Eloi Charlemagne Taupin | |
|---|---|
 Eloi Charlemagne Taupin | |
| Born | 17 August 1767 Barbery, Oise, France |
| Died | 10 April 1814 (aged 46) Toulouse, France |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service | Infantry |
| Years of service | 1787–1814 |
| Rank | General of Division |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Légion d'Honneur, CC 1805 |
| Other work | Baron of the Empire, 1809 |
| Signature |  |
Eloi Charlemagne Taupin (French pronunciation: [elwa ʃaʁləmaɲ topɛ̃]; 17 August 1767 – 10 April 1814) became a French soldier before the French Revolution and was killed in 1814 leading his division in battle against the British and the Spanish in southern France. After fighting in the French Revolutionary Wars, he was promoted to command an infantry regiment at the beginning of the First French Empire. He led the unit during the War of the Third Coalition in 1805. The following year he fought in the War of the Fourth Coalition. The year 1808 found him at Zaragoza in Spain where he was wounded. In 1809 he led a brigade during the War of the Fifth Coalition at Gefrees.
Taupin transferred again to Spain where he fought in the Peninsular War including the battles of Bussaco and Salamanca. He was appointed to command an infantry division in October 1812 and in January 1813 was promoted general of division. In 1813 he led his division in the battles of the Pyrenees, San Marcial, the Bidassoa, Nivelle and the Nive. In 1814 he conducted a particularly stubborn defense at Orthez and was fatally wounded leading an attack at Toulouse. Ironically, his death came a few days after Napoleon abdicated his throne. His surname is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 37.