Paul de Ladmirault
Encyclopedia
Paul de Ladmirault was a French
general active in the French conquest of Algeria
and during the wars of the Second French Empire
.
to an old family belonging to the Poitou
minor aristocracy. His father had fled France
during the French Revolution
. Ladmirault entered the prestigious Saint-Cyr Military School
in 1826 (in the same class as the future Marshal of France
François Certain Canrobert
). Upon his graduation in 1829, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 62nd Line Infantry Regiment. In 1831 he was promoted to Lieutenant in the 67th Regiment before being sent to Algeria, where he spent the next 22 years.
He was promoted to the post of adjudant-major in 1834, then to Captain in the Zouaves in 1837, and finally major in 1840. In the same year he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry and placed in charge of the region of Cherchell
. He was made Lt Colonel in 1842, full Colonel in the Zouaves in 1844 and général de brigade in June 1848, being placed in command of Médéa Province
. In 1852 he was recalled to France, and promoted général de division on 14 January 1853. He participated in the Italian war of 1859, commanding the 2nd division of I Corps under Marshal Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers
, and taking part in the Battle of Solferino
, during which he was wounded twice.
In 1863 he was made commander of the 2nd division of the French Imperial Guard, in 1865 he was appointed deputy governor of French Algeria
and the named Senator
in 1866. After a period as commander of the military camp at Châlons, he assumed command of II Corps at Lille
in 1867. During the Franco-Prussian War
he was placed in command of the IV Corps of the Army of the Rhine, taking part in the battles of Mars-la-Tour
and Saint-Privat; during the latter he repulsed the German attack at Amanvillers
. After the capitulation of the Bazaine
's army however, he became a Prussian prisoner of war.
He was freed in order to take part in the assault against the Paris Commune
, during which he led the assault against the Gate of Saint-Ouen and Montmartre
. After the suppression of the Commune, he was named military governor of Paris
, a post he held until 1878. He also succeeded Marshal Mac-Mahon as commander of the Army of Versailles when the latter became President of France. He ran unsuccessfully in the 1879 Presidential election, and died on 1 February 1898 at Sillars
.
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 active in the French conquest of Algeria
French conquest of Algeria
The French conquest of Algeria took place between 1830 and 1847. Using an 1827 diplomatic slight by Hussein Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman Regency of Algiers, against its consul as a pretext, France invaded and quickly seized Algiers in 1830, and rapidly took control of other coastal communities...
and during the wars of the Second French Empire
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
.
Life
Ladmirault was born on 17 February 1808 at MontmorillonMontmorillon
Montmorillon is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.The clay mineral montmorillonite was named after Montmorillon after its discovery there in 1847.-External links:*...
to an old family belonging to the Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
minor aristocracy. His father had fled France
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....
during 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...
. Ladmirault entered the prestigious Saint-Cyr Military School
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
in 1826 (in the same class as the future Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
François Certain Canrobert
François Certain Canrobert
François Certain de Canrobert, usually known as François Certain-Canrobert and later simply as Maréchal Canrobert , was a marshal of France.-Biography:...
). Upon his graduation in 1829, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the 62nd Line Infantry Regiment. In 1831 he was promoted to Lieutenant in the 67th Regiment before being sent to Algeria, where he spent the next 22 years.
He was promoted to the post of adjudant-major in 1834, then to Captain in the Zouaves in 1837, and finally major in 1840. In the same year he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry and placed in charge of the region of Cherchell
Cherchell
Cherchell is a seaport town in the Province of Tipaza, Algeria, 55 miles west of Algiers. It is the district seat of Cherchell District. As of 1998, it had a population of 24,400.-Ancient history:...
. He was made Lt Colonel in 1842, full Colonel in the Zouaves in 1844 and général de brigade in June 1848, being placed in command of Médéa Province
Médéa Province
Médéa is a province of Algeria. The capital is Médéa.-Administrative divisions:The province is divided into 19 districts , which are further divided into 64 communes or municipalities.-Districts:# Aïn Boucif# Aziz...
. In 1852 he was recalled to France, and promoted général de division on 14 January 1853. He participated in the Italian war of 1859, commanding the 2nd division of I Corps under Marshal Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers
Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers
Louis-Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers, 1st Comte Baraguey d'Hilliers was a Marshal of France and politician.Baraguey d'Hilliers was born in Paris, the son of the French revolutionary general Louis Baraguey d'Hilliers...
, and taking part in the Battle of Solferino
Battle of Solferino
The Battle of Solferino, , was fought on June 24, 1859 and resulted in the victory of the allied French Army under Napoleon III and Sardinian Army under Victor Emmanuel II against the Austrian Army under Emperor Franz Joseph I; it was the last major battle in world...
, during which he was wounded twice.
In 1863 he was made commander of the 2nd division of the French Imperial Guard, in 1865 he was appointed deputy governor of French Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
and the named Senator
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
in 1866. After a period as commander of the military camp at Châlons, he assumed command of II Corps at Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
in 1867. During the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
he was placed in command of the IV Corps of the Army of the Rhine, taking part in the battles of Mars-la-Tour
Battle of Mars-La-Tour
The Battle of Mars-La-Tour was fought on 16 August 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War near the town of Mars-La-Tour in northeast France. Two Prussian corps encountered the entire French Army of the Rhine in a meeting engagement, and with the surprise entailed, successfully forced the Army of the...
and Saint-Privat; during the latter he repulsed the German attack at Amanvillers
Amanvillers
Amanvillers is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
. After the capitulation of the Bazaine
François Achille Bazaine
François Achille Bazaine was a French General and from 1864, a Marshal of France, who surrendered the last organized French army to the Prussians during the Franco-Prussian war. He was the first Marshal who had started as a legionnaire and like the great Marshals of the First Empire, he had risen...
's army however, he became a Prussian prisoner of war.
He was freed in order to take part in the assault against the Paris Commune
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution...
, during which he led the assault against the Gate of Saint-Ouen and Montmartre
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
. After the suppression of the Commune, he was named military governor of Paris
Military governor of Paris
The post of military governor of Paris is a very old and prestigious post in the French Army. He commands the garrison of Paris and represents all the military based in Paris at high state occasions...
, a post he held until 1878. He also succeeded Marshal Mac-Mahon as commander of the Army of Versailles when the latter became President of France. He ran unsuccessfully in the 1879 Presidential election, and died on 1 February 1898 at Sillars
Sillars
Sillars is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France....
.
Decorations
- Legion of Honour :
- Knight in 1840
- Officer in 1845
- Commander in 1847
- Grand Officer in 1859
- Grand Cross in 1867
- Médaille militaireMédaille militaireThe Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...
in 1871 - Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusOrder of Saints Maurice and LazarusThe Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
Sources
- J. de la Faye : le général de Ladmirault (1808-1898) (Paris vers 1900)
- Maguy Gallet-Villechange : Le général Paul de Ladmirault, un enfant du Poitou sous les aigles impériales (Anovi, 2008).