Jean Léchelle
Encyclopedia
Jean Léchelle was a French general of the French Revolutionary Wars.
when the French Revolution
broke out and, enrolling in the National Guard
of Charente-Inférieure, served in 1791 as lieutenant-colonel of the first volunteers' battalion from Charente
.
On 17 August 1793 he was promoted to general, and was commander-in-chief of the Armée des côtes de Brest
from 6 October to 27 October 1793. Protected by Bouchotte, minister for war, on 30 September 1793 he was called to be commander-in-chief of the new armée de l'Ouest
. Despite his lack of education, he had successes at Mortagne
and the battle of Cholet
. Obeying instructions from the comité de salut public and decrees from the National Convention
, he burned and completely devastated his opponents, but was beaten at the battle of Entrames
(October 1793), where he lost nearly 10,000 men. Insulted by his own soldiers, he was condemned by the représentants en mission sent to the Vendée. Merlin de Thionville had him arrested and brought to Nantes
, where he died in prison of uncertain causes (chagrin or poison) after a few days.
Life
He was master of arms at SaintesSaintes
Saintes is a French commune located in Poitou-Charentes, in the southwestern Charente-Maritime department of which it is a sub-prefecture. Its inhabitants are called Saintaises and Saintais....
when 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...
broke out and, enrolling in the National Guard
National Guard (France)
The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
of Charente-Inférieure, served in 1791 as lieutenant-colonel of the first volunteers' battalion from Charente
Charente
Charente is a department in southwestern France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, named after the Charente River, the most important river in the department, and also the river beside which the department's two largest towns, Angoulême and Cognac, are sited.-History:Charente is one of the original...
.
On 17 August 1793 he was promoted to general, and was commander-in-chief of the Armée des côtes de Brest
Armée des côtes de Brest
The Army of the Coasts of Brest was a French Revolutionary Army formed on 1 April 1793 by splitting the Army of the Coasts into this army and the Army of the Coasts of Cherbourg. It was put under the command of Jean Baptiste Camille de Canclaux and charged with combatting the Chouans and...
from 6 October to 27 October 1793. Protected by Bouchotte, minister for war, on 30 September 1793 he was called to be commander-in-chief of the new armée de l'Ouest
Armée de l'Ouest
The Army of the West was one of the French Revolutionary Armies. It was created on 1 August 1793 by merging the armée des côtes de Brest, the armée des côtes de La Rochelle, and the armée de Mayence, and was sent to fight the revolt in the Vendee.- Reorganisation :Visiting Republican soldiers of...
. Despite his lack of education, he had successes at Mortagne
Mortagne
Mortagne is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.It shares its name with the eponymous river which borders the commune on its south-eastern side.-Geography:...
and the battle of Cholet
Battle of Cholet
The Battle of Cholet was fought on 17 October 1793 during the French Revolutionary Wars, between French Republican forces under General Léchelle and French Royalist Forces under Louis d'Elbée. The battle was fought in the town of Cholet in the Maine-et-Loire department of France, and resulted in a...
. Obeying instructions from the comité de salut public and decrees from the National Convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
, he burned and completely devastated his opponents, but was beaten at the battle of Entrames
Battle of Entrames
The Battle of Entrames was fought on 27 October 1793 during the French Revolutionary Wars. It pitted Republican forces against Vendée Royalists near Entrames in Mayenne, and it resulted in a Royalist victory.- References :...
(October 1793), where he lost nearly 10,000 men. Insulted by his own soldiers, he was condemned by the représentants en mission sent to the Vendée. Merlin de Thionville had him arrested and brought to 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....
, where he died in prison of uncertain causes (chagrin or poison) after a few days.
Sources
- Révolution française by Jules Michelet