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François Christophe de Kellermann

François-Étienne-Christophe Kellermann or de Kellermann, 1st Duke of Valmy (German: Franz Stephan Christoph Edler[2] von Kellermann; 28 May 1735 – 23 September 1820) was a French military commander, later the Général d'Armée, a Marshal of the Empire and freemason. Marshal Kellermann served in varying roles throughout the entirety of two epochal conflicts, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. Kellermann is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe, on Column 3.


François Christophe de Kellermann

Duke of Valmy
Kellermann as Marshal of the Empire, after a contemporary portrait by Antoine Ansiaux
Born(1735-05-28)28 May 1735
Strasbourg, France
Died23 September 1820(1820-09-23) (aged 85)
Paris, France
Allegiance Kingdom of France
 Kingdom of the French
 French Republic
 First French Empire
Kingdom of France
Service/branchArmy
RankMarshal of the Empire
AwardsGrand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Order of the Red Eagle
Grand Cross of the Order of the Württemberg Crown
Grand Dignitary of the House Order of Fidelity
Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis[1]

Early life edit

François Christophe de Kellermann came from a Saxon family, which was long settled in Strasbourg and ennobled.[3] He was the only son of a family living in the French province of Alsace. His father was François de Kellermann (or Johann Christoph Edler von Kellermann) and his mother, Baroness Marie Magdalene von Dyhrn.[4][5]

Military career prior to the Revolution edit

The fifteen-year-old François Kellermann entered the French Army as a cadet volunteer[3] with a hussar regiment: the Régiment de Loweridath. He was commissioned as an ensign in the Royal-Bavière infantry regiment and promoted to captain in 1758 in the course of the Seven Years' War.[3] On one occasion he distinguished himself by capturing 300 prisoners while leading a small cavalry detachment. In 1771, Kellermann saw active service in Poland,[3] becoming a chevalier of the Order of Saint-Louis. A further promotion to capitaine-commandant followed in 1776 before he became major in the Hussars of Conflans (Hussards de Conflans) three years later. Kellermann became brigadier-general in 1784, and in the following year marechal-de-camp.[3] While a number of Napoleon's marshals served in the Royal army prior to the Revolution, Kellermann was the only one to have reached such senior rank under the former regime.[6]

Revolutionary career edit

In 1789 Kellermann enthusiastically embraced the cause of the French Revolution, and in 1791 became general of the army in Alsace. In April 1792 he was made a lieutenant-general, and in August of the same year there came to him the opportunity of his lifetime. He rose to the occasion, and his victory over the Prussians at the Battle of Valmy, in Goethe's words, "opened a new era in the history of the world".[3] Napoleon later commented that: "I think I'm the boldest general that ever lived, but I daren't take post on that ridge with windmill at Valmy (where Kellermann took position) in 1793".[citation needed]

Transferred to the army on the Moselle, Kellermann was accused by General Adam Custine of neglecting to support his operations on the Rhine; but he was acquitted at the bar of the National Convention in Paris, and placed at the head of the army of the Alps and of Italy, in which position he showed himself a careful commander and excellent administrator.[3]

Shortly afterwards he received instructions to reduce Lyons, then in revolt against the convention, but shortly after the surrender he was imprisoned in Paris for thirteen months. Once more honourably acquitted, he was reinstated in his command, and did good service in maintaining the south-eastern border against the Austrians until his army was merged into that of General Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy.[3]

Imperial career edit

 
Heraldic achievement of Kellermann as Duke of Valmy

Kellermann was then sixty-two years of age, still physically equal to his work, but the young generals who had come to the front in the previous two years represented the new spirit and the new art of war, and Kellermann's active career came to an end. But the hero of Valmy was never forgotten. When Napoleon came to power Kellermann was named successively senator (1800), president of the Senate (1801), honorary Marshal of France (19 May 1804), and title of Duke of Valmy (1808).[7]

 
Kellermann's tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery

In his service to the First French Empire, Kellermann was frequently employed in the administration and training of the army.[8][9] He also took control of the line of communications and the command of reserve troops, and his long and wide experience made him one of Napoleon's most valuable assistants.[8]

In 1814 he voted for the deposition of the emperor and became a peer under the royal government of Louis XVIII. After the "Hundred Days" he sat in the Chamber of Peers and voted with the Liberals.[8]

Marshal Kellermann died in Paris on 23 September 1820,[8] and is buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.[10]

His son François Étienne de Kellermann, 2nd Duke of Valmy,[8] also fought for Napoleon and was promoted to cavalry general after the Battle of Marengo.[9] Kellermann's grandson was the politician François Christophe Edmond de Kellermann[8] and his sister Magdalena married Moorish courtier Angelo Soliman.[11]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Paris, Louis (1869). Dictionnaire des anoblissements (in French). Paris: Bachelin-Deflorenne.
  2. ^ Regarding personal names: Edler is a rank of nobility, not a first or middle name. The female form is Edle.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Chisholm 1911, p. 718.
  4. ^ Genealogy reference – parents of Marshal Kellermann
  5. ^ Kellermann, Franz Christoph
  6. ^ Jean-Claude Banc, p. 154 Dictionnaire des Maréchaux de Napoléon, Paris, Pygmalion, 2007
  7. ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 718–719.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Chisholm 1911, p. 719.
  9. ^ a b Kielland 1908, p. 45.
  10. ^ Brown 1973, p. 61.
  11. ^ Wilhelm. A. Bauer, A. Soliman, Hochfürstlische Der Mohr, W. Sauer (Hg), 1922.

Sources edit

  • Brown, Frederick (1973). Père Lachaise: elysium as real estate. New York: Viking Press. p. 61. ISBN 0-670-54804-9. OCLC 698450.
  • Kielland, Alexander Lange (1908). Napoleon's men and methods. New York: Brentano's. p. 45. OCLC 3636503. Battle of Valmy Napoleon -wikipedia.
  •   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kellermann, François Christophe de". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 718–719.

External links edit

françois, christophe, kellermann, françois, Étienne, christophe, kellermann, kellermann, duke, valmy, german, franz, stephan, christoph, edler, kellermann, 1735, september, 1820, french, military, commander, later, général, armée, marshal, empire, freemason, m. Francois Etienne Christophe Kellermann or de Kellermann 1st Duke of Valmy German Franz Stephan Christoph Edler 2 von Kellermann 28 May 1735 23 September 1820 was a French military commander later the General d Armee a Marshal of the Empire and freemason Marshal Kellermann served in varying roles throughout the entirety of two epochal conflicts the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars Kellermann is one of the names inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe on Column 3 Marshal of the EmpireFrancois Christophe de KellermannDuke of ValmyKellermann as Marshal of the Empire after a contemporary portrait by Antoine AnsiauxBorn 1735 05 28 28 May 1735Strasbourg FranceDied23 September 1820 1820 09 23 aged 85 Paris FranceAllegiance Kingdom of France Kingdom of the French French Republic First French Empire Kingdom of FranceService wbr branchArmyRankMarshal of the EmpireAwardsGrand Cross of the Legion of HonourOrder of the Red EagleGrand Cross of the Order of the Wurttemberg CrownGrand Dignitary of the House Order of FidelityGrand Cross of the Order of Saint Louis 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career prior to the Revolution 3 Revolutionary career 4 Imperial career 5 Notes 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly life editFrancois Christophe de Kellermann came from a Saxon family which was long settled in Strasbourg and ennobled 3 He was the only son of a family living in the French province of Alsace His father was Francois de Kellermann or Johann Christoph Edler von Kellermann and his mother Baroness Marie Magdalene von Dyhrn 4 5 Military career prior to the Revolution editThe fifteen year old Francois Kellermann entered the French Army as a cadet volunteer 3 with a hussar regiment the Regiment de Loweridath He was commissioned as an ensign in the Royal Baviere infantry regiment and promoted to captain in 1758 in the course of the Seven Years War 3 On one occasion he distinguished himself by capturing 300 prisoners while leading a small cavalry detachment In 1771 Kellermann saw active service in Poland 3 becoming a chevalier of the Order of Saint Louis A further promotion to capitaine commandant followed in 1776 before he became major in the Hussars of Conflans Hussards de Conflans three years later Kellermann became brigadier general in 1784 and in the following year marechal de camp 3 While a number of Napoleon s marshals served in the Royal army prior to the Revolution Kellermann was the only one to have reached such senior rank under the former regime 6 Revolutionary career editIn 1789 Kellermann enthusiastically embraced the cause of the French Revolution and in 1791 became general of the army in Alsace In April 1792 he was made a lieutenant general and in August of the same year there came to him the opportunity of his lifetime He rose to the occasion and his victory over the Prussians at the Battle of Valmy in Goethe s words opened a new era in the history of the world 3 Napoleon later commented that I think I m the boldest general that ever lived but I daren t take post on that ridge with windmill at Valmy where Kellermann took position in 1793 citation needed Transferred to the army on the Moselle Kellermann was accused by General Adam Custine of neglecting to support his operations on the Rhine but he was acquitted at the bar of the National Convention in Paris and placed at the head of the army of the Alps and of Italy in which position he showed himself a careful commander and excellent administrator 3 Shortly afterwards he received instructions to reduce Lyons then in revolt against the convention but shortly after the surrender he was imprisoned in Paris for thirteen months Once more honourably acquitted he was reinstated in his command and did good service in maintaining the south eastern border against the Austrians until his army was merged into that of General Napoleon Bonaparte in Italy 3 Imperial career edit nbsp Heraldic achievement of Kellermann as Duke of ValmyKellermann was then sixty two years of age still physically equal to his work but the young generals who had come to the front in the previous two years represented the new spirit and the new art of war and Kellermann s active career came to an end But the hero of Valmy was never forgotten When Napoleon came to power Kellermann was named successively senator 1800 president of the Senate 1801 honorary Marshal of France 19 May 1804 and title of Duke of Valmy 1808 7 nbsp Kellermann s tomb in Pere Lachaise CemeteryIn his service to the First French Empire Kellermann was frequently employed in the administration and training of the army 8 9 He also took control of the line of communications and the command of reserve troops and his long and wide experience made him one of Napoleon s most valuable assistants 8 In 1814 he voted for the deposition of the emperor and became a peer under the royal government of Louis XVIII After the Hundred Days he sat in the Chamber of Peers and voted with the Liberals 8 Marshal Kellermann died in Paris on 23 September 1820 8 and is buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery 10 His son Francois Etienne de Kellermann 2nd Duke of Valmy 8 also fought for Napoleon and was promoted to cavalry general after the Battle of Marengo 9 Kellermann s grandson was the politician Francois Christophe Edmond de Kellermann 8 and his sister Magdalena married Moorish courtier Angelo Soliman 11 Notes edit Paris Louis 1869 Dictionnaire des anoblissements in French Paris Bachelin Deflorenne Regarding personal names Edler is a rank of nobility not a first or middle name The female form is Edle a b c d e f g h Chisholm 1911 p 718 Genealogy reference parents of Marshal Kellermann Kellermann Franz Christoph Jean Claude Banc p 154 Dictionnaire des Marechaux de Napoleon Paris Pygmalion 2007 Chisholm 1911 pp 718 719 a b c d e f Chisholm 1911 p 719 a b Kielland 1908 p 45 Brown 1973 p 61 Wilhelm A Bauer A Soliman Hochfurstlische Der Mohr W Sauer Hg 1922 Sources editBrown Frederick 1973 Pere Lachaise elysium as real estate New York Viking Press p 61 ISBN 0 670 54804 9 OCLC 698450 Kielland Alexander Lange 1908 Napoleon s men and methods New York Brentano s p 45 OCLC 3636503 Battle of Valmy Napoleon wikipedia nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Kellermann Francois Christophe de Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 15 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 718 719 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francois Christophe Kellermann Kellermann Francois Christophe Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol XIV 9th ed 1882 p 29 Kellermann Francois Christophe New International Encyclopedia 1905 Kellermann Francois Chistophe Encyclopedia Americana 1920 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Christophe de Kellermann amp oldid 1191993810, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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