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Léon de Montesquiou (14 July 1873 – 25 September 1915) was an artistocratic French essayist, militant royalist and nationalist. He played a leading role in the right-wing
Action Française Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 f ...
movement before
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
(1914–18). He enrolled in the army during the war and was killed in action.


Early years (1873–1901)

Léon Odon Marie Anatole de Montesquiou-Fezensac was born on 14 July 1873 in
Briis-sous-Forges Briis-sous-Forges (, literally ''Briis under Forges'') is a commune in the Essonne department and Île-de-France region of north-central France. The inhabitants of Briis-sous-Forges are known in French as ''les Briissois''. See also *Communes ...
, Seine-et-Oise. His father was an officer and had married a francophile woman of the high Romanian nobility, Princess Marie Bibesco, whose father he had known during the campaigns of the Empire. He was raised in the family chateau of Courtanvaux until the age of ten, then was sent to the Stanislas Catholic school in Paris. After graduating he entered the École de Droit, and at the same time studied violin at the Conservatoire. Montesquiou performed his military service as a private soldier from 13 November 1894 to 24 September 1895 in the 115th Infantry Regiment, and was in one of the units designated to witness the degradation of Captain
Alfred Dreyfus Alfred Dreyfus ( , also , ; 9 October 1859 – 12 July 1935) was a French artillery officer of Jewish ancestry whose trial and conviction in 1894 on charges of treason became one of the most polarizing political dramas in modern French history. ...
. He exercised with the 103rd Infantry Regiment in 1897, 1901, 1903 and 1905. He was always rated very well, and advanced steadily in rank, becoming a sub-lieutenant of the reserve in 1900. He obtained his bachelor's degree and then in 1899 wrote his doctoral thesis on the suppression of duelling. He enrolled at the bar but never pleaded. On 20 June 1899 Montesquiou attended the first public meeting organized by the committee of the
Action Française Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 f ...
at the Salle des Agriculteurs, and publicly support the organization that evening. From then on he was in constant correspondence with Maurras, to whom the adherence of the well-born young man was important. In 1900 he joined the
Ligue de la patrie française The Ligue de la patrie française (French Homeland League) was a French nationalist and anti- Dreyfus organization. It was officially founded in 1899, and brought together leading right-wing artists, scientists and intellectuals. The league fielded ...
, but then moved over to the Action française due to his exchanges with Maurras. His only reservation about the movement was that France was still proudly Republican, far from monarchist. He contributed to the ''revue grise'' from 1900, writing firmly nationalistic articles that were later collected into books such as ''Le Salut public'' (1901) and ''La Raison d'État'' (1902).


Action Française (1901–15)

Montesquiou was definitely converted to the royalist cause in August 1901. He was one of the few members of the old aristocracy to play a leading role in the Action Française movement. He became an increasingly important member of the movement. In September 1902 he was put in charge of the ''notes de quinzaine'' in the ''Action française'' review. By the end of December 1902 was chairman of the board of ''Action française'' review, which had just been incorporated as a public limited company. He then organized a successful conference in Marseille followed by a series of conferences in the provinces from 1903 onward. He became one of the best and most active speakers of the movement. In January 1905 he became Secretary General of the new Ligue d'Action française. Montesquiou was among the many early members of the Action Française who were practicing Catholics, and included the art historian
Louis Dimier Louis Dimier (11 February 1865 – 21 November 1943) was a French art historian and royalist. Dimier was among the many early members of the Action Française who were practising Catholics (along with Bernard de Vésins and Léon de Montesquio ...
and the essayist Bernard de Vésins. They helped
Charles Maurras Charles-Marie-Photius Maurras (; ; 20 April 1868 – 16 November 1952) was a French author, politician, poet, and critic. He was an organizer and principal philosopher of ''Action Française'', a political movement that is monarchist, anti-parl ...
(1868–1952) develop the royalist league's pro-Catholic policies. In February 1906 Montesquiou launched the Institut d'Action Française, where he held the "
Auguste Comte Isidore Marie Auguste François Xavier Comte (; 19 January 1798 – 5 September 1857) was a French philosopher and writer who formulated the doctrine of positivism. He is often regarded as the first philosopher of science in the modern sense ...
" chair. He wrote three books on Comte and
positivism Positivism is an empiricist philosophical theory that holds that all genuine knowledge is either true by definition or positive—meaning ''a posteriori'' facts derived by reason and logic from sensory experience.John J. Macionis, Linda M. G ...
based on his lectures and conferences. In his ''Le système politique d'Auguste Comte à la Nouvelle librairie nationale'' (1907) Montesquiou tried to show the disciples of Comte could get along with Catholics. In 1910 he was elected a member of the Comtistes. The decision of the Court of Cassation on 12 July 1906 to annul the conviction of Captain Dreyfus caused a renewed surge of anti-Drefusism among the Action française, with Montesquiou playing a leading role. The League denounced the decision, and violently attacked General
Georges Picquart Marie-Georges Picquart (6 September 1854 – 19 January 1914) was a French Army officer and Minister of War. He is best known for his role in the Dreyfus affair, in which he played a key role in uncovering the real culprit. Early career Picqua ...
, the new Minister of War. In April 1907 Montesquiou was officially informed by the Ministry of War that a report on his activity in the Action française had been filed in his dossier as an officer. On 26 April 1907 ''Le Gaulois'' published his open letter to Prime Minister
Georges Clemenceau Georges Benjamin Clemenceau (, also , ; 28 September 1841 – 24 November 1929) was a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909 and again from 1917 until 1920. A key figure of the Independent Radicals, he was a ...
in which he responded to the report by saying he would again put up posters against the rehabilitation of Dreyfus and Picquart. On 16 May 1907 he was suspended from his duties as a reserve officer for one year. Montesquiou held a meeting of 5,000 supporters two days later. Following an inquiry he was dismissed from his rank and employment in the army on 3 September 1907. He continued to campaign against the Drefusards. Montesquiou wrote that the Action Francaise was born from the Dreyfus Affair. In July 1909 he wrote, "We have one goal: Order through the restoration of the King. Well, if this restoration necessitates opposition to the law, violence, and ''coup de force'', we are ready." During
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
(1914–18) Montesquiou was assigned as lieutenant to the 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment. He fought in eastern France and in
Champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
. He died at Souain, Marne, on 25 September 1915 when leading his section in an assault. He was decorated with the
Croix de Guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...
. Montesquiou became part of the pantheon of martyrs of the Action Française. Jean Baffier was commissioned in 1916 to produce a bust of Montesquiou for the editorial offices of the Action Française. However, his preliminary model was rejected, and the sculptor was forced to consider a suit for breach of contract.


Publications

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Notes


Sources

* * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Montesquiou, Leon de 1873 births 1915 deaths 20th-century French male writers French military personnel killed in World War I French Army officers Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France) French people of Romanian descent