Charles Sapinaud de La Rairie
Encyclopedia
Charles Henri Félicité Sapinaud de la Rairie (December 30, 1760, La Gaubretière
- August 12, 1829, La Gaubretière) was a French
soldier and Vendéen
general during the war in the Vendée.
He resigns from the army in 1789 as a lieutenant. He retires to his lands at La Gaubretière
where he is elected mayor.
In March 1793, the war in the Vendée breaks loose and Sapinaud joins the insurgents serving under his uncle Charles Sapinaud de La Verrie, himself under the orders of Charles de Royrand, chief general of the Vendéens of the Catholic and Royal army of the Centre
which originated from the east side of the Vendée
department.
But Sapinaud de la Verrie is killed on July 25, 1793 near Chantonnay
, Sapinaud de La Rairie succeeds him.
In October, Sapinaud follows the Vendéen army during the Virée de Galerne
, yet he is separated from the army at the Battle of Le Mans
on December 13, 1793. Lost after the routing, he manages to gain military Vendée.
Royrand died on November 5 after sicknesses and wounds, Sapinaud hence leads the Catholic and Royal Army of the Centre and fights the infernal columns
during the first months of 1794. Along with François de Charette
, Jean-Nicolas Stofflet
and Gaspard de Bernard de Marigny
, he is one of the main Vendéen generals.
In April 1794, the four generals who were until then fighting separately, sign a treaty of assistance. Yet Charette and Stofflet quickly get in disputes with Marigny who decides to part from the army. A military court thus condemns Marigny to death but Sapinaud refuses to vote for his execution. Marigny is eventually shot by Stofflet's men on July 10, 1794.
By the end of 1794, the Vendéens and Republicans negotiate and sign the Treaty of La Jaunaye that Sapinaud signs with Charette of February 17, 1795. The fragile peace is broken a few months later and Sapinaud joins the war once more on October 3, 1795. His troops are strongly diminished, and Stofflet is executed by the Republicans on February 25, 1796, followed by Charette on March 29. Sapinaud then leading only a few dozen men signs the peace in Nantes
at the end of January 1796.
He marries in 1797 with Marie-Louise Charette.
The war resumes on October 15, 1799 and Sapinaud retakes the command of his army, yet on November 9 the coup of 18 Brumaire which overthrows the French Directory
disconcerts the Vendéens and Chouans who begin negotiations in December. The peace conditions proposed by Napoleon Bonaparte divide the chouan and Vendéen generals, but Sapinaud sides for peace. He signs for peace on January 18, 1800.
In 1814, Napoleon is defeated and the monarchy is restored. Sapinaud is named lieutenant-general.
Sapinaud takes arms during the Hundred Days
, during the War in the Vendée and Chouannerie of 1815. After the death of Louis du Vergier de La Rochejaquelein, Sapinaud succeeds him on June 10, 1815 at the head of the Catholic and Royal Army
of Vendée, yet he resigns after a few days and names Charles d'Autichamp
as his successor. After the defeat of the Vendéens at the battle of Rocheservière
, Sapinaud sides again for peace.
After the Second Restoration, Sapinaud becomes duke and Pair de France.
He dies on August 12, 1829 at La Gaubretière
.
La Gaubretière
La Gaubretière is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
- August 12, 1829, La Gaubretière) was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
soldier and Vendéen
Catholic and Royal Army
The Catholic and Royal Armies , is the name given to the royalist armies in western France composed of insurgents during the war in the Vendée and the Chouannerie, who opposed the French revolution, hence they were counterrevolutionary by definition.-Catholic and Royal Army of Vendée:The Catholic...
general during the war in the Vendée.
Life
In 1778, Sapinaud enlists as cadet gentilhomme in the Foix regiment (later renamed 83rd infantry regiment).He resigns from the army in 1789 as a lieutenant. He retires to his lands at La Gaubretière
La Gaubretière
La Gaubretière is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
where he is elected mayor.
In March 1793, the war in the Vendée breaks loose and Sapinaud joins the insurgents serving under his uncle Charles Sapinaud de La Verrie, himself under the orders of Charles de Royrand, chief general of the Vendéens of the Catholic and Royal army of the Centre
Catholic and Royal Army
The Catholic and Royal Armies , is the name given to the royalist armies in western France composed of insurgents during the war in the Vendée and the Chouannerie, who opposed the French revolution, hence they were counterrevolutionary by definition.-Catholic and Royal Army of Vendée:The Catholic...
which originated from the east side of the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
department.
But Sapinaud de la Verrie is killed on July 25, 1793 near Chantonnay
Chantonnay
Chantonnay is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-Geography:The Lay River flows southwestward through the commune and forms part of its eastern and southern borders.-References:*...
, Sapinaud de La Rairie succeeds him.
In October, Sapinaud follows the Vendéen army during the Virée de Galerne
Virée de Galerne
The Virée de Galerne was a military operation of the War in the Vendée during the French Revolutionary Wars across Britanny and Normandy. It takes its name from "gwalarn", a Breton word for the "vent de noroît" ....
, yet he is separated from the army at the Battle of Le Mans
Battle of Le Mans (1793)
The Battle of Le Mans was a battle of the War in the Vendée. It resulted in the rout of the Vendéen forces by Republican troops during the Virée de Galerne.-Prelude:...
on December 13, 1793. Lost after the routing, he manages to gain military Vendée.
Royrand died on November 5 after sicknesses and wounds, Sapinaud hence leads the Catholic and Royal Army of the Centre and fights the infernal columns
Infernal columns
The infernal columns were operations led by general Louis Marie Turreau during the War in the Vendee, aimed at eliminating all resistance after the setback of the virée de Galerne.-Other uses:...
during the first months of 1794. Along with François de Charette
François de Charette
François Athanase de Charette de la Contrie was a French soldier and politician, one of the leaders of the bloody events termed the "Revolt in the Vendée"...
, Jean-Nicolas Stofflet
Jean-Nicolas Stofflet
Jean-Nicolas Stofflet was a French leader of the Revolt in the Vendée against the First French Republic.Born in Bathelémont-lès-Bauzemont , the son of a miller, he was for long a private in the Swiss Guard, and afterwards gamekeeper to the comte de Colbert-Maulévrier, he joined the Vendéans when...
and Gaspard de Bernard de Marigny
Gaspard de Bernard de Marigny
Gaspard Augustin René Bernard de Marigny was a French officer and Vendéen general.-Life:...
, he is one of the main Vendéen generals.
In April 1794, the four generals who were until then fighting separately, sign a treaty of assistance. Yet Charette and Stofflet quickly get in disputes with Marigny who decides to part from the army. A military court thus condemns Marigny to death but Sapinaud refuses to vote for his execution. Marigny is eventually shot by Stofflet's men on July 10, 1794.
By the end of 1794, the Vendéens and Republicans negotiate and sign the Treaty of La Jaunaye that Sapinaud signs with Charette of February 17, 1795. The fragile peace is broken a few months later and Sapinaud joins the war once more on October 3, 1795. His troops are strongly diminished, and Stofflet is executed by the Republicans on February 25, 1796, followed by Charette on March 29. Sapinaud then leading only a few dozen men signs the peace in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
at the end of January 1796.
He marries in 1797 with Marie-Louise Charette.
The war resumes on October 15, 1799 and Sapinaud retakes the command of his army, yet on November 9 the coup of 18 Brumaire which overthrows the French Directory
French Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
disconcerts the Vendéens and Chouans who begin negotiations in December. The peace conditions proposed by Napoleon Bonaparte divide the chouan and Vendéen generals, but Sapinaud sides for peace. He signs for peace on January 18, 1800.
In 1814, Napoleon is defeated and the monarchy is restored. Sapinaud is named lieutenant-general.
Sapinaud takes arms during the Hundred Days
Hundred Days
The Hundred Days, sometimes known as the Hundred Days of Napoleon or Napoleon's Hundred Days for specificity, marked the period between Emperor Napoleon I of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris on 20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII on 8 July 1815...
, during the War in the Vendée and Chouannerie of 1815. After the death of Louis du Vergier de La Rochejaquelein, Sapinaud succeeds him on June 10, 1815 at the head of the Catholic and Royal Army
Catholic and Royal Army
The Catholic and Royal Armies , is the name given to the royalist armies in western France composed of insurgents during the war in the Vendée and the Chouannerie, who opposed the French revolution, hence they were counterrevolutionary by definition.-Catholic and Royal Army of Vendée:The Catholic...
of Vendée, yet he resigns after a few days and names Charles d'Autichamp
Charles Marie de Beaumont d'Autichamp
Charles Marie Auguste Joseph de Beaumont, comte d'Autichamp . A brave but ponderous man, he was one of the few Royalist survivors of the War in the Vendée.- Revolution :...
as his successor. After the defeat of the Vendéens at the battle of Rocheservière
Battle of Rocheservière
The Battle of Rocheserviere was fought at Rocheservièreon the 20 June 1815, between Vendéen Royalists, who had remained loyal to King Louis XVIII and the Army of the West, commanded by General Jean Maximilien Lamarque...
, Sapinaud sides again for peace.
After the Second Restoration, Sapinaud becomes duke and Pair de France.
He dies on August 12, 1829 at La Gaubretière
La Gaubretière
La Gaubretière is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-References:*...
.
Sources
- Émile Gabory, Les Guerres de Vendée, Robert Laffont, édition de 2009 , p. 1443.