Armand, duc d'Aiguillon
Encyclopedia
Armand II de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duke of Aiguillon (1750 – 4 May 1800) succeeded his father Emmanuel-Armand de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon
.
In 1789, as a member of the National Assembly
, he became one of the first to ally himself with the Third Estate and to renounce the privileges of the nobility
. He became a general in the Republican Army, but had to flee during the Reign of Terror
of 1793–1794.
According to Michael Kelly in his Reminiscences, the Duc d'Aiguillon was, in 1796, in London with the revolutionaries Charles Lameth and the orator Dupont. He states that the Duc had been 'one of the twelve peers of France, who, in former days, had an immense fortune, was a great patron of the arts, and so theatrical that he had a box in every theatre in Paris. He was particularly fond of music, and had been a pupil of Viotti (then leader of the Opera House orchestra, at which Kelly was stage manager).' Kelly introduced them to Richard Sheridan and other friends, though the Duke of Queensberry
refused to meet d'Aiguillon. On learning that the Duc's fortune was entirely lost or sequestered, Kelly arranged for him to make a little money by copying sheet-music, which he did secretly during the day, continuing to attend the theatre in the evening. Eventually an order came from the Alien Office of the British Government that he and his friends must leave England in two days. The Duke went to Hamburg
, and was condemned to be shot. 'They told me that he died like a hero,' wrote Kelly. The Duke left his favourite Danish dog in Kelly's care, shedding many tears on parting from it: the animal outlived its master, but pined and died soon afterwards.
Emmanuel-Armand de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon
Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu, duc d'Aiguillon was a French soldier and statesman and a nephew of Louis François Armand du Plessis, duc de Richelieu. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Louis XV.-Early life:Before the death of his father, he was known at court...
.
In 1789, as a member of the National Assembly
National Assembly (French Revolution)
During the French Revolution, the National Assembly , which existed from June 17 to July 9, 1789, was a transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly.-Background:...
, he became one of the first to ally himself with the Third Estate and to renounce the privileges of the nobility
French nobility
The French nobility was the privileged order of France in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern periods.In the political system of the Estates General, the nobility made up the Second Estate...
. He became a general in the Republican Army, but had to flee during the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
of 1793–1794.
According to Michael Kelly in his Reminiscences, the Duc d'Aiguillon was, in 1796, in London with the revolutionaries Charles Lameth and the orator Dupont. He states that the Duc had been 'one of the twelve peers of France, who, in former days, had an immense fortune, was a great patron of the arts, and so theatrical that he had a box in every theatre in Paris. He was particularly fond of music, and had been a pupil of Viotti (then leader of the Opera House orchestra, at which Kelly was stage manager).' Kelly introduced them to Richard Sheridan and other friends, though the Duke of Queensberry
William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry
William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry KT was a Scottish nobleman.Born in Peebles, Queensberry was the only son of William Douglas, 2nd Earl of March, and his wife, Lady Anne Hamilton....
refused to meet d'Aiguillon. On learning that the Duc's fortune was entirely lost or sequestered, Kelly arranged for him to make a little money by copying sheet-music, which he did secretly during the day, continuing to attend the theatre in the evening. Eventually an order came from the Alien Office of the British Government that he and his friends must leave England in two days. The Duke went to Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and was condemned to be shot. 'They told me that he died like a hero,' wrote Kelly. The Duke left his favourite Danish dog in Kelly's care, shedding many tears on parting from it: the animal outlived its master, but pined and died soon afterwards.