Pierre Roques
Encyclopedia
Pierre Auguste Roques (28 December 1856, Marseillan, Hérault
– 26 February 1920, Saint-Cloud
) was a French general and creator of the French air force.
. He entered the École Polytechnique in 1877 and became a friend of Joseph Joffre
. Having chosen the military engineering branch of the army he was commissioned as an officer in 1879 (at that time, more engineering than military). During his colonial campaigns, he created a vast number of structures (railways, bridges, roads) in Tonkin
, Algeria
and, above all, in Madagascar
. According to historians, this island owes a large part of its infrastructure to Roques. By 1906, Roques had been promoted to the rank of général de brigade
.
As Director of Engineering, Roques was preoccupied from 1906 with the management of the new air service. He was the founder and organiser of French military aviation, he created the word avion and was appointed the Permanent Inspector of Military Aeronautics in 1910. The 1911 aeroplane contest in Reims
- the world's first - was intended to allow the French military to evaluate and buy 'scientifically' its first aeroplanes. Roques decided that the «établissements d'aéronautique» (aeronautical establishments) should be called «escadrilles» (squadrons) and that the «aéroplanes» should henceforth be called «avions», after the name chosen by Clément Ader
for his own aircraft and in homage to this visionary engineer with whom he corresponded regularly. It was also Roques who initiated the «carnet de vol» (pilot's log book) still in use today. The names introduced by Roques came to be generally accepted and very quickly became part of French vocabulary.
At the outbreak of World War I
, he was the commanding general of the 12th Corps. By January 1915 he had become the commander of the First Army, and then became the Minister of War from January to December 1916, following Gallieni
and preceding Lyautey. Subsequently, he served briefly as the commander of the Fourth Army and then as the Inspector General of Works and Organization for the French Army until February 1919.
His war service exhausted him and he died at Saint-Cloud
in 1920. Buried initially in his native Marseillan, his remains were transferred to the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris
.
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Marseillan, Hérault
Marseillan is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.It lies some west of Montpellier.Marseillan sits on a large salt-water lake, the Étang de Thau and is the southern Entreport for the Canal du Midi....
– 26 February 1920, Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Like other communes of the Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine or Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of the wealthiest cities in France, ranked 22nd out of the 36500 in...
) was a French general and creator of the French air force.
Biography
Born to a modest family, his lively intelligence earned him a study grant that allowed him to prepare for the entrance examinations to the École PolytechniqueÉcole Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
. He entered the École Polytechnique in 1877 and became a friend of Joseph Joffre
Joseph Joffre
Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre OM was a French general during World War I. He is most known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in 1914. His popularity led to his nickname Papa Joffre.-Biography:Joffre was born in...
. Having chosen the military engineering branch of the army he was commissioned as an officer in 1879 (at that time, more engineering than military). During his colonial campaigns, he created a vast number of structures (railways, bridges, roads) in Tonkin
Tonkin
Tonkin , also spelled Tongkin, Tonquin or Tongking, is the northernmost part of Vietnam, south of China's Yunnan and Guangxi Provinces, east of northern Laos, and west of the Gulf of Tonkin. Locally, it is known as Bắc Kỳ, meaning "Northern Region"...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and, above all, in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. According to historians, this island owes a large part of its infrastructure to Roques. By 1906, Roques had been promoted to the rank of général de brigade
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
.
As Director of Engineering, Roques was preoccupied from 1906 with the management of the new air service. He was the founder and organiser of French military aviation, he created the word avion and was appointed the Permanent Inspector of Military Aeronautics in 1910. The 1911 aeroplane contest in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
- the world's first - was intended to allow the French military to evaluate and buy 'scientifically' its first aeroplanes. Roques decided that the «établissements d'aéronautique» (aeronautical establishments) should be called «escadrilles» (squadrons) and that the «aéroplanes» should henceforth be called «avions», after the name chosen by Clément Ader
Clément Ader
Clément Ader was a French inventor and engineer born in Muret, Haute Garonne, and is remembered primarily for his pioneering work in aviation.- The inventor :...
for his own aircraft and in homage to this visionary engineer with whom he corresponded regularly. It was also Roques who initiated the «carnet de vol» (pilot's log book) still in use today. The names introduced by Roques came to be generally accepted and very quickly became part of French vocabulary.
At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was the commanding general of the 12th Corps. By January 1915 he had become the commander of the First Army, and then became the Minister of War from January to December 1916, following Gallieni
Joseph Gallieni
Joseph Simon Gallieni was a French soldier, most active as a military commander and administrator in the French colonies and finished his career during the First World War. He was made Marshal of France posthumously in 1921...
and preceding Lyautey. Subsequently, he served briefly as the commander of the Fourth Army and then as the Inspector General of Works and Organization for the French Army until February 1919.
His war service exhausted him and he died at Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Like other communes of the Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine or Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of the wealthiest cities in France, ranked 22nd out of the 36500 in...
in 1920. Buried initially in his native Marseillan, his remains were transferred to the Hôtel des Invalides 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...
.
Awards
- 1912 - Grand Officier de la Légion d'honneur
- 1916 - le Grand Croix de la Légion d'honneur
- 1920 - Médaille Militaire - Épée d'honneur de la ville de Marseillan
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