François Charles Jean Pierre Marie d’Avrange d’Haugeranville

Born on 15 October 1782, died on 27 August 1827 in Paris

Francois of Avrange enlists in 5th Hussars Regiment on 5 October 1796; he is promoted supernumerary Lieutenant on 31 January 1800 and gets a charge in the 12th Hussars Regiment the same year. On 7 January 1802, he is appointed supernumerary Captain in the 9th Dragoons Regiment and becomes aide-de-camp to General Berthier on 21 July 1803. He makes the campaign of 1803 in the Army of Hanover and earns a charge in the 16th Dragoons Regiment on 24 March 1805. He is promoted Major in the 1st Dragoons in March 1806 and the Lieutenant-Colonel in the 4th Dragoons on 7 January 1807.

He is promoted colonel of the 6th Cuirassiers Regiment on 25 June 1807, leads his regiment during the campaign of 1809 and is wounded at Essling. He is elevated to the rank of Baron of the Empire on 10 September 1808. Appointed then aide-de-camp to Marshal Murat, he is admitted as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Chasseurs-a-Cheval Regiment of the Imperial Guard and promoted to Brigadier on 27 February 1813. During the campaign of Saxony, he commands the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Ad-Hoc Division of the 2nd Cavalry Corps. Wounded and captured at Leipzig, he is released on parole and returns to France in January 1814.

After the abdication, he is awarded Grand-Officer’s cross of the Legion of Honour. During the Hundred Days, he follows the King to Ghent, where he becomes commander of the Household. He is appointed first deputy Lieutenant-Colonel of the Life Guards on 14 November 1815 and dies on duty to the King following a riding accident.

His name is written on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.