| Henri De La Rochejaquelein |
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Henri du Vergier, comte de la Rochejaquelein ( 30 August 1772 , Durbelière castel, Saint-Aubin-de-Baubigné , near Châtillon - 28 January 1794 , Nuaillé ) was the youngest general of the Royalist Vendean Insurrection during the French Revolution . La Rochejaquelein fought for the first time in the Tuileries on the 10th Of August 1792 as an officer of the Constitutional Guard of the king. Returned to his home province, he refused conscription, joined his cousin Lescure and started fighting the Republican troops with Louis D'Elbée and Bonchamps from April 1793. There he gave famous order "''Mes amis, si j'avance, suivez-moi! Si je recule, tuez-moi! Si je meurs, vengez-moi!''" ("Friends, if I advance, follow me! If I retreat, kill me! If I die, avenge me!"). Leading a few thousands Vendean peasants, La Rochejaquelein gained his first victory over the Republicans on 13 April , took part to the taking of Bressuire on 3 May , of Fontenay on the 25th, and of Saumur on 9 June . In August, in Luçon , he regrouped the Vendean army, which was on the verge of being disbanded, and won the battle of Chantonnay in September. He had to retreat across the Loire after being beaten in Cholet , on 17 October . On 20 October , he was elected commander-in-chief of the "Royal and Catholic Armies", replacing Louis D'Elbée who had been severely wounded in Cholet. However, his extreme bravery did not compensate for his lack of experience and strategic skills. He marching onto Granville , took Avranches on 12 November , but failed to seize Granville and retreated to Angers in order to cross the Loire. Marceau , Kléber and Westermann gave chase, beating him once in Le Mans on 12 December , and again. more severely on the 23th in Savenay. He managed to save the remains of his army by crossing the Loire, and left under the criticism of his fellow companions. While trying to pursue a guerilla war against the Republicans, he was killed by a Republican soldier on 29 January 1794 . |
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