Henri du Vergier comte de la Rochejaquelein
Henri De La Rochejaquelein Painted by Pierre-Narcisse Guerin in 1817.
Henri du Vergier, comte de la Rochejaquelein was born in 1772 in Châtillon. He held a commission in Louis XVI Constitutional Guard till this guard was dissolved in 1792.
He volunteered to help guard the Tuileries Palace on the 9th of August 1792 which was precipitous timing as the palace was attacked by republican forces on the 10th. He managed to escape the bloody retributions which were visited on many who defended the Palace. He returned to the Vendée where he refused to join the levée en masse which was declared by the National Convention as it sought to create an army to fight the nations of Europe arrayed against them in February 1793
It was from this point that he went into rebellion against the Revolution. He met with initial success on April 13 he took part in the taking of Bressuire on May 3, of Fontenay-le-Comte on the 25th, and of Saumur on June 9. In August, in Luçon, he regrouped the Vendéan army, which was close to falling apart, and won the battle of Chantonnay in September. He had to retreat across the Loire after being beaten in Cholet, on October 17.
On October 20th he was elected commander in chief of the Royal and Catholic Armies he was once again initially successful. He met British spies who promised a force of emigres to support him and his troops however he was unable to capture Granville to facilitate a landing. The émigré forces turned back to Britain and La Rochejaquelein was forced to retreat across the Loire. Greater forces were assembled against him and he was defeated at Le Mans and once again in Savenay. Turning his back on conventional war he turned towards guerrilla tactics. He was killed by Revolutionary forces near Nuaillé.