French politician and general. Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Motier, marquis of Fayette. It had a long and animated career. However in spite of the part which he played in the revolutions of 1789 and 1830, he is especially remained, for the posterity, the hero of American independence. The war of American independenceFayette belongs to an old and famous family. Promoted lieutenant of the black musketeers (riding belonging to the house of the king), it seems intended to follow the usual career of a noble officer and well in court. However the young man impassions himself for the ideas of the philosophers; also it without reserve will adhere to the principles of the Declaration of American independence of July 4th, 1776. When Benjamin Franklin comes to Paris this year to seek an economic aid and military, Fayette makes arm a boat and, in spite of the royal opposition, embarks for Philadelphia (1777).
It engages like volunteer, i.e. without balance, and can gain the confidence of the members of the Congress which ratifies its nomination with the rank of general major. Wounded with the battle of Brandywine (September 1777), Fayette is seen allotting the command of a division. Its immense popularity in France contributes much to the conclusion of the Franco-American treaty of February 6th, 1778. From return in its country the following year, it receives enthusiastic welcome and obtains from Louis XVI the sending of a task force in the United States (1780).
When it regains America, Fayette is placed by George Washington in charge of the troops of Virginia. With the troops of Rochambeau and the fleet of the count de Grasse, it obliges the principal English army to capitulate in Yorktown (October 1781).
The Revolution of 1789
Returned to France in 1782, Fayette is regarded there as the hero of freedom. But the political opinions of Fayette worry the court which will not cease testifying mistrust and coldness to him. Moreover, it is not long in running up face against the mode: with the Parliament of notable of 1787, he denounces the abuses and claims the convocation of an National Assembly. Appointed of the nobility to the general states in 1789, Fayette submits a declaration plan European of the human rights and the citizen close to the American model and whose final version (adopted in August) will be inspired much. He is named general of the Parisian middle-class militia (future national guard) the shortly after the storming of the Bastille and makes adopt the tricolor rosette (July 17th). After the days of October 1789 which bring back the court to Paris, it is made commander of all the armed forces of the capital.
Fidelity with the monarchical mode
The popularity of the marquis of Fayette is with his roof, but the number of its political enemies does not cease increasing: partisan of a moderate revolution and anxious to maintain the order, it is violently attacked by Danton and Marat. The conservative party, led by the queen, fears it and hates it, while certain politicians in sight, such Mirabeau, are jealous of its influence. Faithful to the monarchical mode, Fayette lends oath “to the nation, the law and to the king” at the time of the festival of the Federation (July 14th, 1790).
After the attempt at escape of Louis XVI in June 1971, it is made the guard of the royal family and is opposed more and more to a revolution which, according to him, goes too far. Person in charge of the shooting of Field-of-March (July 17th, 1791) where about fifty demonstrators are killed, it joined the party warmonger of the court and when the war bursts, on on April 20th, 1792, he takes the command of the army of the Center. He offers to Louis XVI, who refuses, to remove it from Of Gironde by a takeover by force against the Legislative one. Following the day of June 20th, where crowd invades Tileries and obliges Louis XVI to cap the red bonnet, Fayette leaves its station to try to raise Paris against the clubs and the sections on on June 28th. In charge of the army of North, he protests against the suspension of the king; threatened of arrest, it gains the enemy rows on on August 19th, 1792. However the Austrians regard it as a dangerous man and it will spend five years in their jails of Magdeburg and Olmütz.
Of Napoleon with Louis-Philippe
Fayette finds France after the coup d'etat of the 18 brumaire year VIII (November 1799). Reticent towards Napoleon, it does not take part in the political life and leaves its retirement only in 1815 at the time of the Hundred Days: appointed elected official, it claims the abdication of the Emperor. He sits at the Room, of 1818 to 1824, like member of the liberal left and protests against the French intervention in Spain. The “hero of the Two Worlds” undertakes in 1824 a last voyage to the United States, where the population accommodates it with enthusiasm.
In France, he again knows his hour of glory at the time of the revolution of 1830; named ordering national guard, it contributes by its influence to the come to power of Louis-Philippe. But disappointed by what he had greeted as “best republics” he withdraws himself in his property of the Barn-Bléneau.
Fayette and the town of Olomouc
On May 17th, 1794 were locked up in the Barracks known as of the Jesuits with Olomouc (today building of the Files of L `military administration on the place of the Republic) the general Fayette, like three former deputies of L `French legislative Assemblée.
In October of this same year, they will be only prisoners D `State to try S `to escape. It however will be taken again not far D `Olomouc and réinterné. To leave D `October 1795, its wife, Adrienne, and their two daughters will divide her seclusion with him. The Lafayette family will be released from her imprisonment with Olomouc in 1797, after the conclusion of peace between L `Austria and France, in Campoformio.