 23, 1761

Place of Birth: Paris, Paris, France

Died: June 20, 1835

Place of Death: Paris, France

Arc de Triomphe: ST SULPICE on the west pillar

The son of the seigneur of Crecy Saint-Sulpice, Raymond Gaspard de Bonardi de Saint-Sulpice joined the army as a sous-lieutenant in the 13th Dragoons in 1777. In 1781 he received a promotion to capitaine. In 1792 Saint-Sulpice was named lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Dragoons and then promoted to chef de brigade of the 12th Dragoons. He served with the Army of the Ardennes but in September of 1793 he was suspended as a noble by the representatives of the people. In June of 1795 Saint-Sulpice was allowed to return to the army and he was sent to the Army of Italy. However, he resigned shortly thereafter and he didn't rejoin the army until March of 1797. At that time Saint-Sulpice returned to the army as the chef de brigade of the 5th Chasseurs à Cheval in the Army of Holland. He went on to serve in the Army of the Rhine and then in 1799 he was named commander of the 19th Cavalry. At the end of the year Saint-Sulpice distinguished himself in a charge near Wiesloch.

During the years of the Consulate, Saint-Sulpice was promoted to général de brigade in March of 1803. He was put on standby later that year and then sent to the camp of Bayonne. In November of 1804 Saint-Sulpice was named an equerry to the empress and then in April of 1805 he was called to the camp of Brest. For the campaign against the Third Coalition of 1805, he took command of a brigade of General d'Hautpoul's heavy cavalry division. Saint-Sulpice continued to serve during the campaign of 1806 and that year he fought at the combat of Biezun. In February of 1807 he fought at the Battle of Eylau where he was wounded in the wrist and distinguished himself by continuing to charge despite his wound. The week after the battle, he was promoted to général de division and given command of d'Hautpoul's division due to d'Hautpoul's mortal wound.

In 1808 Saint-Sulpice was named a Count of the Empire and for the Danube campaign of 1809 he served in the cavalry reserve under Marshal Bessières. That April he served at Abensberg, Eckmühl, and Ratisbon and in May he fought at Aspern-Essling . After the conclusion of the campaign, Saint-Sulpice was named colonel of the Dragoons of the Guard. In 1811 he took command of a mobile column sent out to stop insurgents and deserters in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th military divisions. For the campaign against Russia of 1812, Saint-Sulpice commanded the Dragoons of the Guard and therefore did not see action.

After returning to France in 1813, Saint-Sulpice was named colonel of the 4th Regiment of the Guards of Honor which was organized at Lyon. He went on to lead his regiment throughout the campaign in Saxony of 1813. In 1814 Saint-Sulpice served under Marshal Augereau at Lyon. After Napoleon's abdication and the Bourbon Restoration, Saint-Sulpice was named a Knight of Saint Louis and a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. He did not take an active part in the Hundred Days.

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Updated September 2019