Armée du Centre
Encyclopedia
The Army of the Centre was one of the first French Revolutionary Armies, named after the location it was set up, the Centre region. It was created by order of king Louis XVI of France
on 14 December 1791 and attached to Champagne
. It had only an ephemeral existence after the Valmy
and the Prussians' evacuation of the territory.
Its name reflects its position occupying the centre of the French order of battle on the northern and eastern frontiers, between the armée du Nord and armée du Rhin
, the 3rd and 4th military divisions on their creation, then also the 2nd division from 23 March.
By a National Convention
decree of 1 October 1792, it was renamed the armée de la Moselle, but remained known as the armée du Centre whilst Kellermann was at its head (ie until 7 November 1792).
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
on 14 December 1791 and attached to Champagne
Champagne (province)
The Champagne wine region is a historic province within the Champagne administrative province in the northeast of France. The area is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's name...
. It had only an ephemeral existence after the Valmy
Battle of Valmy
The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris...
and the Prussians' evacuation of the territory.
Its name reflects its position occupying the centre of the French order of battle on the northern and eastern frontiers, between the armée du Nord and armée du Rhin
Armée du Rhin
The Army of the Rhine is the overall name for one of the main French Revolutionary armies, that operated in the German theater along the River Rhine...
, the 3rd and 4th military divisions on their creation, then also the 2nd division from 23 March.
By a National Convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
decree of 1 October 1792, it was renamed the armée de la Moselle, but remained known as the armée du Centre whilst Kellermann was at its head (ie until 7 November 1792).
Generals
- 14 December 1791 - 11 July 1792 : général La Fayette
- 12 July - 1 September 1792 : maréchal LucknerNicolas LucknerNikolaus, Count Luckner was a German in French service who rose to become a Marshal of France. ....
, as part of his supreme command of the armée du RhinArmée du RhinThe Army of the Rhine is the overall name for one of the main French Revolutionary armies, that operated in the German theater along the River Rhine... - 2 September - 7 November 1792 : général KellermannFrançois Christophe KellermannFrançois Christophe Kellermann or de Kellermann, 1st Duc de Valmy was a French military commander, later the Général d'Armée, and a Marshal of France...
, subordinated to général DumouriezCharles François DumouriezCharles-François du Périer Dumouriez was a French general during the French Revolutionary Wars. He shared the victory at Valmy with General François Christophe Kellermann, but later deserted the Revolutionary Army and became a royalist intriguer during the reign of Napoleon.-Early life:Dumouriez...
to leave 19 September.
Source
- C. Clerget : Tableaux des armées françaises pendant les guerres de la Révolution (Librairie militaire 1905) ;