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Draft:Lambert Nypels

Lambert Nypels, born on June 24, 1783, in Maastricht and died on August 22, 1851, in Brussels, was a Belgian military officer. He served in the Grande Armée and took part in numerous Napoleonic wars. At the end of the Empire, he joined the Netherlands Armed Forces and, in 1830, when Belgium gained independence, he sided with Belgium. He then led the Belgian troops until his retirement in 1842.

Biography edit

Early Military Service edit

Lambert Pierre Antoine André Servais was born on June 24, 1783, in Maastricht[1][2]. On March 1, 1801, at the age of 18, he enlisted as a sergeant in the service of the French First Republic, in the légion franche[1][2]. He fought in Italy and was promoted to second lieutenant in May of the same year[1], but only remained a non-commissioned officer for three months[2].

Napoleonic Wars edit

In 1804, Napoleon planned to invade England, and Nypels was to take part in the assault[3][2]. The project was ultimately abandoned, and he was sent to Germany. From 1805 to 1814, he participated in various military campaigns of the First French Empire[3]. During this period, Lambert Nypels showed a "chivalrous" character in the face of the enemy[3].

He thus participated in 1805 in the battles of Wertingen, Günzburg, Elchingen, and Austerlitz[3][4]. He was shot in the leg at the Battle of Jena in 1806 and was promoted to lieutenant for "brilliant conduct"[3]. In 1807, he fought at Eylau and Friedland[3]. He was wounded in 1809 at Raab[3], where he was hailed as "brave among the bravest"[5].

He continued to fight and took part in the Battle of Wagram[3]. There, he was hit by a cannonball, which "plowed" through both his thighs[3][5]. He then returned to France and was promoted to captain on November 17, 1809[3][5]. He did not hesitate to return to the battlefield, this time with the Army of Spain, participating in the entire Spanish campaign. He then rejoined the Grande Armée and was gravely wounded at the Battle of Maloyaroslavets and witnessed the French invasion of Russia[6][5].

In 1813, he was once again wounded, this time by a shell fragment, in Mantua, Italy[6]. The same year, he was promoted to battalion commander and took part in the Saxon campaign[6]. The following year, during the 1814 campaign in France, he fought at the battles of Brienne, La Rothière, Champaubert, and Montereau[6].

Belgian Officer edit

On March 14, 1815, at his request, he resigned from the French army and on April 4, joined the newly formed Netherlands Armed Forces with the rank of lieutenant-commander[6][7]. He commanded the 21st militia battalion, then the following year the infantry division depot, and in 1826, he took command, with the rank of colonel, of the 3rd infantry division[6].

In 1830, Belgium was formed, and the provisional government called on officers in the Netherlands. Nypels, despite his advantageous position in the Dutch army, joined Belgium[6]. He was promoted to major general, and on October 3, 1830, he took command of the mobile forces[6]. His role was to turn the volunteers into a real armed force. At the end of the year, he was promoted to lieutenant general[8].

In 1831, while commanding the 2nd division, the Netherlands attempted to regain control of Belgium[8]. Although it was unsuccessful, Nypels was, according to some, involved in this counter-revolution[8]. He then decided that his conduct should be examined by the high military court and voluntarily became a prisoner. A non-lieu ruling closed the case[8].

On November 20, 1832, he joined the headquarters of Leopold I[8].

Later Life edit

In 1835, he ran for election and was selected for the Ruremonde district but was not elected due to nationality issues[9].

On December 14, 1837, he was appointed president of the Military Pensions Commission, a position he held until August 19, 1838[7].

While he retired from the military on July 18, 1842, he was appointed by the government as the senior commander of the Brussels Civic Guards[8]. He held this position until 1849[8][7]. He died in Brussels on August 22, 1851, and was buried in the cemetery of Saint-Josse-ten-Noode[8].

Titles and Honors edit

1809: Legion of Honour Cross[5] 1813: Knight of the Legion of Honour[6]. 1814: Officer of the Legion of Honour[6]. 1833: Knight of the Order of Leopold[8]. 1837: Officer of the Order of Leopold[8].

See also edit

  Media related to Lambert Nypels at Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography edit

  • Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium (1901). Biographie nationale de Belgique (PDF) (in French). Vol. 16. Brussels: Bruylant Editions. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  • Laroière, Louis de (1880). Military Pantheon or Memorial of Belgian Generals, Inspector Generals of the Health Service & Chief Intendants, who died since 1830 (in French). De Laroière. Retrieved August 8, 2023.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Biographie nationale de Belgique, p. 28.
  2. ^ a b c d Laroière, p. 127.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Biographie nationale de Belgique, p. 29.
  4. ^ Laroière, p. 128.
  5. ^ a b c d e Laroière, p. 129.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Biographie nationale de Belgique, p. 30.
  7. ^ a b c Laroière, p. 130.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Biographie nationale de Belgique, p. 31.
  9. ^ "Chamber of Representatives of Belgium. Session of Monday, August 10, 1835". www.unionisme.be. Retrieved 2023-07-26.

External links edit


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