Louis de Frotté
Encyclopedia
Marie Pierre Louis de Frotté (August 1, 1766–February 18, 1800) was a French soldier and royalist.
De Frotté was born in Alençon
. He joined the Royal Army in 1781, and was in command of infantry units by 1789, when the French Revolution
broke out. Frotté joined the émigrés, leaving France and serving in the combined Prussian and Austrian
army of the Duke of Brunswick, which aimed to restore the absolute monarchy in France.
Frotté fought at Valmy
in 1792, and, after Brunswick's unsuccessful campaign, sailed to England
. There, he joined the émigré regiment of the vicomte de Bussy, venturing into Brittany
several times and linking up with Chouan
royalists, who had risen up against the French Republic, which had evolved from the Revolution.
Frotté soon became a leader of the Chouan revolt, organizing the rebels into military units and forming a staff. By 1796, however, forces under General Hoche
had scored several victories, defeating the Chouans and forcing Frotté to flee abroad, after repulsing his assault on Tinchebray
. Returning to England, he was enlisted by Charles, Count of Artois
(the executed King Louis XVI's brother), in an attempt to start yet another rebellion in his native Normandy
.
This rebellion was fairly successful, but, after Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, the tide began to turn against Frotté, as most of his direct subordinates were killed. When, in early 1800, many rebel soldiers began to desert, he began to negotiate with the government, eventually being invited by General Guidal
to a meeting in Alençon.
Frotté met with Guidal at the Hôtel de Cygne, where he realized he had been lured into a trap. During the meeting, the rebel leader was arrested and, three days later, brought before a military tribunal, which sentenced him to death. He was shot by a firing squad on February 18.
De Frotté was born in Alençon
Alençon
Alençon is a commune in Normandy, France, capital of the Orne department. It is situated west of Paris. Alençon belongs to the intercommunality of Alençon .-History:...
. He joined the Royal Army in 1781, and was in command of infantry units by 1789, 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. Frotté joined the émigrés, leaving France and serving in the combined Prussian and Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
army of the Duke of Brunswick, which aimed to restore the absolute monarchy in France.
Frotté fought at Valmy
Battle of Valmy
The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris...
in 1792, and, after Brunswick's unsuccessful campaign, sailed to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There, he joined the émigré regiment of the vicomte de Bussy, venturing into Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
several times and linking up with Chouan
Chouan
Chouan is a French surname. It was used as a nom de guerre by the Chouan brothers, most notably Jean Cottereau, better known as Jean Chouan, who led a major revolt in Bas-Maine against the French Revolution...
royalists, who had risen up against the French Republic, which had evolved from the Revolution.
Frotté soon became a leader of the Chouan revolt, organizing the rebels into military units and forming a staff. By 1796, however, forces under General Hoche
Hoche
Hoche may refer to:* Lazare Hoche , French general* Lycée Hoche, a secondary school in Versailles, France* The Hoche, a French battleship*Hoche, a Paris Métro station*Alfred Hoche , German psychiatrist...
had scored several victories, defeating the Chouans and forcing Frotté to flee abroad, after repulsing his assault on Tinchebray
Tinchebray
Tinchebray is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.It was the scene of the Battle of Tinchebray fought on 28 September 1106.-Heraldry:...
. Returning to England, he was enlisted by Charles, Count of Artois
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
(the executed King Louis XVI's brother), in an attempt to start yet another rebellion in his native Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
This rebellion was fairly successful, but, after Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, the tide began to turn against Frotté, as most of his direct subordinates were killed. When, in early 1800, many rebel soldiers began to desert, he began to negotiate with the government, eventually being invited by General Guidal
Emmanuel Maximilien-Joseph Guidal
Emmanuel Maximilien-Joseph Guidal was a French general known for his role in the Malet Conspiracy which was aimed at toppling Napoleon I, who was away from Paris when the events of it occurred.- Life :Guidal was born on December 31, 1764...
to a meeting in Alençon.
Frotté met with Guidal at the Hôtel de Cygne, where he realized he had been lured into a trap. During the meeting, the rebel leader was arrested and, three days later, brought before a military tribunal, which sentenced him to death. He was shot by a firing squad on February 18.