Joseph Sulkowski

Joseph Sulkowski
Józef Sułkowski by Antoni Brodowski
Born	c. 1770 Palatinate of Poznań
Died	22 October 1798 Cairo, Ottoman Egypt
Allegiance	Kingdom of France, First French Republic
Service/branch	Army
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	French Revolutionary Wars (Italy, Egypt)

Joseph Sulkowski (Józef Sułkowski, c. 1770, Palatinate of Poznań – 22 October 1798, Cairo, Egypt) was a Polish captain in the French Revolutionary Army and friend and aide de camp to Napoleon Bonaparte. He also became friends with Muiron, Vivant Denon, Lazare Carnot, Augereau, and Bourienne. His name is engraved on the Arc de Triomphe, on the 28th column, as SULKOSKY.

Life

Italy

A fine strategist, he played an important role in the first Italian campaign. It was his bravery that led to the capture of the Saint-George batteries. He was wounded at the battle of Arcole.

Egypt

He died in the revolt of Cairo on 22 October 1798, suffering from wounds received a few weeks earlier, and his body was given to the dogs. On hearing of his death Bonaparte showed remorse and, asked why he did not honour him more when he was alive, replied "On first meeting him, I saw in him a commander in chief". Dying too young, Carnot would have seen in him a potential replacement for the future emperor. Shortly before his death, he married one of the daughters of Venture de Paradis, an old military interpreter on the Egyptian expedition.