Giuseppe Marco Fieschi
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Marco Fieschi was the chief conspirator in the attempt on the life of King Louis-Philippe of France in July 1835.
Fieschi was a native of Murato
in Corsica
. He served under Murat
, then returned to Corsica, where he was condemned to ten years imprisonment and perpetual surveillance by the police for theft
and forgery
. After a period of vagabond
age he eluded the police and obtained a small post in Paris
by means of forged papers; but losing it on account of his suspicious manner of living, he resolved to revenge himself on society. He took lodgings on the Boulevard du Temple
, and there, with two members of the Société des Droits de l'Homme, Morey and Pépin by name, contrived an "infernal machine" (in French, machine infernale), consisting of twenty gun barrels, to be fired simultaneously.
On July 28, 1835, as Louis-Philippe was passing along the Boulevard du Temple, which connected Place de la République
to the Bastille
, accompanied by his three sons and a numerous staff, the machine was exploded at the height of n°50 Boulevard du Temple (a commemorative plaque
has since been engraved there). A ball grazed the king's forehead, and his horse, with those of the Duke of Nemours and of the Prince de Joinville, was shot; Marshal Mortier
was killed, with seventeen other persons, and many were wounded; but the king and the princes escaped essentially unharmed.
Fieschi himself was severely wounded by the discharge of his machine, and vainly attempted to escape. The attentions of the most skilful physicians were lavished upon him, and his life was saved for the stroke of justice. On his trial he named his accomplices, displayed much bravado, and expected or pretended to expect ultimate pardon. He was condemned to death, and was guillotine
d on February 19, 1836. Morey and Pépin were also executed, another accomplice was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment and one was acquitted. No less than seven plots against the life of Louis Philippe had been discovered by the police within the year, and apologists were not wanting in the revolutionary press for the crime of Fieschi.
Fieschi was a native of Murato
Murato, Haute-Corse
Murato is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.-Population:-References:*...
in Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. He served under Murat
Joachim Murat
Joachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
, then returned to Corsica, where he was condemned to ten years imprisonment and perpetual surveillance by the police for theft
Theft
In common usage, theft is the illegal taking of another person's property without that person's permission or consent. The word is also used as an informal shorthand term for some crimes against property, such as burglary, embezzlement, larceny, looting, robbery, shoplifting and fraud...
and forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
. After a period of vagabond
Vagabond (person)
A vagabond is a drifter and an itinerant wanderer who roams wherever they please, following the whim of the moment. Vagabonds may lack residence, a job, and even citizenship....
age he eluded the police and obtained a small post 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...
by means of forged papers; but losing it on account of his suspicious manner of living, he resolved to revenge himself on society. He took lodgings on the Boulevard du Temple
Boulevard du Temple
The Boulevard du Temple is a thoroughfare in Paris that separates the 3rd arrondissement from the 11th. It runs from the Place de la République to the Place Pasdeloup, and its name refers to the nearby Knights Templars' Temple where they established their Paris priory.-History:The Boulevard du...
, and there, with two members of the Société des Droits de l'Homme, Morey and Pépin by name, contrived an "infernal machine" (in French, machine infernale), consisting of twenty gun barrels, to be fired simultaneously.
On July 28, 1835, as Louis-Philippe was passing along the Boulevard du Temple, which connected Place de la République
Place de la République
The Place de la République is a square in Paris, located on the border between the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissements. It is named after the French Republic. The Métro station of République lies beneath the square.-History:...
to the Bastille
Bastille
The Bastille was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. The Bastille was built in response to the English threat to the city of...
, accompanied by his three sons and a numerous staff, the machine was exploded at the height of n°50 Boulevard du Temple (a commemorative plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
has since been engraved there). A ball grazed the king's forehead, and his horse, with those of the Duke of Nemours and of the Prince de Joinville, was shot; Marshal Mortier
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, 1st Duc de Trévise was a French general and Marshal of France under Napoleon I.-Biography:...
was killed, with seventeen other persons, and many were wounded; but the king and the princes escaped essentially unharmed.
Fieschi himself was severely wounded by the discharge of his machine, and vainly attempted to escape. The attentions of the most skilful physicians were lavished upon him, and his life was saved for the stroke of justice. On his trial he named his accomplices, displayed much bravado, and expected or pretended to expect ultimate pardon. He was condemned to death, and was guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
d on February 19, 1836. Morey and Pépin were also executed, another accomplice was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment and one was acquitted. No less than seven plots against the life of Louis Philippe had been discovered by the police within the year, and apologists were not wanting in the revolutionary press for the crime of Fieschi.
See also
- July MonarchyJuly MonarchyThe July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...