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François Bontemps
François Bontemps (1753–1811), later baron d'Abaumont, a brigadier general during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was born 1 June 1753 at Saumur, and died 29 October 1811 at Saumur (Maine-et-Loire). Family and education François Bontemps was born into a family of craftsmen, workers of copper and bronze, in Saumur. As a boy, his parents hoped he would become a priest and he was sent to study at the College of Saumur, and later Seminary of Angers. Lacking a vocation, however, Bontemps enlisted in an infantry regiment of the Royal Army. In 1784, having reached the rank of company clerk, and remained there for two years, he realized that he could not advance. He accepted a discharge the 4 May and returned to study the priesthood. In 1789, François Bontemps embraced the principles of the French Revolution, and in 1792 enlisted as a chaplain in the volunteer battalion of the Eure. According to battalion lore, one of the officers of the battalion insu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saumur
Saumur () is a Communes of France, commune in the Maine-et-Loire Departments of France, department in western France. The town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc.. Saumur station has rail connections to Tours, Angers, La Roche-sur-Yon and Nantes. Toponymy First attested in the Medieval Latin form of ''Salmuri'' in 968 AD, the origin of the name is obscure. Albert Dauzat hypothesized a pre-Celtic unattested element ''*sala'' 'marshy ground' (''cf.'' Celtic ''salm'' 'which jumps and flows'), followed by another unattested element meaning "wall". Many places in Europe seem to contain ''*Sal(m)-'' elements, which may share Old European hydronymy, Old European roots. History The Dolmen de Bagneux on the south of the town, is 23 meters long and is built from 15 large slabs of the local stone, weighing over 500 tons. It is the largest in France. The Château de Saumur was cons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chasseur
''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army originated during the War of the Austrian Succession when, in 1743, Jean Chrétien Fischer was authorized by the Marshal de Belle-Isle to raise a 600 strong mixed force of infantry and cavalry. It was called '' Chasseurs de Fischer.'' During the remainder of the 18th century various types of light troops () were employed within the French army, either as independent units or as companies within existing regiments. In 1788, there were 8 battalions of chasseurs, and in March 1793 this was expanded to 21 battalions. The first battalions of Chasseurs raised by 1788 included: * (1st) '' Chasseurs Royaux de Provence'' * (2nd) '' Chasseurs Royaux de Dauphiné'' * (3rd) '' Chasseurs Royaux Corses'' (Corsican) * (4th) '' Chasseurs Corses'' (Cors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
