Antoine Richepanse
Encyclopedia
Antoine Richepanse was a French revolutionary general and colonial administrator.
as the son of an officer of the Regiment of Conti. When the French Revolution started Richepanse distinguished himself in the early battles of the French Revolutionary War and by 1794 he had been promoted to general de brigade.
Fighting at Siegburg
(June 1796) and Altenkirchen
, he was promoted to general de division. In 1797 he fought in the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse
under the command of Hoche
. Richepanse distinguished himself in the battle of Neuwied, where the Austrians lost 8000 man, 27 cannons and 7 colors.
In 1800 he was part of the Army of the Rhine under Moreau
which defeated the Austrians at Hohenlinden
, where he played a conspicuous part. In 1801 he was appointed by the First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte
as governor of Guadeloupe
, where paved the way for the restoration of slavery
, which had been abolished by the French Revolution in 1794 and reappeared in Guadeloupe in 1802 (in practice) and 1803 (in the law). Not long after his arrival there he contracted yellow fever
from which he died. He was, indeed, one of the bravest of the brave, and one of the ablest officers in the French Revolutionary Army
.
Military career
Richepanse was born in MetzMetz
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...
as the son of an officer of the Regiment of Conti. When the French Revolution started Richepanse distinguished himself in the early battles of the French Revolutionary War and by 1794 he had been promoted to general de brigade.
Fighting at Siegburg
Siegburg
--122.148.78.228 05:06, 14 November 2011 Siegburg is a city in the district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany...
(June 1796) and Altenkirchen
Altenkirchen
Altenkirchen is a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, capital of the district of Altenkirchen. It is located approx. 40 km east of Bonn and 40 km north of Koblenz. Altenkirchen is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Altenkirchen.-References:...
, he was promoted to general de division. In 1797 he fought in the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse
Army of Sambre-et-Meuse
The Army of Sambre-et-Meuse is the best known of the armies of the French Revolution. It was formed on 29 June 1794 by combining three forces: the Army of the Ardennes, the left wing of the Army of Moselle, and the right wing of the Army of the North. It had a brief but celebrated existence...
under the command of Hoche
Lazare Hoche
Louis Lazare Hoche was a French soldier who rose to be general of the Revolutionary army.Born of poor parents near Versailles, he enlisted at sixteen as a private soldier in the Gardes Françaises...
. Richepanse distinguished himself in the battle of Neuwied, where the Austrians lost 8000 man, 27 cannons and 7 colors.
In 1800 he was part of the Army of the Rhine under Moreau
Jean Victor Marie Moreau
Jean Victor Marie Moreau was a French general who helped Napoleon Bonaparte to power, but later became a rival and was banished to the United States.- Early life :Moreau was born at Morlaix in Brittany...
which defeated the Austrians at Hohenlinden
Battle of Hohenlinden (1800)
The Battle of Hohenlinden was fought on 3 December 1800 during the French Revolutionary Wars. A French army under Jean Victor Marie Moreau won a decisive victory over the Austrians and Bavarians led by Archduke John of Austria. After being forced into a disastrous retreat, the allies were compelled...
, where he played a conspicuous part. In 1801 he was appointed by the First Consul Napoléon Bonaparte
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
as governor of Guadeloupe
Colonial and Departmental Heads of Guadeloupe
-List of Colonial and Departmental Heads of Guadeloupe:Note: currently, the prefect is not the true departmental head, which is the President of the General Council. The prefect is merely the representative of the national government.-See also:*Guadeloupe*Politics of Guadeloupe...
, where paved the way for the restoration of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, which had been abolished by the French Revolution in 1794 and reappeared in Guadeloupe in 1802 (in practice) and 1803 (in the law). Not long after his arrival there he contracted yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
from which he died. He was, indeed, one of the bravest of the brave, and one of the ablest officers in 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...
.