Carlo Balabio

Carlo Balabio (1759–1838) was an Italian cavalry commander who served during the Napoleonic Wars.



Military Service
Balabio was born in Milan on 14 April 1759 to a rich banking family. He studied first at Monza and then at Pavia, where he obtained a law degree. Initially beginning as a criminal lawyer, he was persuaded by his family to enter commerce and worked in business with the Commissioner of the Austrian Army in Italy. Forced out of business by the French invasion of 1796 he then entered military service as a commander of a detachment of cavalry, armed at his own expense with what remained of his fortune. In less than four months he was promoted Captain and then Caposquadrone.

By the beginning of the War of the Second Coalition in 1799 he was an officer in the Cisalpine Republic acting as ADC (Aide de Camp) to Moreau, then Joubert during the campaign in Northern Italy. After Joubert's death at the catastrophic Battle of Novi, Balabio fled with his troops and joined the forces under Masséna, distinguishing himself as ADC during the Siege of Genoa 1800, for which he was promoted Colonel.

In 1805 he commanded the 2nd Hussar Regiment (2.o reggimento Ussari Cisalpino) in the Kingdom of Italy) and Guides as part of Pino's Division during the planned invasion of England in France. He took part in the campaign in Germany against Mack that led to the Battle of Ulm, before returning to Italy. Based in Cremona, his regiment of hussars was converted to dragoons, taking the name "Dragoni Napoleone", The other regiment (the 1st), commanded by Colonel Pietro Luigi Viani, was simultaneously converted to dragoons and named "della Regina".

In 1806 his regiment served under Massena in the conquest of Naples. Promoted Gen di Brigata, he was appointed commander of the cavalry division under Pino in 1807 and moved to Pomerania to face the troops of Gustavus IV of Sweden.

In 1808 he commanded the Italian Cavalry brigade attached to Pino's Division as part of Gouvion St.Cyr's VII Corps in Spain, and saw action at the Siege of Gerona, and the actions at Hostalrich 15 December and Cardadeu 16th. In February 1809 he served at the Battle of Valls. Unable to continue in active service, he was replaced by Palombini in 1809 and made Deposito Generale in the Department of Lodi.

On November 23, 1811 Balabio was appointed Inspector General of the cavalry. Following the virtual destruction of the mounted arm of the Kingdom of Italy in 1812 Balabio had the task of reforming the remnants for the 1813 campaign. At the end of the war he was stationed in Mantua, after the peace he retired as Major General.

Balabio died in Milan, almost in poverty, on 8 August 1838.