Count Jean-Baptiste Juvénal Corbineau (1776-1832) embarked on a military career at the age of sixteen when he joined the Army of the North and went on to serve in the Armies of the Sambre and Meuse, the Danube and Helvetia. By 1811 he had been promoted to general of brigade, commanded troops in the Russian campaign of 1812 and, in recognition of his performance during these battles, was appointed aide-de-camp to Emperor Napoleon. His loyalty and service to Napoleon eventually gained him the title of Count of the Empire. On the Emperor's abdication following the battle of Arcis-sur-Aube in 1814, Corbineau remained in France but he was unable to serve active duty, however he was reinstated as aide-de-camp on Napoleon's return from exile and fought alongside him in the battle of Waterloo.