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François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse
François Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, was the first Duke of Provence, and Admiral of both France and Provence. He is regarded as the founder of the Duchy of Provence and its modern-day counterpart the Republic of Provence, and is regarded by many in the country as one of the reasons the British never took a full hold on the country.
Having served as Admiral in the French Navy, De Grasse was made prisoner by Sir George Rodney's fleet at the Battle of the Saintes, thwarting the planned French invasion of Jamaica. It is in captivity that he and his British counterpart exchanged their views on naval warfare, politics and forgein relations, before De Grasse was repatriated to France. Following his court-martial for his failure to defeat the British fleet, De Grasse retired back to the south of France in his estate of Le-Bar-sur-Loup. During the invasion of France, and the establishment of the French government in the south of France, De Grasse was called upon by Rodney and the British government to stabilise the region in the name of the king of France.
De Grasse knew that the British were stretched thin and that the region wouldn't accept a French king that easily, and negociated the formation of the Duchy of Provence, raising several armies and a fleet, resisting republican incursions during the Provencal War and the Italian Campaign, he and his British allies managed to form the Duchy of Provence during the Peace of Avignon in 1797.
De Grasse then worked hard during the last years of his life to lay the foundations of the new Provencal state. He knew he could not kick the British out of the area, for this would mean total British occupation. Instead, he limited British presence with the Free Provence Act, essentially the closest thing to a declaration of independence the country had. De Grasse managed to convince several royalist factions in Vendée, the North and the East to emigrate to Provence, while still maintaining that the King wasn't needed.
He also maintained the policy of neutrality Provence held, and although he was forced to cede Corsica and Martigues back to France in 1799, he managed to make Napoleon Bonaparte, first consul of France, recognize the newly formed state. Additionally, De Grasse strenthened the Provencal position in the Mediterrannean, expanding Toulon's naval base and expanding the ranks of the Provencal Army, including by the integration of the Piemontese and Ligurian militias.
De Grasse also reached for reconciliation with France, a task which would be achieved with his successor, André Masséna, who had fought with Bonaparte before his defection to Provence, in 1811. The "Old Admiral" would also open diplomatic relations with several european countries, including the Kingdom of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia and the United States. For the latter, he was visited by Thomas Jefferson in his estate in Bar-sur-Loup in 1799, where the United States offered him six canons from the Battle of Yorktown, in which he proved to be a decisive factor to ensure an American victory. It was this visit that cemented the good relations between Provence and the US, which lasts to this day. The canons are still on display in De Grasse's estate, which has since become a museum.
De Grasse died in 1800, in the Ducal Palace of Nice. His ashes were transferred to Nice Cathedral for burial, where he rests today. Every year, dignitaries from the United States (generally the Vice-President or Secretary of State but more recently presidents have come as well) lay a crown of flowers on the "Old Admiral"'s tomb in Nice during Provence's "Freedom Day". He was succeeded by his close collaborator and commander-in-chief of the Army, André Masséna, who would bridge the gap with France and enforce the neutrality doctrine that would infuriate British leadership for the years to come.
Having served as Admiral in the French Navy, De Grasse was made prisoner by Sir George Rodney's fleet at the Battle of the Saintes, thwarting the planned French invasion of Jamaica. It is in captivity that he and his British counterpart exchanged their views on naval warfare, politics and forgein relations, before De Grasse was repatriated to France. Following his court-martial for his failure to defeat the British fleet, De Grasse retired back to the south of France in his estate of Le-Bar-sur-Loup. During the invasion of France, and the establishment of the French government in the south of France, De Grasse was called upon by Rodney and the British government to stabilise the region in the name of the king of France.
De Grasse knew that the British were stretched thin and that the region wouldn't accept a French king that easily, and negociated the formation of the Duchy of Provence, raising several armies and a fleet, resisting republican incursions during the Provencal War and the Italian Campaign, he and his British allies managed to form the Duchy of Provence during the Peace of Avignon in 1797.
De Grasse then worked hard during the last years of his life to lay the foundations of the new Provencal state. He knew he could not kick the British out of the area, for this would mean total British occupation. Instead, he limited British presence with the Free Provence Act, essentially the closest thing to a declaration of independence the country had. De Grasse managed to convince several royalist factions in Vendée, the North and the East to emigrate to Provence, while still maintaining that the King wasn't needed.
He also maintained the policy of neutrality Provence held, and although he was forced to cede Corsica and Martigues back to France in 1799, he managed to make Napoleon Bonaparte, first consul of France, recognize the newly formed state. Additionally, De Grasse strenthened the Provencal position in the Mediterrannean, expanding Toulon's naval base and expanding the ranks of the Provencal Army, including by the integration of the Piemontese and Ligurian militias.
De Grasse also reached for reconciliation with France, a task which would be achieved with his successor, André Masséna, who had fought with Bonaparte before his defection to Provence, in 1811. The "Old Admiral" would also open diplomatic relations with several european countries, including the Kingdom of Austria, the Kingdom of Prussia and the United States. For the latter, he was visited by Thomas Jefferson in his estate in Bar-sur-Loup in 1799, where the United States offered him six canons from the Battle of Yorktown, in which he proved to be a decisive factor to ensure an American victory. It was this visit that cemented the good relations between Provence and the US, which lasts to this day. The canons are still on display in De Grasse's estate, which has since become a museum.
De Grasse died in 1800, in the Ducal Palace of Nice. His ashes were transferred to Nice Cathedral for burial, where he rests today. Every year, dignitaries from the United States (generally the Vice-President or Secretary of State but more recently presidents have come as well) lay a crown of flowers on the "Old Admiral"'s tomb in Nice during Provence's "Freedom Day". He was succeeded by his close collaborator and commander-in-chief of the Army, André Masséna, who would bridge the gap with France and enforce the neutrality doctrine that would infuriate British leadership for the years to come.
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