Battle of Méribel
Script error: No such module "Infobox military conflict".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The Battle of Méribel was fought on 28 September 1793 at the village of Méribel, near Sallanches in the modern French department of Haute-Savoie, during the War of the First Coalition. The forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia were defeated by the French Revolutionary Army.[1]
Background
Méribel is a hamlet in the present-day commune of Sallanches, in the department of Haute-Savoie.[2] At the time, the territory was part of Mont-Blanc, a French department created in November 1792 after the annexation of Savoy from Sardinia.[3] Sardinia would only recognize the loss of Savoy at the Treaty of Paris (1796).
In August 1793, a 1,000-men Sardinian army engaged in a counter-offensive in the Faucigny against French revolutionary troops.[4] The Coalition armies crossed the Alpine passes to counter the French troops. On 21 August, a first major battle took place at the Saint-Martin bridge, near Sallanches, allowing the Sardinian army to retake the towns of Cluses (24 August) and Bonneville.[5] This attempt to restore the rule of the House of Savoy in the region was, however, short-lived. The following month, the French recaptured the lost territories.[6]
At Cluses on 16 September, French troops commanded by Charles Verdelin attacked the town of Sallanches, where the Sardinian Army had taken refuge.[5] However, the French experienced difficulties in face of an organized defense, including chasseurs, who had taken up position at the Méribel redoubt.[7] The French attack failed.[5] A letter stated, "On 17 September, the French attacked Sallanches but without fruition because we had a good redoubt defended by the chasseurs from the Méribel heights. We also had some cannons. It is said that the enemy here lost nearly 500 of their own."[8]
On 21 September, Verdelin demanded the population not to revolt again.[6] Template:Ill, who had been sent by the National Convention to accompany the Army of the Alps, had orders from the Committee of Public Safety to take reprisals against the revolting populace.[6] Simond, being originally from the Duchy of Savoy, hesitated, but implemented a purge in Samoëns.[6]
Battle
The French army resumed the assault on Sallanches on 27 September.[5] On the 28th they attacked the Méribel redoubt,[9] located about Script error: No such module "convert". downstream from the town of Saint-Martin-sur-Arve.[10] The redoubt was taken on 29 September. In the evening, the victorious troops of Verdelin and Simond entered Sallanches.[11] 540 people were taken prisoner, while some peasants were executed by firing squad.[9] The Sardinians retreated to the Bonhomme pass.[9]
Commemoration
On 18 September 2004, the Ligue savoisienne unveiled a plaque commemorating the defense of the valley by the Savoyards in face of revolutionary troops.[12]
References
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- ↑ Les Échos de la Ligue, « La bataille de Méribel », Echo de Savoie, n°76 (november 2004).
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