Jacques Cathelineau

Jacques Cathelineau Né with (Pine-in-Mauges the January 5th 1759, died with Saint-Florent-the-Old the July 14th 1793) was a soldier, chief royalist of Vendean, généralissime of the Vendean armies during the French revolution. He is often called the Saint of Anjou .

Biography

Youth

Born with the Pine-in-Mauges in départment from the Maine-et-Loire, he followed the occupation of hawker, during the release of the revolt in the Vendée. He was also sexton of his parish. Very pious, it was called " Saint of Anjou" , so much its investment was large in this function. Jacques Cathelineau is involved in the insurrection by his priest the abbot Cantiteau. It is pushed by this militant priest that Jacques Cathelineau who then had thirty-five years, which was father and, consequently exempted lifting proclaimed by the Convention took the weapons.

Cathelineau during the French revolution

The March 10th 1793, of young people of the Saint-Florent-the-Old district of gathered to draw with the fate, were raised against the authority, beat and dispersed the armed force, then turned over quietly on their premises. Calhelineau, educated of these events, gives up its thatched cottage, gathers its neighbors and persuades to them until the only means of withdrawing itself from the punishment which waits them is to take the weapons openly and to drive out the republicans.

The March 12th, it took the initiative to bring together all the valid men of its village to face the republicans. Twenty-seven young people people follow it, arm themselves with haste with all the instruments which fall to them under the hand, and walk on Jallais, by sounding the alarm bell and while recruiting, a crowd of peasants whom the voice of Cathelineau trains.

Arrived in front of Jallais the March 13rd, defended by 80 republicans and a part of gun, it seizes the station and removes the part. Soon Chemillé the March 14th is also carried after a sharp resistance: this exploit exalte all the heads, from many reinforcements still come to increase the troop of Cathelineau.

As of the March 14th, it counts already 3.000 men under the weapons, and with the assistance of Stofflet it is presented in front of Cholet where it is still victorious. At this point in time the always increasing importance of the revolt decided the Vendean ones to choose for chiefs Bonchamps and of Elbée.

Cathelineau preserved under these chiefs an important row and an immense influence on the peasants, and it fought with its ordinary bravery with Vihiers, Chalonnes. The campaign was then stopped, the insurrectionists returning on their premises to celebrate the Easter.

The April 9th, its bands were again under the weapons, but it had to evacuate Chemillé and to be withdrawn until Tiffauges. With three thousand men, it joint with Nicolas Stofflet, takes with him Cholet, Vihiers and Chalonnes. It seized Beaupréau the April 23rd and Thouars the May 5th.

Having pushed back with the Chestnut grove the May 14th, the general Alexis Chalbos, it was beaten with Fontenay the May 16th, it took its revenge by occupying Montreuil-Bellay and Saumur the June 9th 1793.

After the catch of this last city, the insurrection had taken such a degree of importance that the royalist chiefs believed duty, to ensure the agreement in their operations, to entrust the command to only one. Very liked troops, he was proclaimed by Louis Marie de Lescure and Maurice-Louis-Joseph Gigot of Elbée généralissime of the catholic and royal Armée by the assembly with the Vendean chiefs the June 12th 1793, a way of perhaps flattering the agricultural work force which constituted the essence of the army by putting to one their representatives at their head.

Died

After having taken Angers without difficulty the June 23rd, the catholic and royal Armée was led to the attacks of Nantes, the June 29th. New the généralissime was presented, in front of the town of Nantes, to the head of 40.000 men, while Cart was to assist it with 10.000 insurgent Pays of Retz and Low-Poitou. But this forwarding was badly combined, it failed against the efforts of the inhabitants and a garrison of 12.000 men. The 29, Jacques Cathelineau, who attacked the door of Rennes, penetrated until the Place Viarme where a shot, drawn from a window, wounded it mortally. Seeing their chief seriously struck, the Vendean ones moved back and were demolished.

Transported dying in Saint-Florent-the-Old, it died there of its wounds the July 14th 1793. Its skin to lie in the vault Saint-Charles with Saint-Florent-The-Old (Maine-et-Loire).

His/her son, Jacques-Joseph de Cathelineau was annobli with the Restoration. Its grandson, Henri de Cathelineau, was an officer during the Guerre free-Prussian of (1870).

References

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