Armand Barbès

Youth

Called by his admirors, “the conspirator out-par” and “Bayard of the democracy”, Barbès are today, the paradigm of the standard of the nineteenth century, courageous, generous and democratic “romantic revolutionist” true, but also as a recent source distinguishes it: “a man of action without program”. This future “ plague of establishement the ” (Marx) is born in a middle-class family from Point-with-Clown, Guadeloupe, on September 18th 1809. His/her father, surgeon military of Carcassonne (Aude), born with Capendu (Aude), veteran of the countryside of Egypt, transferred in Guadeloupe in 1801, will remain there until the fall of the Empire.

The family returned to Carcassonne, the oldest son of the doctor receives there in 1830, her revolutionary baptism. At 20 years, Armand, with fiber republican, as strong as early and of an imposing physique, was selected to carry out the local battalion of the national guard during the revolution of 1830. Battalion which his/her father equipped with his own pocket. By chance, it is not wounded.

The following year, Armand goes up to Paris to study medicine, but the sight of blood counterirritates it. Also, like the hero of Flaubert, Frederic Moreau, it launches out, body and heart, in the Droit. And, like this same hero, his parents die, leaving him a “large heritage”, if large that Barbès, released of the need for working is finally free to subject itself to the great passion of its life: “to conspire to reverse the mode in place” and in fact, the Monarchy of July.

In 1834, its adhesion with the Société Human rights is worth in Barbès its first arrest.

Released, at the beginning of 1835, it is used as lawyer to the 164 republican defendants put in charge for the insurrection of 1834; in July 1835, it will help twenty eight of them to escape from Holy-Pelagie, the Parisian prison “reserved for the policies”.

In 1834, SDH is hardly dismantled by the police force which Barbès founds transitory the Société of the avengers followed, the following year, by the Société of the Families. Company of which it composes the oath of adhesion, required passage for all the conspiring candidates. (see note). It was the beginning of its long and tumultuous “collaboration” with Blanqui. March 10th, 1836, Barbs and Blanqui are stopped by the police force, charging with the cartridges in the apartment which they divided in Paris. Barbs, condemned to one year of imprisonment, amnestied in 1837 will remain some time, in family with Carcassonne, where it erects scaffolding the plans of a secret new business and writes the booklet which will remain its only contribution to the revolutionary literature, Some words with those which have in favor of the Proletarians without work .

Gone back to Paris in 1838, Barbs joint with Blanqui to still form another republican secret society, the very proletarian Company of the Seasons .

The Company of the Seasons

Founding members of the Company of the Seasons, Barbès prepares the insurrection of May 12th, 1839 with Blanqui and Martin Bernard. Three republicans of the same vein, of the same generation, that of the revolutionary combat against the monarchy of July to the time of their youth, but from which the routes diverged then. Martin Bernard, Blanqui and Barbès, are generation of the secret societies. They knew the lawsuits and the prisons. If these three figures resemble each other so much, how to explain to it (only) radiation of Barbs and Blanqui? Why did they become of the emblematic figures of the republican movement?

Barbs and Blanqui

Thus, for reasons which sometimes meet (the sacrifice of their freedom agreed by the two men) or differ on the level from the doctrines and the characters, these two great figures belong indeed to the republican Pantheon where they profit both from a reputation of intransigent revolutionists, ever started by the inevitable compromises required by the exercise of the capacity. The two men who côtoient themselves since 1836 learned how well to know each other. Barbs, perhaps more reflected, is fascinated by Blanqui, romantic, intrepid but terribly inconsistent not to say unconscious. In addition to this fascination, it côtoie, also, while hoping, not to control it (what would be impossible) but at least to channel it. In truth, it has some secretly, fear. And admittedly that for the majority, Barbès was misled in all the blows by his/her large “friend” Blanqui (its evil genius?). March 10th, 1836, Barbs and Blanqui are stopped by the police force charging with the cartridges in the apartment which they divided, street of Oursine, in Paris ( business of the powders ). Barbs condemned to one year of imprisonment, is amnestied in 1837. There remains a certain time in family in Carcassonne.

Returned in Paris in 1838, it joint with Blanqui to form another secret society, the Seasons of the Company . In 1839, this Company, much more proletarian counts approximately nine hundred members and on May 12th, it feels enough strong to try a coup d'etat in Paris. Four hundred insurgent manages to briefly occupy the Assemblée, the Town hall and the Law courts , but the number and the weapons are lacking to them.

The failure of the coup d'etat of 1839 brings the Barbès divorce - Blanqui. What will harm deeply the extreme left at the time of the revolution of 1848 but also much later.

Blanqui, first chief of this blow, seems to have believed that Barbès, which had remained with the variation during a certain time, had finished, exhausted by being discouraged, more than his/her insurgent comrades.

In fact, released of prison in 1848, Barbès seems to be placed at the disposal of the moderate revolutionists in order to thwart Blanqui. Guided by Lamartine, it forms the club of the Revolution to counter the insurrectionary central Société of Blanqui prudently renamed: central republican Company .

Appointed Colonel of the national guard of the twelfth district, Barbès carries out its troops, on April 16th against a working demonstration carried out by Louis Blanc and Blanqui. The workmen required a more active social program and especially the adjournment of the elections to the constitutive National Assembly, all close relations. The demonstrators had a presentiment of that if the government did not have time " of instruire" the provincial ones, the new assembly would be dominated by the Parisian conservatives.

In March 1848 the hostility between Barbs and Blanqui bursts at the great day with the publication by the Taschereau journalist of an alleged document (drawn from the files of police force…) and which would prove that Blanqui had betrayed his/her conspiring comrades in 1839. A good number of historians, judge now highly probable that this document is " a forgery diffused (in the form of escapes) by the gouvernement" to destabilize Blanqui. Barbs, seems to him to accept the authenticity of this document, which will cause " terrible divisions" among the extreme left, divisions always present at the end of the century.

The two men who in a few years will be able from there to be wary one of the other, will end up hating themselves: confrontation of two characters, two logics but also after-effects of the bad blows (insurrectionary) .

In fact these reports/ratios are complex and difficult to seize, of outside and so tardily. To try to seize them, one could bring them closer, all things considered, of the reports/ratios rather ambiguous binding François Mitterrand and Michel Rocard or in the other camp, Chirac and Sarkozy. With each one to appreciate…

The “treason” of Barbs

Released of prison in 1848, Barbès seems to be itself placed at the disposal of the moderate revolutionists; constantly seeking to thwart Blanqui. Advised by Lamartine, it forms the club of the Revolution to counter the insurrectionary republican Centrale prudently of Blanqui, famous: Central republican Company .

Elected at the assembly constitutive of April 23rd, 1848, Barbs, with the extreme left of the hemicycle, will represent its department of origin the Aude. Its parliamentary career was short, because on May 15th, of the demonstrators invade the assembly, under the pretext of present a petition inviting the government has to imply itself more for the release of the Poland. Barbs, in the beginning opposed to the demonstration, initially tried to disperse crowd, but it seems to have lost the head by seeing Auguste Blanqui in the assembly. In an effort to take the head of the demonstration vis-a-vis its enemy , it diverts the riot towards the town hall, where a new republic, more radical, would be proclaimed. True balloon of goldbeater's skin, the insurrection “deflated” itself with the arrival of the national guard which will stop Barbès.

Later, Karl Marx will write in the “Class struggles in France”: " May 12th the proletariat sought in vain to take again its revolutionary influence and only succeeded has to deliver energetic chiefs to the geôliers of the bourgeoisie." Modern historians were much less pleasant: Georges Duveau qualified the event " of tragic and absurd joke not having, upon the departure, no chance of aboutir".

It will thus know all the jails. Those of Louis-Philippe (of 1836 to 1837, 1839 to 1848), of the Second Republic and the Second Empire (of 1848 to 1854).

It shows an untameable and chivalrous courage (“Bayard of the democracy”), a taste of the sacrifice, an acceptance of its responsibilities which explain certainly the charisma which was it his and to which all the contemporaries testify. There is a share of irrational which escapes the analysis, a “Barbès myth”.

1848, will be “last fighting” for " the conspirator except pair." Condemned to the life imprisonment in 1849, Barbès was released by Napoleon III in 1854. But, it never returned to France, being withdrawn in a voluntary exile with $the Hague, where it died on June 26th, 1870, a few weeks before the republic does not succeed the second empire, event which would have it, without any doubt, delights beyond tout' (Bernard Martin, correspondence).

Secret societies

1831, Blanqui founds " The Company of the Friends of Peuple" who makes following his Republican Cercles .
" 'In 1833, there is with, more than one hundred secret societies gangrènent Paris which cannot mais" of it;. Vidocq.
1834, the Company Human rights rested by Barbès is hardly dismantled by the police force which it creates 'transitory the " Company of the avengers followed, the following year, by the Company of the Families. Company of which it composes the oath adhesion required passage for all the conspiring candidates. (see note).

on July 12th, 1835, Barbès manages to make escape 28 entreated Holy-Pelagie, their Parisian prison. At once, it organizes transitory the Société of the Avengers then the Société of the Families , association clandestine of republican revolutionists which will count soon from 900 to 1.600 members, recruited among the craftsmen of the capital, the students or the volunteers of the National guard. Its action is stopped soon. Barbs is condemned to one year of prison for manufacture of powders, street of Oursine, the government benefitting at that time from the agitation caused by the attack of Fieschi, on July 28th, 1835, to decapitate the opposition.

The SDF counted divided into Families, small groups of 5 initiates directed by an Household head. In 1837, the SDF was divided into two groups: the Company of the seasons and the Democratic Phalanges .

The SDS was subdivided in Weeks which gathered 6 men and a chief. Four weeks formed one 28 days Month (thus cash 28 initiates and a chief). Three Months constituted one Season and four Seasons formed one Year. There existed at least three Years directed by Blanqui, Barbès and Martin Bernard.

The Democratic Phalanges were directed by Mathieu d' Epinal, Pornin and Vilcocq. Their program of inspiration “anarchist-Communist” claimed: the abolition of the property and the family, community of the women, free education, destruction of the luxury articles, popular dictatorship…

1836, March 8th: discovered " Conspiracy of the powders " , street of Oursine in Paris. Barbs and Blanqui are stopped the 11, whereas they déconditionnaient cartridges to recover the powder of it…

1837, April-July: Posting campaign of seven ignited proclamations, outgoing of the " Printing works of the Republic " , the first being entitled " With the People ". They announce the reorganization of the Company of the Families under the name of " Groups ".

1839,12- May 13rd: insurrection of the Seasons which aimed to the inversion of the monarchical government and the introduction of a social republic. The business turns badly, Barbès wounded, is stopped. One raises 77 killed and at least 51 wounded as regards the insurrectionists, 28 and 62 of the other. It was in fact an attempt at “coup d'etat”. But a “coup d'etat” badly prepared, without intermediate objectives, exit door, true alternative…

Will follow 692 interpellations. There is more than 750 files of accused to the lawsuits before the Court of the pars. The files of this lawsuit consituent a source interesting for the study of the secret societies. SDS which had succeeded the SDF but also other more fugitive companies like the Company of the Avengers.
1839, June 11th - July 12th: first Lawsuit of risen of May (19 marked). Faithful to the traditions carbonarists, Barbs and Bernard refuse to defend oneself. This last is condemned to the deportation and Barbès to death. Without her knowledge, his/her sister obtains from the king, the 14, the commutation of her sorrow in forced labors with perpetuity, commuted again to deportation on December 31st.

Oct. 1839,14 arrest of Blanqui and his/her five companions. The latter will not be continued.

1840, Dec. formation of the springtides , (Henri Dourille, Lucien Delahodde).

1840,13- January 31st: second lawsuit of risen of May 1839 (34 marked). Like Barbs and Bernard, Blanqui refuses to answer. Condemned to dead on January 31st, on intervention of his wife and without its knowledge, following the example Barbs, its sorrow will be commuted to deportation on February 1st. It will join Barbès and the others with the Mont Saint-Michel, prison of State cold and been windy.

1854, Barbès amnestied is released by Napoleon III. He leaves like exiled voluntary in Holland and will never return to France.

on June 26th, 1870, Armand Barbès dies in $the Hague, just a few weeks before the fall of the Second Empire and the proclamation of the Republic, event which without any doubt would have delights its last instants" Bernard.

Notes and anecdotes

DOCUMENTS

Transcription of 3 letters addressed to Barbès, emanating from workmen of Rouen . These letters coming from the Public records (reference W 574 file 2), had been presented at the time of the rich person exposure " Armand Barbès and the Revolution of 1848" who was held with the Museum of the Art schools of Carcassonne of Nov. 6, 1998 at February 2nd, 1999.

Three letters with Barbès (ref. Public records, Funds W 574 file 2)

Part 76 (such as it is): " Citizen Barbs, have Na to kill our brothers have them massacre the scélérats national guards of Rouen had blackness to bite their balls vangeance against these boureaux weapons and helps of the weapons and brave men for this putting have our head see us arm vangeance

hello and fraternity Florentin

Part 101 (such as it is): " Old robber come if you ouse if heap of the heart and your friend Blanqui and your clicks vien if you have heart we defy some you it will not turn over from there one of your clicks come one will receive you I in taken to you robber

rouennais, Leon Merde

Pièce 119 (such as it is): " Poor wretches who you are you ossez to qualify the evenemens of Rouen of slaughters, decendez in the funds of your heart and you will feel what you are, forget that you into similar circumstance assassinated pitilessly a honest officer that armed encor per hour regrets that it is, God which does not forget, it will take account of your crimes to you and of the evil which you seek has to make in France you would like to wash your crime to make return the assassinations of 93 but undeceive you to it France is calm it wants to control it only men wise and moderate it does not want an assassin in his center thus postpones you who be guilty will undergo the infamy which weighs on you far from a country of which you are unworthy to represent

One ouvrié of Rouen

Bibliographies

Old bibliography

"“Some words with those which have in favor of the Proletarians without travail." ” Barbs Carcassonne, 1837
Karl Marx, “Class struggles in France”, sd
B.M. of Saint-Etienne, Correspondence of Martin Bernard . sd
Tchernoff, I. Republican under the monarchy of July (Paris, 1905) by Mr. the party.
Wasserman, Suzanne. Clubs of Barbs and Blanqui in 1848, Them… (Paris, 1
" Two days of death sentence " , by Armand barbs, 1st edition Bry groin bets 1848,2e edition pellet bets 1849,3e edition pagnerre bets 1870,4e edition baker bets 1893,5e edition the workshop of the ford villelongue of Aude 2005.

Modern bibliography

1. “Dictionary off France from the 1815 Restoration to the Second empire”, directed by Edgar Leon Newman, New York, Greenwood Near, 1987.
2. Georges Clémenceau a republican youth'' Paris, sd.

4 “Barbs and men of 1848”, conference of Carcassonne organized in Nov. 1998 by association Audois, Departmental records of the Aude and the University of Toulouse it Mirail, under the direction of Sylvie Caucanas and Rémy Cazals.

4.b. At the time of a beautiful exposure " Barbs - 1848" (Nov. 1998-fév 1999) in Carcassonne at the House of the Memories. A catalog was published: Armand Barbès and the Revolution of 1848, by Sylvie Caucanas and Marie-Noëlle Maynard, Carcassonne, Museum of the Art schools and Departmental records of the Aude, 79p.

5. the Newspaper , Nov. 27, 1896 (city per Jean-Baptiste Duroselle: Clemenceau , Paris, Beech, 1988, p. 51).

6. Armand Barbès (1809-70), 3 flights by Jeanjean, Jean-François. (Paris and Carcassonne, 1909-52).

7 " Armand Barbès, a revolutionist romantique" by Roger Blackbird privat 1977.