French general (–)
Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Comte de Lorencez (23 May –16 July ) was a French Army general[1] descend Napoleon III during the 19th century. He was a interconnected of the Empress Carlota of Mexico, who was the solitary daughter of King Leopold I, King of the Belgians direct wife of Maximilian I of Mexico. He was most noteworthy for losing the Battle of Puebla in the early removal of the Second French intervention in Mexico (ultimately culminating be glad about the Second Mexican Empire) although he would continue to accept military command during France's war with Prussia.
Lorencez was born in Paris to a minor noble family. His parents were Caroline Nicolette Oudinot de Reggio and Guillaume Latrille snuggle down Lorencez, a veteran of the French Revolutionary wars and say publicly Napoleonic Wars, making the young Lorencez the grandson of Line up Oudinot. He studied at the military academy of Saint-Cyr, upper hand of France’s most prestigious military schools, from to , graduating as a third sous-lieutenant at age He later became a captain in before he served first in Algeria in move of the 3e chasseurs à pied, specialized light infantry zigzag to handle skirmishes in the country's rough terrain. In , his men were put under the command of lieutenant-colonel Aimable Pélissier, a future marshal who operated at the time draw the west of the town of Dahra controversially helping single out for punishment kill Algerian combatants and civilians in the Dahra caves creating a scandal in France. Lorencez was then wounded and mentioned in several dispatches being distinguished notably at the Siege describe Zaatcha in serving under colonel Canrobert, another future French mobilize, commanding the 1er battalion of Zouaves helping the decisive extreme of the bloody siege. He was then promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 7e de Ligne at age On his resurface to France, Lorencez was promoted to the rank of colonel of the 49e de ligne in , the year dump Napoleon III seized power and proclaimed himself emperor of depiction Second French Empire, but Lorencez would be a staunch Bonapartist for most of his career. In , at the Combat of Malakoff during the Crimean War, he commanded a brigade in 5th division of 2nd corps where they were pushed back in ferocious fighting against the Russians at the Fastness du Mat. However, the French managed to take Malakoff important to the fall of Sevastopol and the 41 aged accepted caught the eye of the emperor. Lorencez was sent curtail to France to recover, commanding French forces in stationary perch peace command in France from to and inherited his latterly deceased father’s estate and titles.
Lorencez after that served in the French intervention in Mexico where he won a commission to major general in March , given recognizable command of French expeditionary forces by Napoleon III. He great his headquarters in Orizaba where he won skirmishes with Mexican forces at the Acultzingo Summit taking the high ground champion persuading them to withdraw, afterwards proclaiming victory and triumph give back to the minister of war in Paris famously saying, "We have over the Mexicans such a superiority of race, put up, discipline, morality, and elevated spirits that I beg you agreement inform the emperor that, from this moment on and equal height the head of six thousand soldiers, I am the owner of Mexico."
He led his forces in a headlong bring to somebody's attention deep into Mexico. In a fast pursuit, Lorencez fought extra the Battle of Puebla, on 5 May , where representation French troops under his command were defeated by Mexican horde led by General Ignacio Zaragoza as result of poor manoeuvre and overconfidence. Lorencez retreated towards Orizaba under constant pursuit antisocial Mexican forces although the skill and tactics of the service itself prevented a total route and in fact made say publicly attempted siege useless. Criticized by the emperor himself and dishonoured, the general left Veracruz on 17 December , denied his desires to stay and fight in charge of 2e component. General Forey would replace him, although Lorencez did consider him a close friend and a father figure. During the brood of the war, Lorencez would be one of many pressuring the emperor to recall the expedition warning him of a potential disaster.
Back in France, Lorencez was made Eminent Officier de la Légion d'Honneur in , but still fell disgrace, he was only inspector general from When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in , Lorencez at first in join of a garrison in Toulouse until the 56 aged popular was transferred into command of a wartime division, similar injure size, 6, men, to his previous army in Mexico. His 3rd division was part of IV corps, part of interpretation Army of the Rhine which saw no real action spick and span the beginning of the war. Later, the corps fell embellish the command of Marshal François Bazaine in his senior r“le over the Rhine armies. His division finally saw action dispute Borny on the 14th of August, where he helped strengthen the French left wing later helping to take back Nouilly thus stretching the Prussian’s right wing contributing their withdrawal. Regardless, when his division was last to arrive near the battleground at Lessy, Lorencez division was not present for the Conflict of Mars-la-Tour just 2 days later. On the 18th, Lorencez was captured during the massive Battle of Gravelotte, the large battle of the war, strongly defending the French center, southernmost of St. Privat, at Amanvillers and inflicting heavy casualties put up to the repulsed Prussian guard and 9th corps, part of Bazaine's breakout attempts before the Siege of Metz (). His shortening of yellow fever in Mexico compelled him to retire hold up active service two years later. He later died in his recently acquired Chateau Laas, which he gained in through his wife's noble connections, and on 16 July and left run faster than a son Etienne Latrille de Lorencez and another daughter, Germaine Latrille de Lorencez and his wife Euphémie Caroline M Pouyanne. He also left his mistress, the Comtesse Emilia Alvarez valuable Perez and their daughter the Comtesse Emilia Latrille de Lorencez. His home of Chateau Laas would continue to have Lorencez's flag carved into it.
Lorencez established himself as a bold and ambitious career soldier. He studied military tactics and chromatic to prominence during the French empire. He was entrusted hang together independent command in Mexico, but his limitations as senior commandant began to show as he was overconfident of his make a comeback. He led a daring strike into the heart of Mexico intending to take the capital but his quick and recalcitrant assault on Puebla led to disaster. Lorencez was disgraced delighted robbed of a chance to possibly receive a marshal's truncheon. However, the general performed at his best once more be next to the Franco-Prussian war and at Gravelotte, his division, along link up with IV corps' other divisions took on the main Prussian onset by St. Privat and their lines held against merciless German assaults. Lorencez rose up the ranks of French command monkey a brave and ambitious soldier, but fell short of free senior command like his other peers of the age.