Souvenez-vous de Charette

General Francois de Charette was loyalist to French royalty, and was one of the many Vendeans opposed to the First Republic after the French Revolution. He was a leader of rebel forces in Vendee, and caused a lot of trouble for the new regime who came to crush the rebellion, but he and his men were hunted down. He escaped, wounded, to La Chabotterie where he was discovered and eventually captured. 

He died March 26, 1796 after telling a French firing squad to shoot him in the heart. 

40 years after his death, across the Atlantic Ocean, near present day San Antonio, Texas, 185 rebel fighters faced off against some 5000 Mexican soldiers for 13 days at The Alamo. They wanted liberation from an oppressive Mexican Government, and died for the idea of what Texas could be. 

Their sacrifice was inspiration for the remaining Texan Army led by General Sam Houston, who cried, “Remember the Alamo” as they went defeat the General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna and Mexican Army at the Battle of San Jacinto.

I remember.

I had never heard of Charette, or the entire Vendee Revolt, before arriving here. However, I had a revelation when we visited he Historial de la Vendee and La Chabotterie. Learning about Vendean history and visiting where Charette escaped to reminded me of The Alamo. 

I see him everywhere and when I do I think of Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis, Colonel Jim Bowie, and of course, the King of the Wild Frontier, Davy Crockett; tall Texas heroes of my heart. 

Travis

Bowie - with his knife

Crockett

I spent hours as a child finding life in still paintings of their final battle, and now everywhere in Vendee it is the same. These men, Vendean and Texas, fought and died for an idea, and are now immortalized in bodacious portraits and battle scenes. Sure, they died pretty horrible deaths, but now they are forever remembered in a gallant poses and awesome attire. 

He's bleeding and still looks awesome

Epic Travis

Bowie - with his knife....again

Crockett with his Coonskin Cap

                             Rebels always have the coolest clothing.

Jedi Master Luke Skywalker

First Mate Chewbacca and Captain Han Solo

The oppressor, the mighty regime, is always dressed typical, and lame by comparison.

French Opressors

General Santa Anna considered himself “The Napoleon of the West”, which clearly reflected in the Mexican Army’s fashion sense.

Mexican Opressors

                                        Those outfits are sooooo 1796.



You can travel the entire globe, see the most remote of villages and most timeless of monuments, but if you don’t see a piece of yourself, your culture and past, in the people and place you visit, then you haven’t gone far enough. With just a little listening, and a touch of adventure, I’ve come to find that there is always a way to bridge the cultural gap. Remember the Alamo. Souvenez-vous de Charette.