Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville
Encyclopedia
Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville (26 October 1668 – 30 June 1722) was a colonial military officer of New France
. He is best known in North America for leading the raid on Deerfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay
against English settlers on 29 February 1704. A dedicated soldier, he was widely reviled by the settlers of New England
for his tactics of raiding poorly defended settlements. During Queen Anne's War
he also participated in military operations against the English in Newfoundland, and he played a role in the early settlement of Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island
), after that war.
, in the colony of Canada, New France
. Active in the troupes de la marine
from an early age, he served with his father during a 1687 French military operation against the Seneca tribes of present-day western New York
led by Governor of New France
Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville
. He was among the defenders during the 1690 Battle of Quebec
. He was granted the seignory of Rouville at Mont Saint-Hilaire in 1694.
In 1704 he led his first significant independent expedition, the Raid on Deerfield. At the head of a force mainly of Abenaki and Iroquois
warriors, but also a company of Canadian militia, he took the men south to the English Province of Massachusetts Bay
and descended on the lightly defended frontier town of Deerfield
in late February. The raiders achieved surprise, killing 54 settlers and taking more than 100 prisoners. The prisoners, including women and children, were taken on the long overland trek to Quebec, where many were adopted by Catholic Mohawk at Kahnawake, near Montreal.
Hertel de Rouville was sent to Newfoundland later in 1704, where he participated in offensive operations against St. John's
and other English communities. In 1708 he was at the head of an expedition with ambitious goals that was reduced to a single raid on Haverhill
, Massachusetts by a lack of Indian support. For the rest of Queen Anne's War
, he continued to lead similar raiding operations, leading one of English opponents to describe him as "an officer of great courage, but pre-eminently cruel and vindictive."
After Queen Anne's War ended in 1713, Hertel de Rouville was sent to Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island
) to scout sites for new French settlements. Based on his recommendations, Fort Dauphin (present-day Englishtown, Nova Scotia
) was selected for an initial settlement, and Hertel de Rouville oversaw its construction. He was awarded the Order of Saint Louis
in 1721, and died on Île-Royale while serving as commandant of Fort Dauphin.
He was twice married. He had two sons who distinguished themselves in military service to New France.
New France
New France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period beginning with the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 and ending with the cession of New France to Spain and Great Britain in 1763...
. He is best known in North America for leading the raid on Deerfield, Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
against English settlers on 29 February 1704. A dedicated soldier, he was widely reviled by the settlers of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
for his tactics of raiding poorly defended settlements. During Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War , as the North American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession was known in the British colonies, was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, later Great Britain, in North America for control of the continent. The War of the...
he also participated in military operations against the English in Newfoundland, and he played a role in the early settlement of Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
), after that war.
Biography
Hertel de Rouville was born into a military family in Trois-RivièresTrois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières means three rivers in French and may refer to:in Canada*Trois-Rivières, the largest city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada*Circuit Trois-Rivières, a racetrack in Trois-Rivières, Quebec...
, in the colony of Canada, New France
Canada, New France
Canada was the name of the French colony that once stretched along the St. Lawrence River; the other colonies of New France were Acadia, Louisiana and Newfoundland. Canada, the most developed colony of New France, was divided into three districts, each with its own government: Quebec,...
. Active in the troupes de la marine
Troupes de la marine
See also Troupes de Marine for later history of same Corps.The Troupes de la Marine , also known as independent companies of the navy and colonial regulars, were under the authority of the French Minister of Marine, who was also responsible for the French navy, overseas trade, and French...
from an early age, he served with his father during a 1687 French military operation against the Seneca tribes of present-day western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
led by Governor of New France
Governor of New France
The Governor of New France was the viceroy of the King of France in North America. A French noble, he was appointed to govern the colonies of New France, which included Canada, Acadia and Louisiana. The residence of the Governor was at the Château St-Louis in the capital of Quebec City...
Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville
Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville
Jacques-Rene de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville was Governor General of New France from 1685 to 1689 and was a key figure in the Beaver Wars....
. He was among the defenders during the 1690 Battle of Quebec
Battle of Quebec (1690)
The Battle of Quebec was fought in October 1690 between the colonies of New France and Massachusetts Bay, then ruled by the kingdoms of France and England, respectively. It was the first time Quebec's defences were tested....
. He was granted the seignory of Rouville at Mont Saint-Hilaire in 1694.
In 1704 he led his first significant independent expedition, the Raid on Deerfield. At the head of a force mainly of Abenaki and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
warriors, but also a company of Canadian militia, he took the men south to the English Province of Massachusetts Bay
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
and descended on the lightly defended frontier town of Deerfield
Deerfield, Massachusetts
Deerfield is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,750 as of the 2000 census. Deerfield is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area in Western Massachusetts, lying only north of the city of Springfield.Deerfield includes the...
in late February. The raiders achieved surprise, killing 54 settlers and taking more than 100 prisoners. The prisoners, including women and children, were taken on the long overland trek to Quebec, where many were adopted by Catholic Mohawk at Kahnawake, near Montreal.
Hertel de Rouville was sent to Newfoundland later in 1704, where he participated in offensive operations against St. John's
Siege of St. John's
The Siege of St. John's was a failed attempt by French forces led by Daniel d'Auger de Subercase to take the fort at St. John's, Newfoundland during the winter months of 1705. Leading a mixed force of regulars, militia, and Indians, Subercase burned much of the town and laid an ineffectual siege...
and other English communities. In 1708 he was at the head of an expedition with ambitious goals that was reduced to a single raid on Haverhill
Raid on Haverhill
The Raid on Haverhill was a military engagement that took place on August 29, 1708 during Queen Anne's War. French, Algonquin, and Abenaki warriors under the command of Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville descended on Haverhill, then a small frontier community in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. ...
, Massachusetts by a lack of Indian support. For the rest of Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War , as the North American theater of the War of the Spanish Succession was known in the British colonies, was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought between France and England, later Great Britain, in North America for control of the continent. The War of the...
, he continued to lead similar raiding operations, leading one of English opponents to describe him as "an officer of great courage, but pre-eminently cruel and vindictive."
After Queen Anne's War ended in 1713, Hertel de Rouville was sent to Île-Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. It likely corresponds to the word Breton, the French demonym for Brittany....
) to scout sites for new French settlements. Based on his recommendations, Fort Dauphin (present-day Englishtown, Nova Scotia
Englishtown, Nova Scotia
Not to be confused with present-day St. Anns, Nova Scotia, which was also the former name of Englishtown.Englishtown is a small coastal community in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, located on St. Anne's Bay in Victoria County on Cape Breton Island...
) was selected for an initial settlement, and Hertel de Rouville oversaw its construction. He was awarded the Order of Saint Louis
Order of Saint Louis
The Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis was a military Order of Chivalry founded on 5 April 1693 by Louis XIV and named after Saint Louis . It was intended as a reward for exceptional officers, and is notable as the first decoration that could be granted to non-nobles...
in 1721, and died on Île-Royale while serving as commandant of Fort Dauphin.
He was twice married. He had two sons who distinguished themselves in military service to New France.