André-Joseph Lafitte-Clavé
Encyclopedia
André-Joseph Lafitte-Clavé, also André-Joseph de Lafitte (1740, Clavé
, near Moncrabeau
–1794, Perpignan
) was a French Army
engineering officer. He became Colonel
on 1 April 1791, and Maréchal de Camp on 25 October 1792. He was a graduate of the Ecole royale du génie de Mézières
engineering school.
He is especially known for his participation to a French mission in the Ottoman Empire
under Louis XVI from 1784 to 1788. The mission, from 1783, was sent to the Ottoman Empire to train the Turks in naval warfare and fortification building. Up to the French revolution
in 1789, about 300 French artillery officers and engineers were active in the Ottoman Empire to modernize and train artillery units.
From 1784, André-Joseph Lafitte-Clavé and Joseph-Monnier de Courtois instructed engineering drawings and techniques in the new Turkish engineering school Mühendishâne-i Hümâyûn established by the Grand-Vizier Halil Hamid Pasha
. Mostly French textbooks were used on mathematics, astronomy, engineering, weapons, war techniques and navigation.
The French experts had to leave in 1788, as a condition of the peace treaty between Russia and Turkey. Some returned to Constantinople, but eventually all instructors had to leave with the end of the Franco-Ottoman alliance in 1798.
Clavé
Clavé is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.-References:*...
, near Moncrabeau
Moncrabeau
Moncrabeau is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in south-western France....
–1794, Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
) was a French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
engineering officer. He became Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
on 1 April 1791, and Maréchal de Camp on 25 October 1792. He was a graduate of the Ecole royale du génie de Mézières
Mézières
Mézières can refer to:People*Jean-Claude Mézières, French comic book artist*Rob De Mezieres, South African writer and director*Nicolas Le Camus de Mézières , French architect and theoretician*Philippe de Mézières Mézières can refer to:People*Jean-Claude Mézières, French comic book artist*Rob De...
engineering school.
He is especially known for his participation to a French mission in the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
under Louis XVI from 1784 to 1788. The mission, from 1783, was sent to the Ottoman Empire to train the Turks in naval warfare and fortification building. Up to the French revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in 1789, about 300 French artillery officers and engineers were active in the Ottoman Empire to modernize and train artillery units.
From 1784, André-Joseph Lafitte-Clavé and Joseph-Monnier de Courtois instructed engineering drawings and techniques in the new Turkish engineering school Mühendishâne-i Hümâyûn established by the Grand-Vizier Halil Hamid Pasha
Halil Hamid Pasha
Halil Hamid Pasha, also Halil Hamit Paşa was a Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 31 December 1782 to 30 April 1785. He was especially instrumental in inviting foreign experts, especially French ones, to the Ottoman Empire from 1784....
. Mostly French textbooks were used on mathematics, astronomy, engineering, weapons, war techniques and navigation.
The French experts had to leave in 1788, as a condition of the peace treaty between Russia and Turkey. Some returned to Constantinople, but eventually all instructors had to leave with the end of the Franco-Ottoman alliance in 1798.