Suchergebnisse

At the very beginning of the 21st century, a team of archaeologists dived on the wreck of a small 18th century warship in the north of the current Dominican Republic. Its hull is of American manufacture, its guns are Scottish and the buttons of uniforms are French. After having followed some false leads, the research in the National Archives makes it possible to solve this enigma: it concerns the French corvette Dragon of Chevalier de L'Espine, destroyed in January 1783 after a short action against British vessels ensuring the northern blockade of Santo Domingo. This identification serves as a catalyst for a historical research of which Chevalier Joseph de L'Espine du Puy (1759-1826) constitutes the central character. The investigation reveals the fate of the Navy officer L'Espine upstream and downstream of his gallant action in January 1783. Young Knight of Malta and officer of the Navy of Louis XVI, L'Espine participated in the American Revolution, did a mandatory service in the Navy of Malta, and took part in French naval intelligence secret missions. The French Revolution ruined his hopes and forced him into exile. In Austria, he won the confidence of the high Austrian authorities by unambiguously engaging with the armies of France from 1795. L'Espine quickly became one of the brains of an Austrian Navy questioned at each treaty signed between France and Austria. Promoted to Feldmarschall-Leutnant in 1813, L'Espine decided not to return to France at the Restauration. Appointed Governor of Milan in November 1825, he died there on December 31, 1826. ; Au tout début du XXIe siècle, une équipe d'archéologues plonge sur l'épave d'un petit navire de guerre du XVIIIe siècle, au nord de l'actuelle République Dominicaine. Sa coque est de fabrication américaine, ses canons sont écossais et les boutons d'uniformes sont français. Après avoir suivi quelques fausses pistes, la recherche aux Archives nationales permet de résoudre l'énigme : il s'agit de la corvette française Dragon du chevalier de l'Espine, détruite en ...

At the very beginning of the 21st century, a team of archaeologists dived on the wreck of a small 18th century warship in the north of the current Dominican Republic. Its hull is of American manufacture, its guns are Scottish and the buttons of uniforms are French. After having followed some false leads, the research in the National Archives makes it possible to solve this enigma: it concerns the French corvette Dragon of Chevalier de L'Espine, destroyed in January 1783 after a short action against British vessels ensuring the northern blockade of Santo Domingo. This identification serves as a catalyst for a historical research of which Chevalier Joseph de L'Espine du Puy (1759-1826) constitutes the central character. The investigation reveals the fate of the Navy officer L'Espine upstream and downstream of his gallant action in January 1783. Young Knight of Malta and officer of the Navy of Louis XVI, L'Espine participated in the American Revolution, did a mandatory service in the Navy of Malta, and took part in French naval intelligence secret missions. The French Revolution ruined his hopes and forced him into exile. In Austria, he won the confidence of the high Austrian authorities by unambiguously engaging with the armies of France from 1795. L'Espine quickly became one of the brains of an Austrian Navy questioned at each treaty signed between France and Austria. Promoted to Feldmarschall-Leutnant in 1813, L'Espine decided not to return to France at the Restauration. Appointed Governor of Milan in November 1825, he died there on December 31, 1826. ; Au tout début du XXIe siècle, une équipe d'archéologues plonge sur l'épave d'un petit navire de guerre du XVIIIe siècle, au nord de l'actuelle République Dominicaine. Sa coque est de fabrication américaine, ses canons sont écossais et les boutons d'uniformes sont français. Après avoir suivi quelques fausses pistes, la recherche aux Archives nationales permet de résoudre l'énigme : il s'agit de la corvette française Dragon du chevalier de l'Espine, détruite en janvier 1783 à l'issue d'un court combat contre des vaisseaux britanniques assurant le blocus nord de Saint-Domingue. Cette identification sert de catalyseur à une recherche historique dont le chevalier Joseph de L'Espine du Puy (1759-1826) constitue le personnage central. L'enquête révèle le destin de l'officier de la Marine L'Espine, en amont puis en aval de son fait d'armes de janvier 1783. Jeune chevalier de Malte et officier de la Marine de Louis XVI, L'Espine participe à la guerre de l'Indépendance américaine, effectue un passage obligé dans la Marine de Malte, et participe à des missions secrètes françaises de renseignement naval. La Révolution française vient briser ses espérances et l'oblige à l'exil. En Autriche, il gagne la confiance des hautes autorités autrichiennes en s'engageant sans ambiguïté contre les armées de la France à partir de 1795. L'Espine devient rapidement l'un des cerveaux d'une Marine de guerre autrichienne remise en question à chaque traité signé entre la France et l'Autriche. Promu Feldmarschall-Leutnant en 1813, L'Espine décide de ne pas rentrer en France à la Restauration. Nommé Gouverneur de Milan en novembre 1825, il y meurt le 31 décembre 1826.