RARE REWARD SABER OF THE ITALIAN ARMY - Lot 27

Lot 27
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Estimation :
15000 - 20000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 32 500EUR
RARE REWARD SABER OF THE ITALIAN ARMY - Lot 27
RARE REWARD SABER OF THE ITALIAN ARMY AWARDED TO SECOND LIEUTENANT GROUSELLE, 5TH REGIMENT OF DRAGOONS. Leather-covered handle with copper filigree. Brass mounting, gilded and chased. Pommel decorated with a fruit basket. Single-branch hilt with scrolled quillon (repaired at dovetail). Curved blade with flat back, hollow sides and counter-edge, with remains of gilding, engraved on one side "Armée d'Italie de l'an 4 et de l'an 5 - Sabre d'honneur" and "le général Bonaparte au nom de la République au C Grouselle Sous-lieutenant au 5e Régiment de dragons". Hook point. Leather-covered scabbard with openwork brass trimmings of four-lobed foliage scrolls and intermediate trim engraved with "La Patrie reconnaissante" "A ses défenseurs". Bowl with foliage decoration. Old "777" label. With two leather straps with chased brass fittings. The side of the scabbard signed "Pe Landi Brescia". A.B.E. Late 18th century, circa 1797. Related work: Only a few examples of the "Cent sabres pour l'armée d'Italie" are currently known. One is in the Musée de l'Armée in Paris, the other at the Musée de la Légion d'Honneur (from the Bernard Franck collection, also signed by Landi) and several in private hands. François-Antoine César GROUSELLE Born March 5, 1772, in Richemont, Aisne. Joined the 5th regiment as a dragoon on March 2 1792, and fought with great bravery in the first campaigns of the Revolution in the armies of the Nord, Ardennes, Sambre-et-Meuse and Rhine armies, from 1792 to year III. Brigadier on 28 Nivôse, An IV, he moved with his regiment to the Army of Italy, where he served with honor until the beginning of An VI. On 21 fructidor an IV, as he crossed the Brenta, near the village of Sigismone, he ran into a platoon of Austrian hussars protecting his regiment. a platoon of Austrian hussars protecting the village, sabred several of them, and having entered Sigismone, he charge on an enemy battalion occupying it, pass through it and seize several flags, which he took back to his regiment. back to his regiment. Promoted to maréchal-des-logis on 28 nivôse an V, he was promoted to maréchal-des-logis-chef on the following 15 thermidor. the following year. Sent to the Army of England in mid-Ann VI, he was part of the expedition against the Belgian insurgents in An VII. insurgents in Belgium, and marched in Year VIII against those in the West. Murat's orders, he was appointed second lieutenant on Pluviôse 13, An VIII, and received a sabre of honour on Germinal 27, An IX. In the Gironde observation corps, during years IX and X, Grouselle was promoted to lieutenant on the 9th of Prairial of the latter year, and served with the Ocean Coast Army in Year XII. When the Légion d'Honneur was created, he was classified as an ex officio member of the 2nd cohort and was Officer of the Order on Prairial 25, Year XII. Appointed captain-adjudant-major on Frimaire 20, An XIV, Grouselle retired on on July 20, 1807. He died in Joigny on January 1, 1839. History: In Udine, on 16 fructidor an V (April 28, 1797), the General-in-Chief of the Army of Italy, "wishing to bear witness of the country's gratitude to the brave soldiers who have distinguished themselves by dazzling deeds during the last two campaigns", ordered campaigns", orders: Art. 1 The General Chief of Staff (Berthier) will have ninety grenadier sabers and ten cavalry sabers made, with Damascus blades and the mount gilded and worked by the best craftsmen in Italy. Art. 2 On one side of the blade will be written in gold letters: Armée d'Italie, Division de., demi-brigade... Given, on behalf on behalf of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, by General Bonaparte to citizen... Le... année de of the Republic." On the other side of the blade will be written in gold letters: "Liberté, République française, Égalité" (Liberty, French Republic, Equality). and then the dazzling deed for which the sword was awarded... In addition, the award of this saber would result in a doubling of pay. Bonaparte's order also stipulated that any soldier who felt he or she deserved the award should submit a request to the board of directors of his Corps. The latter, after investigation, was to forward it to the Commander with its observations, so that the final list could be drawn up by the Commander-in-Chief for the 1st vendémiaire (September 22, 1797). [...] Complete file to be found in the catalog.
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