Nansouty commanded Napoleon's heavy cavalry, of which he was one of the great leaders, a general under the Empire. His epitaph says not a word of it: it lists only three royal offices obtained after 1814, among them captain-lieutenant of the Musketeers of the Guard. It has him born in Burgundy when he was born in Bordeaux.
The story
The epitaph of Étienne de Nansouty cites no imperial title. It lists three offices, all obtained after 1814: lieutenant general of the King's armies, inspector general of Dragoons, captain-lieutenant of the 1st company of the Musketeers of the Guard — the king's military household, restored.
Étienne Antoine Marie Champion, comte de Nansouty, was nevertheless one of the great commanders of Napoleon's heavy cavalry, a general of division under the Empire. He was born on 30 May 1768 and died in Paris on 12 February 1815.
The stone gets one more thing wrong: it has him born “en Bourgogne”, in Burgundy, when he was born in Bordeaux. The grave of a cavalryman of the Empire says nothing of the Empire, and mistakes his province.
The grave
An inscription that picks a side: “Ici repose, Etienne Antoine Marie CHAMPION, comte de NANSOUTY, né en Bourgogne le 30 mai 1768, lieutenant général des armées du Roi, inspecteur général des Dragons, capitaine lieutenant de la 1ʳᵉ Compagnie des Mousquetaires de la Garde.” — Here rests Étienne Antoine Marie Champion, Count of Nansouty, born in Burgundy on 30 May 1768, lieutenant-general of the King's armies, inspector general of the Dragoons, captain-lieutenant of the 1st Company of the Musketeers of the Guard. No imperial title appears, though he was one of Napoleon's generals of division. The birthplace, for its part, is wrong: the stone says Burgundy, he was born in Bordeaux.
On site, do not miss
The inscription cites no imperial title: only “lieutenant général des armées du Roi, inspecteur général des Dragons, capitaine lieutenant de la 1ʳᵉ Compagnie des Mousquetaires de la Garde” — lieutenant-general of the King's armies, inspector general of the Dragoons, captain-lieutenant of the 1st Company of the Musketeers of the Guard. It has him born “en Bourgogne”, in Burgundy.
Visitors' questions
Where is Nansouty's grave?
In Division 27, chemin du Dragon, fifth row. The inscription lists three titles, all of them won under the Restoration, and says he was born “in Burgundy” — whereas he was born in Bordeaux.
Armand Joseph BruatWhere was he born?
The stone is wrong: he was born at Bordeaux, on 30 May 1768, and his epitaph has him born “en Bourgogne”, in Burgundy.
Anne-François TrelliardWhat titles did he carry?
General of division under the Empire, then, under the Restoration, lieutenant-general of the King's armies, inspector general of Dragoons and captain-lieutenant of the 1st company of the King's Musketeers.
Emmanuel de GrouchyDoes his epitaph mention the Empire?
No — and that is what makes it remarkable: it keeps only his royal titles, won after 1814. Napoleon's cavalry general lies beneath an inscription that speaks of nothing but the king's military household.
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