Paul de Bauffremont
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Paul Antoine Jean Charles, Duke of Bauffremont (11 December 1827, Palermo, Italy – 2 November 1893, Paris, France) was a French general, most notable for leading the Charge de Sedan alongside Gaston Alexandre Auguste. He was also the first husband of Valentine de Riquet de Caraman-Chimay, whom he divorced in 1875.
Bauffremont was born on 11 December 1827 in Palermo, Italy. He was the son of Alphonse de Bauffremont (1792–1860) and Caterina Isabella Moncada (1795–1878). His mother was a member of the House of Moncada, a Spanish and Italian aristocratic noble family House with important ramifications in Sicily.
His paternal grandparents were Alexandre Emanuel Louis, Prince of Bauffremont, and Marie Antoinette Rosalie Pauline de Quélen (a daughter of Paul François de Quélen de Stuer de Caussade, 2nd Duke of La Vauguyon). His maternal grandparents were Giovanni Luigi Moncada, 9th Prince of Paternò, and Giovanna Emanuele Maria delle Bosco e Bosco di Branciforte (a daughter of Vincenzo del Bosco, 6th Prince of Belvedere).
Career
A student at École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, he left in 1848 to join the cavalry. Promoted to captain, he was the first to enter Ouargla in Algeria in 1854.
In 1856 he was part of the Embassy sent to Russia. As captain in the 6th Hussars, he fought in the Italian campaign; as Lieutenant-colonel, in Mexico (1865–1867) with the 5th Hussar Regiment and the 1st Marching Cavalry Regiment.
As Colonel of the 1st Hussar Regiment in 1867, he commanded the famous the Charge de Sedan alongside Gaston Alexandre Auguste in 1870 where he had two horses killed under him. Prisoner, he returned from captivity to resume command of the 7th Hussars. Bauffremont was made Brigadier General on 9 November 1876, before becoming General Councilor of Haute-Saône.
For his military efforts, he was made a Officer of the Legion of Honor.[1]
