Georges Cadoudal

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Georges Cadoudal, sometimes called simply Georges (January 1, 1771 - June 10, 1804) was a French politician, and leader of the Chouans during the French Revolution.

Born near Auray, in Brittany, after completing his education, he remained true to his Royalist and Roman Catholic convictions during the start of the Revolution. From 1793 he organized a rebellion in the Morbihan against the National Convention of the First Republic. It was quickly suppressed, and he thereupon joined the army of the Vendée insurrection, taking part in the battles of Le Mans and of Savenay in December of the same year.

Returning to Morbihan, he was arrested, and imprisoned at Brest. He succeeded, however, in escaping, and began again the struggle against the Revolution. In spite of the defeat of his party, and of the fact that he was forced several times to take refuge in England, Cadoudal did not cease both to wage war and to conspire in favour of the Royalist pretender Louis, count of Provence. He refused to come to any understanding with the government, although offers were made to him by Napoleon Bonaparte, who admired his skill and his obstinate energy.

From 1800 it was impossible for Cadoudal to continue to wage open war, so he centered his efforts on conspiracies. He was indirectly involved in Pierre Saint-Regent's attempt on the life of the First Consul, in December, and fled to England again.

In 1803 he returned to France to undertake a new attempt against Bonaparte. Although under nominal police surveillance, he succeeded in eluding pursuit for six months, but was arrested for long periods. Found guilty and sentenced to death, he refused to ask for pardon and was guillotined in Paris, along with eleven of his companions.

Cadoudal features as a main character in the 1940 Rafael Sabatini novel, Marquis of Carabas (tr. "Master-at-Arms").

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. In turn, it cites as references:
  • Procès de Georges, Moreau et Pichegru (Paris, 1804, 8 vols.)
  • Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, Mémoires
  • Jean-Guillaume, baron Hyde de Neuville, Mémoires
  • Guillaume Lejean, Biographie bretonne
  • G. Lenotre, Tournebut
  • Jean Rohu, Mémoires