The Colonne de la liberté (French for "Column of Liberty") was a symbol of the Patriote movement erected in Saint-Charles, Lower Canada (present-day Quebec), on October 23, 1837. Its name is identical to the column that marked the history of the French Revolution. In 1982, because of the Comité des Patriotes and the Quebec Ministry of Culture, a replica was raised on its presumed original location and still stands today. On October 23 and 24, 1837, people of Lower Canada gathered around it for the

Assembly of the Six Counties The Assembly of the Six Counties (french: Assemblée des six-comtés) was an assembly of Patriote leaders and approximately 6,000 followers held in Saint-Charles, Lower Canada (present-day Quebec) on October 23 and October 24, 1837, despite th ...

with the structure bearing the inscription "À Papineau ses compatriotes reconnaissants" (To Papineau his thankful compatriots), referring to Patriote leader Louis-Joseph Papineau. During the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837, on November 30, Colonels George Augustus Wetherall and

Bartholomew Gugy Bartholomew Conrad Augustus Gugy (6 November 1796 – 11 June 1876) represented Sherbrooke in the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada. He played a prominent military role in the Lower C ...

and their troops unearthed the column after the victory at the

Battle of Saint-Charles The Battle of Saint-Charles was fought on 25 November 1837 between the Government of Lower Canada, supported by the United Kingdom, and Patriote rebels. Following the opening Patriote victory of the Lower Canada Rebellion at the Battle of Sai ...

and brought it to Montreal as a

war trophy __NOTOC__ A war trophy is an item taken during warfare by an invading force. Common war trophies include flags, weapons, vehicles, and art. History In ancient Greece and ancient Rome, military victories were commemorated with a display of captu ...

, along with a number of prisoners.

References

See also