Rimbaud, a Burgundian of Provençal extraction, was a captain in the 47th Regiment of Infantry; he had risen from the ranks, and he had spent much of his service outside France.[3] From 1844 to 1850, he participated in the conquest of Algeria and in 1854 was awarded the Légion d'honneur[3] "by Imperial decree".[4] Captain Rimbaud was described as "good-tempered, easy-going and generous".[5] He had literary ambitions, had written guides for Arabic learners[6] and had translated the Quran into French.[3] (Rimbaud later used his father's material for his own Arabic studies.)[7]
In October 1852, Rimbaud, then 38, was transferred to Mézières when he met his future wife, then 27, Marie Catherine Vitalie Cuif (10 March 1825 – 16 November 1907), while on a Sunday stroll.[8] On 8 February 1853, they married. They had five children:
Nicolas Frédéric ("Frédéric"), 2 November 1853 – 2 July 1911[9][10]
Though the marriage lasted seven years, Rimbaud lived continuously in the matrimonial home for less than three months, from February to May 1853.[12] The rest of the time his military postings – including service in the Crimean War and the Sardinian Campaign (and earning medals for both)[13] – meant he returned home to Charleville only when on leave.[12] He was not at home for his children's births, nor their baptisms.[12] After Isabelle's birth in 1860, Rimbaud never returned to the family home.[14] After their separation, Mme. Rimbaud called herself "Widow Rimbaud".[14]
Rimbaud left the army in 1864 and retired to Dijon, where he died 14 years later.[15]