Charles Sapinaud de La Rairie

Catholic and Royal Army (Vendée) Counter-revolutionary forces 1760–1829 ○ Natural causes

Vendéan general who led the Army of the Centre and signed the Treaty of La Jaunaye

Born at La Gaubretière in 1760, he became a gentleman cadet in the Foix regiment in 1778, left the army as a lieutenant in 1789 and was elected the first constitutional mayor of his parish. In March 1793 he joined the rising, serving under his uncle in Royrand’s Army of the Centre, and succeeded the uncle when he was killed near Chantonnay in July. Cut off from the main army at Le Mans during the Virée de Galerne, he made his way back to the Vendée and, after Royrand’s death, led the Army of the Centre against the infernal columns. In April 1794 he swore mutual assistance with Charette, Stofflet and Marigny, but refused to vote for Marigny’s execution. He signed the Treaty of La Jaunaye with Charette in February 1795, took up arms again in October and made peace at Nantes in January 1796. He signed the peace of Montfaucon in 1800 and under the Restoration became a deputy and a peer.

Also known as: Charles Henri Félicité Sapinaud de La Rairie