Pierre Berthezène

On 15 September 1793 he joined the 5th volunteer battalion of Hérault, amalgamated into the 7th provisional battle demi-brigade, which later became the 10th line infantry regiment in year 4.

He joined the armée des Pyrénées orientales, but a few days after the affair at Peyrestortes, the brigade went to reinforce the corps besieging Toulon.

After having served in Holland and Hannover, Berthezène was promoted to colonel in 1807 and was given command of the 10th light infantry regiment.

When the War of the Fifth Coalition started, Berthezène and his regiment joined the division of Saint-Hilaire near Regensburg.

In this latter capacity Berthezène served during the Russian Campaign where he commanded three regiments of the Young Guard.

Louis XVIII awarded him the croix de Saint-Louis on 19 July and attached him to the committee for war on 18 December.

He fought at Ligny on 16 June, where his horse was shot from under him, and after Habert was badly wounded at Wavre took over command of his division.

On 20 June, Dominique Vandamme put him in command of two more infantry divisions and commanded him to hold up the enemy to buy time for Marshal Grouchy to take up position at Dinant - this led to a fierce battle beneath the walls of Namur in which Berthezène's horse was again killed under him.

When the provisional government seemed to wish to withdraw behind Paris, Berthezène was sent to take command of 3rd corps, but the armistice was concluded and he returned to his division.

On 14 June 1830 Berthezène landed his troops on the coast near Algiers and attacked and took an artillery battery of 16 pieces.

He took office on 21 March and served until the end of December 1831 during his tenure he concentrated French efforts on the city of Algiers and other major ports opposing designs on the Algerian hinterland that exceeded the resources available to him.