Joseph Agricol Viala

See also: Viala

Joseph Agricol Viala (September 22nd 1780 with Avignon - July 6th 1793 with Caumont-sur-Durance) took part in the insurrection of Marseilles in 1793.

Viala was a child of the South. He lived Avignon, and, though well young person, the impression produced by the great events, which were achieved then, had waked up in him feelings of energy and patriotism above his age.

At that time where France, attacked with the outside and the inside, showed to the same goal â all the citizens: independence and freedom, young people whom one called at 18 years, often to 15, the defense of the country, learned how early to carry a rifle: also, hardly old 13 years, Viala, which one estimated already courage, was placed at the head of the young people enlisted under the name of Espérance of the fatherland , and soon it proved that it was not without reason that one had thus prejudged on the future.

The Royalist S, rejoined with the English and these men who dreamed one moment the parcelling out of France, had deployed the white flag with Toulon and Marseilles. Opposite this rising, the soldiers of the French Republic were obliged to fold up itself towards Avignon, giving up Nimes, Aix, Arles, with confederated provençaux, and those, encouraged by these successes, continued them boldly. Finally the inhabitants of Lambesc, of Tarascon, joined together with the Marseilles rebellious, moved towards the Durance to walk on Lyon, then on Paris. They hoped already, like all the enemies of the French Republic, to break in the Convention the national unit and to thus choke the Revolution.

In the first news of the approach of the insurrectionists, the republicans, mainly those of Avignon, met to oppose them; but the Marseilles insurrectionists were going to cross the Durance, and crushed by the superiority of the number a weak troop of republican soldiers.

Only one means of hello remained with the latter, it was to go to cross, under the fire of the enemy, the cables of the pontoon already fallen in its capacity; but a so perilous company makes hesitate bravest…

The only resource which remained with the Republican party was to cut the cables with the help of which one retained and one directed bridge them. The means is sure, but it is perilous: it is necessary to cross an entirely exposed roadway to the mousquetery of the rebels, and behind whom the republicans cut off themselves. One hesitates, and the boldest men move back in front of the imminence of the danger.

Then, a child springs: it is Viala, which was escaped of Avignon to the favor of the disorder that the approach of the Marseillais had excited.

He jumps on an axe, flies at the edges of the river, and strikes the cable with redoubled blows. Several discharges of mousquetery are directed against him: he continues to strike with heat… Lastly, reached of a ball and mortally wounded.

The courageous attempt at Viala, although it had not completely succeeded, was however not useless. The insurrectionists, astonished by such an amount of audacity, hesitated one moment, and the republicans who had precipitated on the steps of the young Inhabitant of Avignon, had time to achieve their retirement; however, they could not carry with them the body of the young hero.

In vain one of his/her comrades who had slipped close to him, encouraged by his example, and which had collected its last words, tried to remove it. It was forced to move away in front of the royalists who advanced. Those having crossed the Durance, insulted the corpse of Viala unworthily. Lastly, after mutilatehaving awfully mutilated it, they precipitated it in the river, disputing between them the honor of this victory.

The mother of this young Spartan was worthy to have given him the day. By learning this cruel loss, its pain was deep; but when him the admirable devotion of his son had been told. - " Yes, she says, it died for the fatherland! " and its tears ceased running.

The devotion of Viala was worth the honors of the Pantheon to him. An engraving representing its features was distributed in all the Elementary schools. One finds in the anthem that Chénier entitled the Song of the departure , the following stanza which it placed in the mouth of a child:

Of Barred, of Viala the fate makes us desire;

They died, but they overcame.

the coward, overpowered years did not know the life:

Which dies for the people lived!

You are valiant, we are it;

Guide us against the tyrants:

the republicans are men,

the slaves are children.

Partial source

Distinctions

It belongs to the 660 personalities to have its name engraved under the Triumphal arch of the Star. It appears on the 18th column (the Arc indicates VIALA ).

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