Michel Joachim Marie Raymond
Encyclopedia
General
Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (25 September 1755 – 25 March 1798), popularly known as Monsieur Raymond, was a French General in Nizam
's military and the founder of Gunfoundry
Hyderabad, Hyderabad
. He was born in Sérignac
, Gascony
, France
, the son of a merchant.
. The idea as he told his father, was to set up a merchant shop. Instead, Michel turned to the more exciting career of being a soldier.
General
Bussy
, but it was in 1786 that Michel joined the service of the ruling Nizam
of Hyderabad
. He began as any other soldier; shortly after, he was given 300 soldiers to command.
In 1796, Raymond was appointed Amar-e-Jinsi or controller of Ordnance. He established several cannon and cannon-ball factories. Under his guidance guns, ammunition and cannons were forged. Gunfoundry
or Top ka Sancha near the Fathe Maidan is the best-known of the remaining foundries in India
.
When he died in March 25, 1798 AD, only twelve years after enlisting, he had become a military commander of over 14,000 men. It is also documented that there may have been a female battalion of soldiers.
The cause of Michel Raymond's death will remain a mystery, the two suggested causes are poisoning or suicide.
, but had also won the love and trust of the local people. He made himself popular through his kindness, bravery and contribution to Hyderabad. While Raymond had left Christianity
, his actual religious beliefs were unknown. His Hyderabadi admirers were unsure of whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim. To the Muslims, he was Musa Rahim, and to the Hindus, he was Musa Ram. George Bruce Malleson
said that
Michel Raymond's tomb is located near Asmangadh fort on top of a hillock at Mussa Ram Bagh, Malakpet. Until about 1940, people would visit his tomb on the anniversary of his death, taking incense and other offerings to him. The Nizams would send to his tomb on March 25 every year, a box of cheroots and a bottle of beer.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (25 September 1755 – 25 March 1798), popularly known as Monsieur Raymond, was a French General in Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
's military and the founder of Gunfoundry
Gunfoundry
Gunfoundry also known as Top ka Sancha use to be a cannon-ball factory set up by the second Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan at Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad, India.-History:...
Hyderabad, Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. He was born in Sérignac
Sérignac
Sérignac may refer to the following places in France:* Sérignac, Lot, a commune in the Lot department* Sérignac, Tarn-et-Garonne, a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department...
, Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the son of a merchant.
Early life
In 1775, aged 20, he and his younger brother, William Jean Raymond, left for Pondicherry, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The idea as he told his father, was to set up a merchant shop. Instead, Michel turned to the more exciting career of being a soldier.
Life
He first served under FrenchFrench people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Bussy
Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau
Charles Joseph Patissier, Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau was the Governor General of the French colony of Pondicherry from 1783 to 1785. He servied with distinction under Joseph François Dupleix in the East Indies, receiving the Order of Saint Louis...
, but it was in 1786 that Michel joined the service of the ruling Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
of Hyderabad
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
. He began as any other soldier; shortly after, he was given 300 soldiers to command.
In 1796, Raymond was appointed Amar-e-Jinsi or controller of Ordnance. He established several cannon and cannon-ball factories. Under his guidance guns, ammunition and cannons were forged. Gunfoundry
Gunfoundry
Gunfoundry also known as Top ka Sancha use to be a cannon-ball factory set up by the second Nizam of Hyderabad, Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan at Fateh Maidan in Hyderabad, India.-History:...
or Top ka Sancha near the Fathe Maidan is the best-known of the remaining foundries in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
When he died in March 25, 1798 AD, only twelve years after enlisting, he had become a military commander of over 14,000 men. It is also documented that there may have been a female battalion of soldiers.
The cause of Michel Raymond's death will remain a mystery, the two suggested causes are poisoning or suicide.
Respect
Raymond became a close friend of the second Asif Jah, Nizam Ali Khan. Raymond was not only held in high esteem by the NizamNizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
, but had also won the love and trust of the local people. He made himself popular through his kindness, bravery and contribution to Hyderabad. While Raymond had left Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, his actual religious beliefs were unknown. His Hyderabadi admirers were unsure of whether he was a Hindu or a Muslim. To the Muslims, he was Musa Rahim, and to the Hindus, he was Musa Ram. George Bruce Malleson
George Bruce Malleson
George Bruce Malleson was an English officer in India and an author, born in Wimbledon.Educated at Winchester, he obtained a cadetship in the Bengal infantry in 1842, and served through the second Burmese War. His subsequent appointments were in the civil line, the last being that of guardian to...
said that
- "No European of mark who followed him in India, ever succeeded in gaining to such an extent the love, the esteem, the admiration of the natives of the country."
Raymond's Tomb
Main article: Raymond's TombRaymond's Tomb
Raymond's tomb is the tomb of Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, a french general in Nizam's army. The tomb is a black granite tombstone, conical, about 7 metres high and it has the initials JR on it. The ill-maintained pavilion was built by the Nizam and collapsed in October 2001 in heavy...
Michel Raymond's tomb is located near Asmangadh fort on top of a hillock at Mussa Ram Bagh, Malakpet. Until about 1940, people would visit his tomb on the anniversary of his death, taking incense and other offerings to him. The Nizams would send to his tomb on March 25 every year, a box of cheroots and a bottle of beer.
External links
- Napoleon Site (In French)
- Mention of Raymonds in INDIA DEFENCE CONSULTANTS
- The Hindu article on Raymond's tomb
- Raymonds tomb from I love Hyderabad
- Gunfoundry picture and information
- Virtual Hangout from Hyderabad With picture of Michel's Tomb
- http://maps.google.com/?q=Hyderabad,+India&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=17.364391,78.515135&spn=0.003625,0.0056&t=k&om=1 Google Earth view of Raymond's Tomb.