General Francesco Federico Campana

Italian général de brigade who was killed at Ostrolenka

Born: February 5, 1771

Place of Birth: Turin, Italy

Died: February 16, 1807

Cause of Death: Killed in action

Place of Death: Ostrolenka, Poland

Arc de Triomphe: CAMPANA on the east pillar

Pronunciation:

An Italian soldier from Piedmont, Francesco Federico Campana, known as François Frédéric Campana to the French, began his military career in 1782 when he entered the artillery school of Turin. Twelve years later in 1794 he joined the French army and was assigned to the Army of Italy. That year Campana was promoted to sous-lieutenant and then lieutenant and he served on Masséna's staff. In 1795 Campana was promoted to capitaine and he became an aide-de-camp to General Victor before seeing action at the battle of Loano where he was wounded.

Captain Campana took part in the Italian campaign of 1796 under General Bonaparte, and in late May of 1796 he was assigned to the 18th of the Line. After serving throughout that campaign until its conclusion in 1797, in 1798 he became an aide-de-camp to Masséna and then General Brune. In 1799 Campana was promoted to chef de bataillon by General Joubert and stationed in Piedmont before being attached to Joubert's staff in Italy. The next year Campana rejoined Masséna's staff and took part in the siege of Genoa where he was wounded during two sorties.

Campana remained in Italy during the years of peace that followed and in May of 1805 he was promoted to général de brigade. When the Grande Armée marched to war later that year, Campana was given command of the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division of V Corps. He took part in the campaign against the Third Coalition that year and served notably at Dürenstein . On Christmas Day of 1805 Campana was named a Commander of the Legion of Honor. The next year he remained with V Corps and took part in the campaign against Prussia, serving at Jena. In February of 1807 General Campana fought at Ostrolenka where he was killed by the ricochet of a cannonball.

Bibliography

Updated August 2026