Nicolas Changarnier (April 26th 1793 with Autun - February 14th 1877), general and politician French. He was candidate (monarchist) with the French presidential election of 1848.

Resulting from a family of royalist gentlemen, it with the honor to count among its aïeux famous warrior who defended, in 1638, the place of Saint-Jean-with-Losne.

Military career

Left second lieutenant the Military academy of Saint-Cyr military school, it entered, with its rank, in the royal ex-guard, from where it passed in the capacity as lieutenant in the 60e of line.

It is distinguished in the Spanish countryside from 1823, where the marshal Moncey announced it like being particularly distinguished in the combat from Jorda and Caldès, delivered by the 4th body. It dispersed with a weak detachment a large party of Spanish cavalry and seized the horse of the chief of this troop after having killed it with its hand. This feat of arms was worth the cross of honor to him. It is named captain in 1825.

Algeria

It unloads, in 1830, in Africa, with the shoulder pad of captain to the 2nd light one, it takes share with the forwarding of Algiers to the head of a company and its first campaigns on the Algerian ground do not offer any projecting feature. Known, however, consequently for an officer of merit, it gains all its ranks with the point of the sword on various battle fields.

Party with its battalion for the Province of Oran in November 1835, it orders it by interim with the Expédition of Mascara; it is pointed out with the avant-garde of the brigade Oudinot, with the engagement of Sidi Embarek. Appointed major to the 2nd light one following this countryside, it brilliantly acts to the the First forwarding of Constantine in 1836, in division Trézel, where it forms with his battalion the rear-guard of the column.

The commander was made lieutenant-colonel, and spent a few months to Autun, his birthplace, which accepted it with enthusiasm and made carry out a table reproducing this feat of arms. Returned in Africa, Changarnier accepted the higher command of the Camp of Fondouck, not then very-important, in the East of Algiers.

Named lieutenant-colonel in the 2nd Leger in 1837, it takes part in 1839, the shortly after its nomination of colonel of the regiment, with the forwarding of the Portes of Iron. At the time of the Forwarding of the iron Doors, of which the goal was to establish the great communication which was to connect Algiers to Constantine, Changarnier accompanied the duke by Orleans and had a horse killed under him, in a rearguard action.

In 1839, colonel Changarnier ordered a mobile column with Boufarik.

The January 29th according to, colonel Changarnier only cut in parts several thousands of Kabyle S with 430 men. A few days afterwards, it accepted the cross of officer.

The May 3rd 1840, with the Taken of Cherchell by the marshal Valley, who had under his orders the Duc of Orleans, the 2nd light one and its colonel had the principal share of tirednesses and the dangers of the operation. The marshal proclaimed that the success of this combat was due to the skill and the energy of colonel Changarnier.

In reward of this feat of arms, Changarnier had the honor to form the column of avant-garde for the attack almost inaccessible heights of the Teniah de Mouzaïa.

In June 1840, it acted to supply Milianah narrowly blocked by the Arabs. The marshal entrusted the command of this dangerous forwarding to Changarnier. A body of five thousand men was put under its orders; the columns Verger and Gentil formed part of it. Changarnier leaves, the 22, with an immense convoy, misleads the vigilance of Abd-el-Kader and enters Milianah.

Thanks to its successes against the Hajutas and the Kabyles, it receives the Cross of the Legion of Honor. It is named brigadier the June 21st 1840 after ten months of rank of colonel only, and receives the command of the subdivision of Blida.

Next in December, the Changarnier general was charged to give a lesson to Ben-Salem, one of most skilful the kalifas of the Emir, by forcing it to raise the Blocus of Cara-Mustapha, in the East of Algiers.

A new supply of Milianah was still undertaken and operated in-this countryside by Changarnier, with the same audacity.

In another forwarding made to deliver envied them of Milianah and to find the great way that the Romans followed to cross the first chain of the Atlas, Chargarnier was distinguished eminently, seized the Col of Mouzaïa and beat enemies ten times more.

In 1841, with the supply of Médéah (the supplies were one of the great difficulties of the French conquest), Changarnier accepted with the shoulder, in uu rearguard action, a wound with bearing end, which one believed initially mortal. Nevertheless; he refused to leave the command of the column, and the apparatus placed, he went back to horse and continued to direct the combat.

After a court travels in France, the Changarnier general returned to Africa, where the general Bugeaud entrusted to him the command of the one of three divisions, of the provinces of Algiers and Tittery. In the current of April and May 1842, it once again supplied the places of Milianah and Médéah.

The result was the occupation of Cherchell, Milianah, Médéah and a point behind the mountains of the East, Pa two mobile battalions and some riders, which guaranteed that no serious enemy could cross the mounts. The Changarnier general passed in the Vallée of Chéliff, accepted the tender of many tribes and drove out until imitate desert, with 75 miles of Algiers, the not subjected tribes. More than 60 thousand animals of cattle and 3.000 prisoners remained with the capacity of French.

The September 19th 1842, it attacked with impetuosity a many troop of Kabyles which had wrapped it with the improvist in the ravine of the Wadi-Fodda and cut them in parts.

At the beginning of 1843, the Changarnier general, by operations, wraps the country of the Bless-To threaten that the Emir had raised and subjected for always these mountain dwellers.

After this operation, it returned to France. It is promoted lieutenant-general (Major general) the November 9th 1843.

In September 1847, Mr. the Duc of Aumale had succeeded the Bugeaud marshal in the general government of Algeria. It wished to have close to him the Changarnier general of which it knew the rare military capacity.

Following the revolution of 1848, the duke of Aumale entrusted the functions of general governor per interim to the Changarnier general.

The revolution of 1848

It returns to France beginning 1848, helping the provisional government to restore the order. He did not believe to have to accept the wallet of the war which was offered to him. Then it turns over to Algeria to May to succeed the general Louis Eugene Cavaignac as governor of Algérie.

However, he is quickly recalled in France to the Constituante following his election like deputy of the the Seine the June 4th 1848.

Hand lantern, but avoided glamor of uniforms and exploits exotic as much as brutal, it is chosen by “a handle of intransigent legitimists” to represent them with the presidential election of December 10th, 1848. It will obtain only few votes, far behind Lamartine (8000), the last but one of the candidates.

Named by precaution Ordering of the division of Paris and the National guard, it will put into practice, as in Algeria, a very military vision of the policy. One will reward it by the title for Large Officer of the Legion of Honor the April 5th 1849.

The January 29th 1849 was for a long time promised with an immense agitation and serious dangers. This day had however only one peaceful exit, result which it must be made it possible to allot to the attitude of the Changarnier general and its energetic provisions.

As of the June 10th, many signs, facts of a high gravity had given the certainty which one touched with a crisis and which the company was going once again to be injunction to provide for its safety by the force with the weapons. Changarnier mande in Paris by the telegraph or extraordinary mails of the battalions of infantry and regiments of cavalry drawn from the close garrisons.

The 12, part of the cavalry was to supervise and contain any attempt which, outside, would have been made to support the insurreclion.

In the morning of the 13, the general receives from his staff of the unanimous reports/ratios to announce a whole plan of insurrection having to lead to a new revolution.

At three hours and half, the Changarnier general had returned to his general headquarter of the Tuileries; one hour after it reappeared beside the president of the Republic and crossed the rows of the grateful population.

The Changarnier general received in August 1849 the cord of large officer of Legion-in Honneur. After the lifting of the state of siege, he is commander-in-chief of the troops of the 1e division.

The politician

Acknowledged enemy of the republican institutions, it supports nevertheless the capacity of the president, but as from January 1851, is opposed to the policy Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte and is consequently private of its commands.

At the time of the coup d'etat of December, it east stops and sent to Mazas while waiting for the decree of the January 9th 1852 which banishes it France. It returns to France after the general amnesty and resides in its grounds in Saône-et-Loire.

In 1870, it joined the general headquarter with Metz with Bazaine. One sends it on mission near the Prince Frederic Charles ordering the German army which encircles Metz. At the time of the capitulation it is made prisoner of war. To the armistice, it goes back to Paris and the February 8th 1871 is elected with the National Assembly appointed of Saône-et-Loire. It takes an active part in the political life, defends the control of the Bazaine marshal and fact part of a charged commission of working out a monarchical constitution. When the Count de Chambord refuses the compromise, he proposes the resolution to extend the capacity of the marshal of Mac Mahon during 10 years. He is elected irremovable senator the December 10th 1875.

The Changarnier general died in Paris the February 14th 1877.

It is said that its opposition to the Second Empire prevented it from obtaining the stick of marshal that brilliances states of service and a real political influence would have made possible.

Its descendants

Nicolas Changranier has many descendants, in particular in the Country of Caux, in the Seine Maritime.

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