#La Fayette

[nordleuchten]

Genuine Question: Was LaFayette truly a good person or has his portrayal in modern media simply served to romanticize him?

Dear Anon,

that is an interesting question to ponder, because it begs the question: What is good? Or what is bad, for that matter? I completely understand what you wanted to say but if we take the terms “good” and “bad” quite literally, we have to consider that people, now and then, are more nuanced then “good” and “bad”.

What I for example would consider as “good” in a person could be judged as “bad” by another person and it is difficult to speak in absolute terms when it comes to these matters. And you are absolutely right, La Fayette’s character has often been romanticized (and infantilized to be honest, but that is another topic for another day). The degree of romanticization is often dependent on the source material, its interpretation and the time when this interpretation was made.

La Fayette was a man who had his flaws and shortcomings – these were acknowledged by his contemporaries and also by himself, on occasions at least. Judging someone with a distance of roughly 200 years is challenging, especially if that person existed in a social system and a social class that no longer really exists in that form today.

So here is my take – I think La Fayette was a “good” man. He was a very affectionate father and grand-father, who absolutely doted on the children. Besides all his flaws as a husband, he deeply loved his wife and his letter after her death is truly heartbreaking! He was deeply invested in many social causes like women rights, (female) education, emancipation of enslaved individuals, religious freedom, reform of prisons and penal laws and a reform of government. He could not see all this causes through. He failed. He went about things the wrong way – but he very genuinely worked on these things and tried his best. Even his enemies respected him for his determination. He was very interested in personal glory and honour, to the point where people warned him and called him vain, but there was also always more to it. La Fayette had a good sense of humour. He was a resilient and loyal man who did not forgot when someone else did right by him.

La Fayette was very “human” and lived through times that allowed him to display both his strengths and his weaknesses. But there is only so much that we can assess about a person based on letters, wilted pages and stories. My understanding and perception of La Fayette changes continually with every new piece of information and while I tried to give as broad an insight as possible, I would advise you not to rely on my opinion (or anyone else’s) but to form your own judgement.

I hope you have/had a lovely day!

[kimtiny]

Do you think it was his time in prison that changed him?

[carbone14]

Le porte-avions La Fayette (ex USS Langley) de la marine française prêt à catapulter un bombardier-torpilleur Grumman TBM-3E Avenger - 1950's

©Naval History and Heritage Command - NH 92501

[gatabella]

Catherine Deneuve at the Paris Opera Gala for the presentation of the film La Fayette. Photo by Pierluigi Praturlon, Paris, 18th March 1962

[antoinemomoro]

September 14, 1791

The shooting on the Champ de Mars in which so many virtuous patriots were imprisoned like criminals or cowardly murdered

On this day, September 14, 1791, an amnesty was declared. Virtuous citizens were persecuted, imprisoned, and mixed with criminals simply for having signed a petition in response to the Constituent Assembly's lies to cover up the tyrant's escape, who was fortunately stop when he came to Varennes.

I owe you the truth, citizens: when I was arrested after this massacre of citizens, ordered in part by the infamous Lafayette, I did fear for the future of my son, who was 4 years old at the time, and for my wife, who was 22, especially because they had, for the first time, lost their means of livelihood. But liberty is worth more than that, and they understood it.

Following the amnesty, I submitted a petition entitled "Petition to the National Assembly." It was intended to make a statement as well, according to the words of the petition: “Virtuous citizens, friends of liberty and the constitution, electors of the Department of Paris, have been slandered, persecuted, accused, and thrown in irons, their honor compromised.” It also aimed to seek reparations for us . I highlighted the issue with the amnesty. Amnesty applies to criminals, not to honest citizens who simply expressed an opinion about the lies of those conspirators in the Constituent Assembly. This amnesty was granted for an imaginary crime.

The perpetrators of this massacre, who are the real criminals, have not been punished, nor has the tyrant. The consequences, as my petition states, “made it impossible for these citizens to bring their innocence to light by exposing the despicable plot that led to the unfortunate journée of July 17 and its criminal authors.”

I also decided to speak of my own experience, when I was arrested at night at my home by a large number of soldiers and thrown in prison for 22 days. One of the consolations I had was reuniting with my friends.

Upon my release from prison, I decided to resume the fight alongside many of my compatriots. From the month of this date until 1792, I decided to publish from 7 Rue Serpente. Normally, a printer works and lives in the same place, but it was more practical for me, given the proximity to the Cordeliers Club, where I was a regular member.

Hail to the Republicans!

Momoro, First Printer of National Liberty

[vmpirevnom]

[a-loose-collection-of-ants]

Portrait practice with Lafayette

[there-is-cromwell]

“There is Cromwell” – Chose Your Own Adventure

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely Players – but some plays are more dangerous than others. The French Revolution has been underway for half a year now and tension is growing high. The people of Paris are angry and ready to take some more drastic measures. As the Marquis de La Fayette you are at the head of Paris’ National Guard and tasked with keeping order. A task that only gets more difficult when the women of Paris take their anger to the streets.

Play as the Marquis de La Fayette during the famous March of the Women on Versailles on October 5 and 6, 1789. Make decisions along the way that could determine your troops loyalty and wellbeing, the safety of the royal family – and your own survival.

Start here.

There will be short snippets about the historical context under most posts. They will be hidden under the cut as not to spoil someone’s experience. :-)

[rushpush]

I have sometimes a random Headcanon, that Washington teached his aides or La Fayette to dance and I just can’t get rid of it!

[enbylestat]

Fan fiction research is fun!

Link to slides.

More on Yorktown.

Slavery, espionage, intel, & Yorktown.

Further reading.

[atisundaridarshanparadise]

Lawrence Dundas, Knight Tervel Maxuelle Kamenov Elohim"

Patreon.com/GodElohimArchangel Ati Sundari Darshyan Paradaiza

[nordleuchten]

At the conclusion of his address, a little girl carried by her father, saluted the general, and placed a chaplet of immortelles on his head. The general answered it with deep emotion.

Auguste Levasseur, Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825; or Journal of Travels in the United States, Translated from the French, Volume 1, New-York, 1829, p. 17.

And now I am begging someone to draw an elderly La Fayette with a flower crown – because this is by far not the only time this happened.

[kimtiny]

Pups of liberty La Fayette because I have hands that I use to draw stuff

[carbone14]

Porte-avions français La Fayette (ex-USS Langley, CVL-27) – Toulon – 11 septembre 1951

©U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command – NH 81901

Dans le cadre du Mutual Defense Assistance Act, les Etats-Unis transfèrent le porte-avions à la France le 8 janvier 1951. Il est armé par la Marine Nationale le 2 juin 1951 et est rebaptisé La Fayette (R-97). Il sera restitué aux Etats-Unis le 20 mars 1963.

[gatabella]

"Having to be that beautiful person, physically, takes effort - it doesn't come naturally."

-Catherine Deneuve

[vmpirevnom]

*texting*

Marie Antoinette: where are you and Gilbert? The movie is almost starting.

Adrienne: WE ARE FUCKING

Adrienne: GETTING POPCORN [not delivered]

Adrienne: IN THE HALLWAY

Marie Antoinette: oh my god.