Pierre Joseph Jeanningros

Pierre Jean Joseph Jeanningros, (November 21 1816 Besançon, France - April 30 1902) was a French général, famous for having commanded the French Foreign Legion.

Military career


on November 20 1834, he became a soldier, as an enfant troop (enfant de troupe) at the 66th Line Infantry Regiment (66e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne), his Father's unit. He promoted to Caporal (Corporal) on July 6 1835, Fourrier (fourrier) (fourrier: non-commissioned officer responsible for stewardship) on December 14 1836 and Grenadier Fourrier on April 21 1836. On December 1 1836, he was assigned as a Sergent (Sergeant) at the Zouaves (Zouaves) Regiment. He passed Sergeant Major (Sergent-Major) on August 16 1837 and Sous-Lieutenant on June 21 1840.

On September 8 1841, he was a signed as a Sous-Lieutenant at the 2nd Zouaves Regiment (2e Régiment de Zouaves). He was accordingly promoted to Lieutenant on January 2 1842 and Captain on July 10 1847.

On March 14 1852, he returned as Captain at the 1st Zouaves Regiment (1er Régiment de Zouaves) and was designated as Capatain Adjudant Major on May 3 1852.

On February 7 1854, he was designated as a Chef de bataillon (Commandant - Major) at the 43rd Line Infantry Regiment (43e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne) and was assigned on July 4 1855 to the 1st Guard Voltigeurs Regiment.

On October 2 1855, he was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel at the 82nd Line Infantry Regiment (82e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne) and passed Colonel on July 12 1859 at the 43rd Line Infantry Regiment (43e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne).

Under a Ministerial decision, he was assigned as a Colonel at Foreign Regiment in Mexico (Mexique) and became superior commander of Veracruz (Veracruz) and the Hot Lands from June 14 1863 to February 26 1864. Since June 20 1865, he was assigned to the commandment of the subdivision of Monterrey (Monterrey), including the States of Cacahuiel and Leon (Léon).

On August 1 1865, he was designated as Général de brigade, commanding the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of the same States. He conserved simultaneously his position at the head of the Foreign Legion, until May 31 1866. He was accordingly designated as superior commandant for the States of Querétaro (Querétaro) and Sierra.

He entered back to France with the occupation army and disembarked at Saint-Nazaire on March 28 1867. He was named by an Imperial decision on March 30 1867 to the commandment of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division (2e Division d'Infanterie) of the Imperial Guard, consisting of:


 * The Zouaves (Zouaves)
 * The 1st Grenadier Regiment à Pied of the Imperial Guard (1er Régiment de Grenadiers à Pied de la Garde Imperial)
 * The Regiment of Gendarmerie

On October 23 1870, he was made a prisoner of war for the capitulation of the Army at Metz and was interred in Germany at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). He returned to France on March 12 1871 where he was of disposition and availability.

On June 11 1871, he was nominated to the commandment of the subdivision of Indre-et-Loire, at Tours.

On August 17 1871, he was nominated to the commandment of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the 4th Corps of the Army of Versailles (Armée de Versailles), by Ministerial decision.

By decree on May 22 1873, he was promoted to Général de division and placed at the position of disposition, starting June 1st. On October 18 1873, he was nominated to the commandment of the 13th Infantry Division (13e Division d'Infanterie), which was part of the 1st Army Corps (1er Corps d'Armée), commanded by The Duke (général Duc d'Aumale).

On June 16 1874, he became inspector general of the 13th Infantry Arrondissement and added progressively to this active command, the subdivisions of the regions of Bourg, Belley, and Langres. From June 30 1876 to July 2 1877, he was the inspector general of the 13th Infantry Arrondissement.

On January 22 1878, he was designated as the commandant of the 8th Infantry Division (8e division d'infanterie), at the 4th Army Corps (4e Corps d'Armée). From May 27 1878 to May 12 1881, he was inspector general of the 8th Infantry Arrondissement. In October 1881, he joined to his division commandment that of the divisions of Mayenne, Laval, Mayenne, Le Mans, Alençon and Argentan.

As of November 21 1881, he was admitted by Presidential decision to the reserve section. On November 23, on his demand, he was admitted to valorize his rights for retirement pension. He was officially retired by decree on January 17 1882 after 48 years of service.

In 1883, he was designated as inspector general of the scholar battalion (bataillons scolaires). This patriotic movement regrouped institution members, interested in implementing basic physical culture and discipline to the young French people.

In 1889, he retired from all works.

Recognitions and Honors
His bravery during combats of the conquest of Algeria nicknamed him as "le Bayard des braves"

Wounded 6 times under fires, he totalized 4 citations.


 * 1843, Knight of the Order of the Légion d'honneur.
 * 1856, Officer of the Order of the Légion d'honneur.
 * 1856, 4th Class of the Ottoman Order of the Medjidie
 * 1863, Medal of His Majesty the King of Sardinia (Crimean Campaign).
 * 1863, Commander of the Imperial Order of the Légion d'honneur.
 * 1864, Commander of the Imperial Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
 * 1866, Grand Officer of the Imperial Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
 * 1877, Grand Officer of the Order of the Légion d'honneur.

He was also titular of the following decorations:


 * Crimea Medal
 * Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign
 * Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition
 * Valor Medal of Sardinia

Since 1986, a road in Servon bears his name.

A statue of the general was inaugurated on August 15 1909 at Besançon, by the Minister of War at the époque, general Brun. In light of construction of a war memorial depicting the war of 1914/1918, the statue was moved. Fabricated in bronze, the occupation authorities ordered, in 1942, to melt it simultaneously along with that of Pierre Joseph Proudhon which was near by.