Joseph Gallieni

Joseph Simon Gallieni (born the April 24th 1849 Saint-Happy with , in Haute-Garonne - died the May 27th 1916 with Versailles) was a French soldier of the end of the 19th century, which exerted most of its activity in the operations of Colonisation carried out by the France, as colonial administrator, leaving a major print on the history of French colonization, and finished its career during the First World War. He was made marshal on a purely posthumous basis in 1921.

Biography

Joseph Gallieni is the son of an Italian immigrant. After studies with the Military academy of the Arrow, it integrates the military special École of Saint-Cyr military school in 1868. Then it becomes the July 15th 1870 Sous-lieutenant in the Marines.

The war of 1870

The new one promoted takes part, with the ''' 3 {{E}} Régiment of Marines ''' (3rd RIMa) to the war of 1870 against the Prussia, during which it fights in particular with Bazeilles, in the rows of the Martin brigade of Landing and famous “the blue Division” and is wounded. Captive fact on September 1st, the Gallieni second lieutenant is sent in captivity in Germany and to France only the March 11th 1871 returns.

The Meeting (1873-1876)

Promoted lieutenant with the ''' 2 {{E}} Regiment of Marines ''' (2nd RIMa) the April 25th 1873, Joseph Gallieni begins his colonial career with the Réunion, where it spends three years.

Forwardings in Black Africa (1876-1882)

The December 11th 1876, it obtains its sending with the Senegalese Tirailleurs and embarks the 20 for Dakar, threshold of the Black Africa, then mysterious, where it takes part in various military forwardings and explorations. Gallieni is promoted Capitaine in 1878.

The March 29th 1880, it arrives at Bafoulabé, the Mali, where it concludes a treaty with the local leaders and establishes a Protectorat France. In 1881, with the Niger, it negotiates with the Sultan Ahmadou, the Traité of Nango granting to France the trade High-Niger.

Mission in Martinique (1883-1886)

General governor of French Sudan (1886-1891)

After its return of Martinique, in 1886, it is named Lieutenant-colonel, and receives, six months later (December 20th 1886), the higher command of the High-River (Senegal), or of the “French Sudan”. It obtains there successes at the expense of Ahmadou (1887) and makes grant Samori a giving up treaty, inter alia, the left bank of the Niger. During this mandate of governor, it represses an insurrection of the autochtones hard.

Mission in Indo-China (1892-1896)

Of return in France, the Gallieni lieutenant-colonel is promoted Colonel the March 11th 1891, chief of staff of the army corps of the Navy and is patented staff with the mention “Very well”. Of 1892 with 1896 it is sent to the Tonkin (Indo-China), where it orders the second military division of the territory. He fights against the Chinese pirates then consolidates the French presence by organizing the administration of the country. His/her principal collaborator is then the commander Lyautey.

General governor of Madagascar (1896-1905)

Promoted Brigadier general, it is sent in 1896 to Madagascar as a General governor. It arrives at Tananarive the September 15th. With the diplomatic method of his predecessor, the general Mr. Laroche, it prefers a firmer method. The Court, hearth of resistance, are put in interdict. Two ministers, whose duplicity is proven, are translated in front of a court, are condemned and carried out. The Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony is reversed and exiled. The new queen itself, Ranavalona III, taken in red-handed of correspondence with the opponents with the occupation, loses her throne and takes the way of the exile, with Algiers. In eight years of proconsulat, it pacifies the large island, proceeding to its effective Colonisation. This discussed policy would have been worth to him the nickname of Jeneraly masiaka (the cruel general), would have ended in the disappearance of approximately 100.000 autochtones, on a population of less than 3 million hearts.

According to the Gallieni general, the military action was to be accompanied by a help to the people colonized in various fields, like the administration, the economy and teaching. It required a permanent contact with the inhabitants as well as a perfect knowledge of the country and its languages.

End of a career: the First World War

The August 9th 1899, the Gallieni general is promoted Major general. On its final return in France, in 1905, it has ten more years in front of him before the retirement. It devotes them to prepare Revenge . Military governor of Lyon and ordering ''' 14 {{E}} Army corps ''' as of his return, Grand-croix of the Légion of honor the November 6th 1905, it is called at the Superior council of the war the August 7th 1908 and also receives the presidency of the Advisory committee of defense of the colonies.

Had a presentiment of to become commander-in-chief of the French Army in 1911, it declines the offer to leave it with Joseph Joffre, by pretexting its age and its health.

It takes its retirement in April 1914 but is pointed out in August after the release of the First World War. The August 26th 1914, Gallieni is named military governor Paris to ensure the defense of the capital. Whereas the German approach and that the government leaves for Bordeaux in catastrophe, Gallieni puts the city in a state of defense, reassures the Parisian ones by a proclamation and contributes to the victory of the Marne, in September 1914 grace, in particular, with the troops which it sends in reinforcement, after having requisitioned the Parisian taxis, with the VI {{E}} Armée with the general Maunoury who is on the Ourcq.

Joffre, anxious of the influence and the reputation of Gallieni, marginalizes it a little. It moves away it from the district-general, although it is considered that it is the initiative of Gallieni, with the displacement of the garrison of the city on the Marne in the taxi, which saved the situation mainly.

It is then named in 1915 Ministre for the War of the 5th government of Aristide Briand, it resigns quickly due to incomprehension with the political world and the mistrust of the soldiers of the time.

Having health issues, he dies on May 27th, 1916 of the continuations of an surgical operation in a private clinic of Versailles.

After national funeral, and in accordance with its last wills, it was buried near his wife in the cemetery of Saint-Raphaël.

It was high with the dignity of Marshal of France on a purely posthumous basis on May 7th 1921. The promotion of the military academy of Saint-Cyr military school of 1927 will bear its name.

Quotations

When the August 26th 1914, the Gallieni general is named military governor Paris to ensure the defense of the capital, it reassures the Parisian ones by these words: I received the mandate to defend Paris against the invader; this mandate I will fill it until the end ''

At the time of its national funeral, Georges Clémenceau will write: " The Gallieni general is the man whose prompt decision gave us the battle of the Marne. He is the true saver of Paris. The national funeral is only one beginning of justice. With its consequences, the remainder will follow. The hour will come from the judgments and the memory of Gallieni can await with peace the future. "

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