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Niel, Adolphe

Date of birth:
October 4th, 1802 (domaine de Brioudes, Muret, Haute-Garonne)
Date of death:
August 13th, 1869 (Paris)
Nationality:
French (1870-present, Republic)

Biography

aka « le Poliorcčte »

1821: École polytechnique
1823: école d'application de Metz
1825: sous-lieutenant
1827: promoted to lieutenant
1835: promoted to capitaine
1836: deployed in Algeria
October 1837: état-major du génie, corps expéditionnaire - siege of Constantine, Algeria
1846: promoted to colonel
1849: chef d'état-major du génie, campagne de Rome - expedition Rome, Italy
1849: promoted to général de brigade
1853: promoted to général de division
1854: commandant en second d'escadre, capture of the Bomarsund fortress -Baltic sea
1855: aide de camp, Napoléon III
1855: commandant en chef du génie, armée d'Orient - capture of Sébastopol, Crimea
June 1857: sénateur
1859: commandant, 4e corps, campaign in Italy
June 1859: battles of Magenta then Solférino
May 1859: promoted to maréchal de France
January 1867: ministre de la Guerre
February 01st, 1868: created the Garde Mobile and urged the adoption of the Chassepot rifle

Awards:
July 25th, 1849: Sicilian Royal Military Order of Saint Georges of the Réunion
1849: Papal States' Medal of the siege of Rome
October 19th,1859: French medal of the Italian campaign

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Rank:
Capitaine (Captain)
Unit:
état-major du Génie, Corps expéditionnaire contre Constantine
Awarded on:
October 1937
for the capture of Constantine, Algeria
Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Awarded on:
April 17th, 1845
Officier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
1st Italian War of Independence (1848-1849)
Awarded on:
July 4th, 1849
Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni - Knight Commander
Awarded on:
May 10th, 1852
Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Awarded on:
August 28th, 1854
Grand Officier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
November 14th, 1854
Ordo Sancti Gregorii Magni - Grand Cross
Rank:
General de division (Major-general )
Awarded on:
September 22nd, 1855
for the capture of Sebastopol, Crimea
Grand Croix de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
January 3rd, 1856
Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB, military division)
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
March 17th, 1856
or 27.03.1856
Mecidiye Nişanı - 2nd class
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
May 16th, 1856
Komtur I. Klasse zum Friedrichs-Orden
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
August 29th, 1856
Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro - Cavaliere di gran croce
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
April 23rd, 1857
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
May 2nd, 1857
Period:
Crimean War (1853-1856)
Awarded on:
December 14th, 1858
Kungliga Svärdsorden - Grand Cross
Rank:
Maréchal de France (Marshal of France)
Awarded on:
July 4th, 1859
Médaille Militaire
Period:
1st Italian War of Independence (1848-1849)
Rank:
Cavaliere
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1859
Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata
Rank:
Knight
Awarded on:
September 3rd, 1867
Kungliga Serafimerorden
Awarded on:
1867
Großkreuz zum Königlich Ungarischer Orden des Heiligen Stephan
Awarded on:
1867
Osmanlı Devlet Nişanı 1st class
Awarded on:
November 21st, 1867
Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada - Grand Cross

Photo