Gaspard Bernard de Marigny

Catholic and Royal Army (Vendée) Counter-revolutionary forces 1754–1794 ✕ Shot

Artillery commander of the Catholic and Royal Army, condemned by his fellow generals and shot by Stofflet’s men

Born at Luçon in 1754, he served as a naval lieutenant in the American War of Independence, at the capture of Grenada and the siege of Savannah. He helped defend the Tuileries in 1792; freed by the insurgents at Bressuire in 1793, he became artillery general of the Catholic and Royal Army and distinguished himself at Thouars, at Saumur and on the Virée de Galerne. At first he preached clemency towards prisoners, but after the battle of Châtillon in July 1793 he led a massacre of republican prisoners. In spring 1794 he commanded the army of Upper Poitou and in April swore mutual assistance with Charette, Stofflet and Sapinaud, but soon broke with them, and a council of war condemned him to death in his absence. On 10 July, ill and hiding in a château near Combrand, he was shot by Stofflet’s soldiers.

Also known as: Gaspard Augustin René de Bernard de Marigny