Jean-François Allard
Encyclopedia
Jean-François Allard was a French soldier and adventurer.
Born in Saint Tropez, he became a soldier and was twice injured while serving in Napoleon's army. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur
, and promoted to Captain of the 7th Hussars. After Waterloo
, he drifted around and went to Persia where he visited Abbas Mirza
to propose his services. He was promised the position of a Colonel, but never actually received the troops corresponding to his function. In 1820, Allard left for Punjab
, where he in 1822 entered the service of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh
. He was commissioned to raise a corps of dragoons and lancers. On completion, Allard was awarded the rank of general, and became the leader of the European officer corps in the Maharaja's service.
Allard was a charming and gentle man, very different from some of the other European mercenaries in the Punjab. He also took the trouble learning Persian, and is said to have composed poetry in his new language.
In June 1834, Allard returned to France on leave, but returned 18 months later. He continued to serve the Maharaja until his death in 1839.
Another European taking service in the Punjab with Allard in 1822 was the Italian Jean-Baptiste Ventura
. They were joined four years later by the Neapolitan Paolo Di Avitabile
and the Frenchman Claude August Court
. A Spaniard, Oms, also served with them for a while. Together, these officers drilled the Sikh army into a formidable force.
Allard was awarded the Légion d'Honneur
by Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Bright Star of the Punjab by Ranjit Singh.
Allard was also an amateur numismatist and contributed greatly to the early study of Ancient Indian
coins.
Born in Saint Tropez, he became a soldier and was twice injured while serving in Napoleon's army. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, and promoted to Captain of the 7th Hussars. After Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, he drifted around and went to Persia where he visited Abbas Mirza
Abbas Mirza
Prince, Field-Marshal Abbas Mirza born Amol city , was a Qajar crown prince of Persia. He developed a reputation as a military commander during wars with Russia and the Ottoman Empire, as an early modernizer of Persia's armed forces and institutions, and for his death before his father, Fath Ali...
to propose his services. He was promised the position of a Colonel, but never actually received the troops corresponding to his function. In 1820, Allard left for Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, where he in 1822 entered the service of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.-Early life:...
. He was commissioned to raise a corps of dragoons and lancers. On completion, Allard was awarded the rank of general, and became the leader of the European officer corps in the Maharaja's service.
Allard was a charming and gentle man, very different from some of the other European mercenaries in the Punjab. He also took the trouble learning Persian, and is said to have composed poetry in his new language.
In June 1834, Allard returned to France on leave, but returned 18 months later. He continued to serve the Maharaja until his death in 1839.
Another European taking service in the Punjab with Allard in 1822 was the Italian Jean-Baptiste Ventura
Jean-Baptiste Ventura
Jean-Baptiste Ventura was a soldier, mercenary and adventurer who ended up in the Sikh Empire in Punjab....
. They were joined four years later by the Neapolitan Paolo Di Avitabile
Paolo Di Avitabile
General Paolo Crescenzo Martino Avitabile was an Italian soldier, mercenary and adventurer. A peasant's son born in Agerola, near Amalfi in Italy, he served in the Neapolitan militia during the Napoleonic wars. After Waterloo he drifted east like many other adventurous soldiers...
and the Frenchman Claude August Court
Claude August Court
Claude Auguste Court was a French soldier and mercenary.He was hired by Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab in 1827 to organize and train the artillery. He was promoted to the rank of General, and served as one of the leading European officers in the Khalsa....
. A Spaniard, Oms, also served with them for a while. Together, these officers drilled the Sikh army into a formidable force.
Allard was awarded the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by Napoleon Bonaparte, and the Bright Star of the Punjab by Ranjit Singh.
Allard was also an amateur numismatist and contributed greatly to the early study of Ancient Indian
History of India
The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...
coins.