Pierre Charles Chesnelong
Encyclopedia
Pierre Charles Chesnelong (April 4, 1820 – 1894) was a French
politician, born at Orthez
in the départment of the Basses-Pyrénées
.
; but, after the establishment of the Second Empire, he changed his views, and in 1865 was returned to the Chamber of Deputies
as the official candidate for his native place. He at once became conspicuous, both for his eloquence and for his uncompromising clericalism
, especially in urging the necessity for maintaining the temporal power of the papacy.
In 1869 he was again returned, and, devoting himself to financial questions, was in 1870 appointed to report the budget
. During and after the Franco-Prussian War
, for which he voted, he retired for a while into private life; but in 1872 he was again elected deputy, this time as a Legitimist
, and took his seat among the conservative
Right of the French Third Republic
.
opposition that led to the fall of Adolphe Thiers
; in 1873, it was he who, with Lucien Brun, carried the proposals of the Chambers to the Bourbon
claimant Comte de Chambord
. Through some misunderstanding, he reported on his return that the count had accepted all the terms offered, including the retention of the drapeau tricolore
- the Count published a formal denial, which brought about his own downfall.
Chesnelong now devoted himself to the establishment of Roman Catholic
universities and to the formation of Roman Catholic working-men's clubs (to combat the trade union
ism of various socialists
). In 1876 he was again returned for Orthez, but was unseated, and then beaten by the Republican candidate. On November 24, however, he was elected to a seat in the French Senate
, where he continued his vigorous polemic against the progressive attempts of the republican government to secularize the educational system
of France until his death in 1894.
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...
politician, born at Orthez
Orthez
Orthez is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It lies 40 km NW of Pau on the Southern railway to Bayonne. The town also encompasses the small village of Sainte-Suzanne thus residents of the town are called either Orthéziens or Sainte-Suzannais...
in the départment of the Basses-Pyrénées
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a department in the southwest of France which takes its name from the Pyrenees mountains and the Atlantic Ocean.- History :...
.
In the Second Empire
In 1848, during the French uprising, he proclaimed himself a RepublicanRepublicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
; but, after the establishment of the Second Empire, he changed his views, and in 1865 was returned to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of deputies is the name given to a legislative body such as the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or can refer to a unicameral legislature.-Description:...
as the official candidate for his native place. He at once became conspicuous, both for his eloquence and for his uncompromising clericalism
Clericalism
Clericalism is the application of the formal, church-based, leadership or opinion of ordained clergy in matters of either the church or broader political and sociocultural import...
, especially in urging the necessity for maintaining the temporal power of the papacy.
In 1869 he was again returned, and, devoting himself to financial questions, was in 1870 appointed to report the budget
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
. During and after the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, for which he voted, he retired for a while into private life; but in 1872 he was again elected deputy, this time as a Legitimist
Legitimists
Legitimists are royalists in France who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession of the descendants of the elder branch of the Bourbon dynasty, which was overthrown in the 1830 July Revolution. They reject the claim of the July Monarchy of 1830–1848, whose kings were members of the junior...
, and took his seat among the conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Right of the French Third Republic
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
.
In the Republic
He was the soul of the reactionaryReactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
opposition that led to the fall of Adolphe Thiers
Adolphe Thiers
Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers was a French politician and historian. was a prime minister under King Louis-Philippe of France. Following the overthrow of the Second Empire he again came to prominence as the French leader who suppressed the revolutionary Paris Commune of 1871...
; in 1873, it was he who, with Lucien Brun, carried the proposals of the Chambers to the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
claimant Comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Henry V, although he was never officially proclaimed as such...
. Through some misunderstanding, he reported on his return that the count had accepted all the terms offered, including the retention of the drapeau tricolore
Flag of France
The national flag of France is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured royal blue , white, and red...
- the Count published a formal denial, which brought about his own downfall.
Chesnelong now devoted himself to the establishment of Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
universities and to the formation of Roman Catholic working-men's clubs (to combat the trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ism of various socialists
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
). In 1876 he was again returned for Orthez, but was unseated, and then beaten by the Republican candidate. On November 24, however, he was elected to a seat in the French Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
, where he continued his vigorous polemic against the progressive attempts of the republican government to secularize the educational system
Laïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
of France until his death in 1894.