Louis Marie de Lescure
Encyclopedia
Louis-Marie Joseph, marquis
de Lescure (13 October 1766 – 4 November 1793) was a French
soldier and opponent of the French Revolution
, the cousin of Henri de la Rochejaquelein
.
He was born in Versailles
and educated at the École Militaire
, which he left at the age of sixteen. Lescure was in command of a company of cavalry
in the Regiment de Royal-Picmont, but being opposed to the ideas of the Revolution, he emigrated
in 1791, but soon returned, and, on the Journée du 10 août
, 1792 took part in the defence of the Tuileries Palace
against the mob of Paris
. The day after, he was forced to leave the capital, and took refuge in the château
of Clisson near Bressuire.
On the outbreak of the Revolt in the Vendée
against the Republic
, he was arrested and imprisoned with all his family, as one of the promoters of the rising. He was set at liberty by the Royalists
, and became one of their leaders, fighting at Thouars
, taking Fontenay-le-Comte
and Saumur
(May–June 1793), and, after an unsuccessful attack on Nantes
, joining La Rochejaquelein, who was another famous Vendean leader.
Their peasant troops, opposed to the French Revolutionary Army
General François Joseph Westermann
, sustained various defeats, but finally gained a victory between Tiffauges
and Cholet
on 19 September 1793. The struggle was then concentrated around Châtillon
, which was time after time taken and lost by the Republicans. Lescure was killed near the château of La Tremblaye between Ernée
and Fougères
.
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
de Lescure (13 October 1766 – 4 November 1793) was a French
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...
soldier and opponent 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...
, the cousin of Henri de la Rochejaquelein
Henri de la Rochejaquelein
Henri du Vergier, comte de la Rochejaquelein was the youngest general of the Royalist Vendéan insurrection during the French Revolution.-Early activities:...
.
He was born in Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
and educated at the École Militaire
École Militaire
The École Militaire is a vast complex of buildings housing various military training facilities located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, southeast of the Champ de Mars....
, which he left at the age of sixteen. Lescure was in command of a company of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in the Regiment de Royal-Picmont, but being opposed to the ideas of the Revolution, he emigrated
Émigré
Émigré is a French term that literally refers to a person who has "migrated out", but often carries a connotation of politico-social self-exile....
in 1791, but soon returned, and, on the Journée du 10 août
10th of August (French Revolution)
On 10 August 1792, during the French Revolution, revolutionary Fédéré militias — with the backing of a new municipal government of Paris that came to be known as the "insurrectionary" Paris Commune and ultimately supported by the National Guard — besieged the Tuileries palace. King Louis XVI and...
, 1792 took part in the defence of the Tuileries Palace
Tuileries Palace
The Tuileries Palace was a royal palace in Paris which stood on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed in the upheaval during the suppression of the Paris Commune...
against the mob of 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...
. The day after, he was forced to leave the capital, and took refuge in the château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
of Clisson near Bressuire.
On the outbreak of the Revolt in the Vendée
Revolt in the Vendée
The War in the Vendée was a Royalist rebellion and counterrevolution in the Vendée region of France during the French Revolution. The Vendée is a coastal region, located immediately south of the Loire River in western France. The uprising was closely tied to the Chouannerie, which took place in...
against the Republic
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
, he was arrested and imprisoned with all his family, as one of the promoters of the rising. He was set at liberty by the Royalists
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
, and became one of their leaders, fighting at Thouars
Thouars
Thouars is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.It is on the River Thouet. Its inhabitants are known as Thouarsais.-History:...
, taking Fontenay-le-Comte
Fontenay-le-Comte
Fontenay-le-Comte is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:The Vendée River flows though the town. The town has an area of .-History:...
and Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
(May–June 1793), and, after an unsuccessful attack on 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....
, joining La Rochejaquelein, who was another famous Vendean leader.
Their peasant troops, opposed to the French Revolutionary Army
French Revolutionary Army
The French Revolutionary Army is the term used to refer to the military of France during the period between the fall of the ancien regime under Louis XVI in 1792 and the formation of the First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. These armies were characterised by their revolutionary...
General François Joseph Westermann
François Joseph Westermann
François Joseph Westermann was a French general of the Revolutionary Wars and political figure of the French Revolution.-Career:...
, sustained various defeats, but finally gained a victory between Tiffauges
Tiffauges
Tiffauges is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.-History:Gilles de Rais had his castle there....
and Cholet
Cholet
Cholet is a commune of western France in the Maine-et-Loire department. It was the capital of military Vendée.-Geography:Cholet stands on an eminence on the right bank of the Moine, which used to be crossed by a bridge from the fifteenth century...
on 19 September 1793. The struggle was then concentrated around Châtillon
Châtillon
Châtillon may refer to:*Châtillon ** Hugh I of Châtillon*First Battle of Châtillon during the war in the Vendée .*Battle of Châtillon during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War It is the name of several places:...
, which was time after time taken and lost by the Republicans. Lescure was killed near the château of La Tremblaye between Ernée
Ernée
Ernée is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It is named after the River Ernée, which runs through the town and is situated about halfway between the towns of Laval and Fougères...
and Fougères
Fougères
Fougères is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany, in north-western France.-Sights:Fougères' major monument is a medieval stronghold built atop a granite ledge, which was part of the ultimately unsuccessful defence system of the Duchy of Brittany against...
.