Louis Marie de Lescure

Catholic and Royal Army (Vendée) Counter-revolutionary forces 1766–1793 ✕ Died of wounds

Commander of the Catholic and Royal Army known as the “saint of Poitou”

Born in Paris in 1766, he was educated at the École Militaire and commanded a cavalry company in the Royal-Piémont regiment. In 1791 he married his cousin Victoire de Donnissan; Henri de La Rochejaquelein was also his cousin. He took part in the defence of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, then withdrew to the château of Clisson near Bressuire, and in April 1793 he was arrested as a promoter of the rising. Freed when the Vendéans took Bressuire in May, he became one of their leaders, fought at Thouars, was the first into Fontenay and was wounded at Saumur. Shot in the head at La Tremblaye near Cholet on 15 October, he was carried along on the Virée de Galerne and died on 4 November between Ernée and Fougères. His widow, later the marquise de La Rochejaquelein, wrote celebrated memoirs.

Also known as: Louis Marie de Salgues de Lescure · Marquis de Lescure