François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé
Encyclopedia
François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé (19 November 1739 – 14 November 1800) was a French
general. After distinguishing himself in the Seven Years' War
, he was appointed governor of Guadeloupe
in 1768. His most well-known military exploits took place in the West Indies during the American War of Independence, where he was involved in the French capture of a number of British possessions. Following that war he returned to France, where he held military commands in the country's northeast at the time of the French Revolution
. A committed Royalist, he was a leading conspirator involved in the royal family's failed flight
in 1791, whose failure forced de Bouillé into exile. He continued to be active in consultative roles to members of the First Coalition
, which opposed the forces of Revolutionary France in the early years of the French Revolutionary War. He died in exile in London
, and is mentioned as a hated Royalist in the French national anthem, La Marseillaise
.
, Haute-Loire
) on 19 November 1739. His mother died shortly after his birth, and his father died a few years later. He was raised by a paternal uncle who was also First Almoner
to King Louis XV
. He was educated in a Jesuit school, and at age 16 his uncle purchased for him a commission in a company of dragoon
s of the French Army
.
De Bouillé first saw military action in the Seven Years' War
in 1758, when his regiment joined French forces in present-day Germany
. He distinguished himself throughout the campaign, playing an important role in the Battle of Grünberg
in February 1761 that resulted in the surrender of thousands of German troops and the capture of many military standards, and prompted Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick
to lift that year's Siege of Cassel
. De Bouillé was given the honour of taking the captured standards to Paris
to present them to the king. He was recognized with a brevet
promotion to colonel
, and was given command of the next regiment that became available.
, where he again distinguished himself. The Comte d'Emery, governor general of the French West Indies
, was so impressed with de Bouillé that he recommended to the king that de Bouillé succeed him at the post. When d'Emery died in 1777, de Bouillé was awarded with the governorships of Martinique
and St. Lucia, with authority to take full command of the French West Indies in the event France joined the American War of Independence.
France's entry into that war occurred in early 1778, and de Bouillé was heavily involved in the planning, execution, and leadership of operations in the West Indies. He organized and led the capture of Dominica
before the British there were even aware of the war declaration, and was involved in organizing, provisioning, and leading troops in a number of other actions. In 1782 he recaptured Dutch Sint Eustatius, which the British had captured just the year before, and was involved in that year planning with Bernardo de Gálvez a Franco-Spanish expedition against Jamaica
. The expedition was called off after the disastrous French defeat at the naval Battle of the Saintes
in April 1782.
De Bouillé returned to France in 1783 after the peace. King Louis rewarded him for his conduct in the war with the Order of the Holy Spirit
. He traveled the following year to England, where he was well received. He was well respected by the British for his treatment of prisoners of war and other captives during the war. In one notable instance, he returned the crew of a shipwrecked British frigate to a nearby British possession, refusing to take advantage of their plight to make them prisoners of war. He was equally gracious at home, even refusing an offer of payment (amounting to the munificent sum equivalent to £20,000 of the day) from the king for war expenses he had personally covered.
. He served in 1787 and 1788 in the Assemblies of Notables
called by King Louis XVI
in an attempt to deal with France's perilous financial state.
After the French Revolution
began in 1789, de Bouillé retained control of the Three Bishoprics, and was furthermore given military command of Alsace
and Franche-Comté
in 1790. A committed Royalist, he was instrumental in putting down rebellion in Metz
, and led forces that controversially crushed a military mutiny in the so-called "Nancy Affair"
in August 1790, in which both soldiers and civilians were killed. Although the National Assembly
approved his actions, radicals were critical of the severity of his response.
to escape their virtual house arrest in Paris
. In conjunction with Comte Axel von Fersen and Baron Baron de Breteuil
planned the means and route by which the royal family would travel from Paris to the stronghold of Montmedy
, within de Bouillé's area of control. The reasons why the royal family was arrested at Varennes
continue to be debated by historians.
De Bouillé's son Louis was sent to Paris to inform the royal family of the plans and possible safe points. De Bouillé also made specific suggestions about the route and the travel arrangements. He recommended a different route than that ultimately chosen by the king, and suggested that the royal family not travel in a single coach, instead splitting up so that they would draw less attention en route. This advice was also not taken. De Bouillé was also to provide troops to protect the royal party on the final stages of the journey through the area he controlled. Because he could not fully trust all of his troops, and some of the better troops had recently been reassigned to others, cavalry were placed in towns along the route, citing as a pretext the expected delivery of treasury funds going to Paris. These forces, however, drew attention and suspicion. This heightened tension in the local population may have played a role in the ultimate capture and arrest of the royal family at Varennes.
The arrest set off a wave of recriminations among the Royalist conspirators. The duc de Choiseul
and de Bouillé both wrote memoirs (de Bouillé in 1800, the year of his death), seeking to defend their actions during the flight, and to assign blame to others. In the wake of the arrest, de Bouillé fled France.
De Bouillé's role in the French Revolution is alluded to in the 5th stanza of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise
, as a detestable counter-revolutionary figure:
, where the spread of anti-Royalist sentiments was discussed by other European monarchs. Courted by royalty for positions in their armies, he sought to remain loyal to Louis, eventually serving as a military consultant to Prussian King Frederick William II
in the early stages of the First Coalition
. He joined military campaigns in 1793, and was urged to take command of Royalist forces in the Vendée, but refused, believing the forces would ultimately fail in their aims. Shortly after he sailed for England, where he continued to assist the British in military activities against Revolutionary France.
In 1797, de Bouillé published his memoirs, which were a great success. He died in London
on 14 November 1800. He was buried in the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church
.
at the Estates Theatre
in Prague
on 2 September 1791. Kleist described de Bouillé as a broken man wracked with worry and remorse over the actions that sent him into exile and made him vilified in France.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
general. After distinguishing himself in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, he was appointed governor of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
in 1768. His most well-known military exploits took place in the West Indies during the American War of Independence, where he was involved in the French capture of a number of British possessions. Following that war he returned to France, where he held military commands in the country's northeast at the time of 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...
. A committed Royalist, he was a leading conspirator involved in the royal family's failed flight
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was a significant episode in the French Revolution during which King Louis XVI of France, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family attempted unsuccessfully to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution...
in 1791, whose failure forced de Bouillé into exile. He continued to be active in consultative roles to members of the First Coalition
First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition was the first major effort of multiple European monarchies to contain Revolutionary France. France declared war on the Habsburg monarchy of Austria on 20 April 1792, and the Kingdom of Prussia joined the Austrian side a few weeks later.These powers initiated a series...
, which opposed the forces of Revolutionary France in the early years of the French Revolutionary War. He died in exile in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and is mentioned as a hated Royalist in the French national anthem, La Marseillaise
La Marseillaise
"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. The song, originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" was written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792. The French National Convention adopted it as the Republic's anthem in 1795...
.
Early life
François Claude Amour, the marquis de Bouillé was born at Chateau Cluzel in Saint-Èble (present-day Mazeyrat-d'AllierMazeyrat-d'Allier
Mazeyrat-d'Allier is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France.-See also:*Communes of the Haute-Loire department...
, Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire
Haute-Loire is a department in south-central France named after the Loire River.-History:Haute-Loire is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
) on 19 November 1739. His mother died shortly after his birth, and his father died a few years later. He was raised by a paternal uncle who was also First Almoner
Almoner
An almoner is a chaplain or church officer who originally was in charge of distributing cash to the deserving poor.Historically, almoners were Christian religious functionaries whose duty was to distribute alms to the poor. Monasteries were required to spend one tenth of their income in charity to...
to King Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
. He was educated in a Jesuit school, and at age 16 his uncle purchased for him a commission in a company of dragoon
Dragoon
The word dragoon originally meant mounted infantry, who were trained in horse riding as well as infantry fighting skills. However, usage altered over time and during the 18th century, dragoons evolved into conventional light cavalry units and personnel...
s of the 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...
.
De Bouillé first saw military action in the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
in 1758, when his regiment joined French forces in present-day Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He distinguished himself throughout the campaign, playing an important role in the Battle of Grünberg
Battle of Grünberg
The Battle of Grünberg was fought between French and allied Prussian and Hanoverian troops in the Seven Years' War at village of Grünberg, near Stangerode. The French inflicted a significant defeat on the allies, taking several thousand prisoners, and capturing 18 military standards...
in February 1761 that resulted in the surrender of thousands of German troops and the capture of many military standards, and prompted Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick
Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg , was a Prussian field marshal known for his participation in the Seven Years' War...
to lift that year's Siege of Cassel
Siege of Cassel (1761)
The Siege of Cassel was a failed attempt by Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick to capture French-held Kassel, the capital of Hesse-Kassel. Brunswick lifted the siege after forces of the Duc de Broglie inflicted heavy casualties on his forces at the Battle of Grünberg, making continuation of the siege...
. De Bouillé was given the honour of taking the captured standards to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to present them to the king. He was recognized with a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to 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...
, and was given command of the next regiment that became available.
West Indies and the American War of Independence
In 1768 de Bouillé was appointed governor of the Caribbean island of GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, where he again distinguished himself. The Comte d'Emery, governor general of the French West Indies
French West Indies
The term French West Indies or French Antilles refers to the seven territories currently under French sovereignty in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean: the two overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the two overseas collectivities of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, plus...
, was so impressed with de Bouillé that he recommended to the king that de Bouillé succeed him at the post. When d'Emery died in 1777, de Bouillé was awarded with the governorships of Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
and St. Lucia, with authority to take full command of the French West Indies in the event France joined the American War of Independence.
France's entry into that war occurred in early 1778, and de Bouillé was heavily involved in the planning, execution, and leadership of operations in the West Indies. He organized and led the capture of Dominica
Invasion of Dominica
The Invasion of Dominica was a successful French invasion of the island of Dominica in the British West Indies, during the American War of Independence. The action took place before British authorities in the Caribbean were aware that France had entered the war as an ally of the United States of...
before the British there were even aware of the war declaration, and was involved in organizing, provisioning, and leading troops in a number of other actions. In 1782 he recaptured Dutch Sint Eustatius, which the British had captured just the year before, and was involved in that year planning with Bernardo de Gálvez a Franco-Spanish expedition against Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. The expedition was called off after the disastrous French defeat at the naval Battle of the Saintes
Battle of the Saintes
The Battle of the Saintes took place over 4 days, 9 April 1782 – 12 April 1782, during the American War of Independence, and was a victory of a British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney over a French fleet under the Comte de Grasse forcing the French and Spanish to abandon a planned...
in April 1782.
De Bouillé returned to France in 1783 after the peace. King Louis rewarded him for his conduct in the war with the Order of the Holy Spirit
Order of the Holy Spirit
The Order of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Order of the Knights of the Holy Spirit, was an Order of Chivalry under the French Monarchy. It should not be confused with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost or with the Order of the Holy Ghost...
. He traveled the following year to England, where he was well received. He was well respected by the British for his treatment of prisoners of war and other captives during the war. In one notable instance, he returned the crew of a shipwrecked British frigate to a nearby British possession, refusing to take advantage of their plight to make them prisoners of war. He was equally gracious at home, even refusing an offer of payment (amounting to the munificent sum equivalent to £20,000 of the day) from the king for war expenses he had personally covered.
French Revolution
In 1787 he was named governor of the Three BishopricsThree Bishoprics
The Three Bishoprics constituted a province of pre-Revolutionary France consisting of the prince-bishoprics of Verdun, Metz, and Toul within the Lorraine region....
. He served in 1787 and 1788 in the Assemblies of Notables
Assembly of Notables
The Assembly of Notables was a group of notables invited by the King of France to consult on matters of state.-History:Assemblies of Notables had met in 1583, 1596–97, 1617, 1626, 1787, and 1788. Like the Estates General, they served a consultative purpose only...
called by King Louis XVI
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....
in an attempt to deal with France's perilous financial state.
After 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...
began in 1789, de Bouillé retained control of the Three Bishoprics, and was furthermore given military command of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté the former "Free County" of Burgundy, as distinct from the neighbouring Duchy, is an administrative region and a traditional province of eastern France...
in 1790. A committed Royalist, he was instrumental in putting down rebellion in Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, and led forces that controversially crushed a military mutiny in the so-called "Nancy Affair"
Nancy Affair
The Nancy affair was the crushing of a military mutiny in Revolutionary France on 31 August 1790. French Army forces under the command of General François Claude de Bouillé entered the city of Nancy in northeastern France, where troops garrisoned their had been protesting about pay, and...
in August 1790, in which both soldiers and civilians were killed. Although the National Assembly
National Assembly (French Revolution)
During the French Revolution, the National Assembly , which existed from June 17 to July 9, 1789, was a transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly.-Background:...
approved his actions, radicals were critical of the severity of his response.
Louis' failed flight
De Bouillé had managed to keep a fairly strong Royalist command in his army, and he became deeply involved in an attempt by King Louis and Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
to escape their virtual house arrest in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In conjunction with Comte Axel von Fersen and Baron Baron de Breteuil
Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil
Louis Charles Auguste le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil, baron de Preuilly was a French aristocrat, diplomat, statesman and politician...
planned the means and route by which the royal family would travel from Paris to the stronghold of Montmedy
Montmédy
Montmédy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-Citadel of Montmédy:In 1221 the first castle of Montmédy was built on top of a hill by the Count of Chiny. Montmédy became soon the capital of his territory - later it belonged to Luxembourg, Burgundy, Austria and...
, within de Bouillé's area of control. The reasons why the royal family was arrested at Varennes
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was a significant episode in the French Revolution during which King Louis XVI of France, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family attempted unsuccessfully to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution...
continue to be debated by historians.
De Bouillé's son Louis was sent to Paris to inform the royal family of the plans and possible safe points. De Bouillé also made specific suggestions about the route and the travel arrangements. He recommended a different route than that ultimately chosen by the king, and suggested that the royal family not travel in a single coach, instead splitting up so that they would draw less attention en route. This advice was also not taken. De Bouillé was also to provide troops to protect the royal party on the final stages of the journey through the area he controlled. Because he could not fully trust all of his troops, and some of the better troops had recently been reassigned to others, cavalry were placed in towns along the route, citing as a pretext the expected delivery of treasury funds going to Paris. These forces, however, drew attention and suspicion. This heightened tension in the local population may have played a role in the ultimate capture and arrest of the royal family at Varennes.
The arrest set off a wave of recriminations among the Royalist conspirators. The duc de Choiseul
Claude Antoine Gabriel, duc de Choiseul-Stainville
Claude Antoine Gabriel, duc de Choiseul-Stainville was a French soldier and émigré Royalist.-Biography:...
and de Bouillé both wrote memoirs (de Bouillé in 1800, the year of his death), seeking to defend their actions during the flight, and to assign blame to others. In the wake of the arrest, de Bouillé fled France.
De Bouillé's role in the French Revolution is alluded to in the 5th stanza of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise
La Marseillaise
"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. The song, originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin" was written and composed by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in 1792. The French National Convention adopted it as the Republic's anthem in 1795...
, as a detestable counter-revolutionary figure:
| Original | English translation |
|---|---|
|
|
Exile
De Bouillé went into exile, first travelling to PillnitzPillnitz
Pillnitz is a city quarter in the east of Dresden, Germany. The quarter is situated in the east of Dresden. It can be reached by bus, ship, walking along the river or by bicycle...
, where the spread of anti-Royalist sentiments was discussed by other European monarchs. Courted by royalty for positions in their armies, he sought to remain loyal to Louis, eventually serving as a military consultant to Prussian King Frederick William II
Frederick William II of Prussia
Frederick William II was the King of Prussia, reigning from 1786 until his death. He was in personal union the Prince-Elector of Brandenburg and the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel.-Early life:...
in the early stages of the First Coalition
First Coalition
The War of the First Coalition was the first major effort of multiple European monarchies to contain Revolutionary France. France declared war on the Habsburg monarchy of Austria on 20 April 1792, and the Kingdom of Prussia joined the Austrian side a few weeks later.These powers initiated a series...
. He joined military campaigns in 1793, and was urged to take command of Royalist forces in the Vendée, but refused, believing the forces would ultimately fail in their aims. Shortly after he sailed for England, where he continued to assist the British in military activities against Revolutionary France.
In 1797, de Bouillé published his memoirs, which were a great success. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 14 November 1800. He was buried in the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church
St Pancras Old Church
St Pancras Old Church is a Church of England parish church in central London. It is believed to be one of the oldest sites of Christian worship in England, and is dedicated to the Roman martyr Saint Pancras, although the building itself is largely Victorian...
.
Legacy
During his years of exile, the German author Franz Alexander von Kleist left a character sketch of de Bouillé in his Fantasien auf einer Reise nach Prag (1792) after seeing him with his son at a performance of Mozart's opera Don GiovanniDon Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
at the Estates Theatre
Estates Theatre
The Estates Theatre or Stavovské divadlo is a historic theatre in Prague, Czech Republic. The Estates Theatre was annexed to the National Theatre in 1948 and currently draws on three artistic ensembles, opera, ballet, and drama, which perform at the Estates Theatre, the National Theatre , and the...
in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
on 2 September 1791. Kleist described de Bouillé as a broken man wracked with worry and remorse over the actions that sent him into exile and made him vilified in France.