Olmutzpage

The Marquis de Lafayette: Prisoner of Olmütz This exhibit follows the fortunes of the Marquis de Lafayette during the period he was held as a political prisoner in Prussia and Austria from 1792-97.

I. Political Turmoil in France
II. Lafayette's Capture
III. Lafayette's Sword
IV. The Austrian Fortress of Olmütz
V. The Not-So-Great Escape
VI. Lafayette's Wife and Daughters Arrive at Olmütz
VII. Madame de Lafayette's Memoir
VIII. Lafayette's Son Takes Refuge in America
IX. Lafayette's Release From Olmütz

I. Political Turmoil in France

Engraving, "Emigration de La Fayette Du Camp Devant Sedan. le 19 Aoust 1792"

A decade after his important contribution as a nineteen-year-old Major General in the American Revolution, the Marquis de Lafayette became a pivotal player in a democratic uprising in his native France--the French Revolution. With the fall of the Bastille in July 1789, Lafayette was chosen to head the newly-formed Paris citizen's militia. This he subsequently converted into the Paris National Guard which he commanded until October of 1791. As the Revolution gained momentum, Lafayette found it increasingly difficult to maintain order and protect the royal family. Lafayette’s affairs reached a crisis in August of 1792 after the deposition of Louis XVI, when the Legislative Assembly passed a decree of impeachment against him. Unable to get the support of his troops, Lafayette fled on August 19, 1792 with hopes of returning to America. Unfortunately, it was not that simple for the Marquis de Lafayette.

II. Lafayette’s Capture

When Lafayette tried to pass through Germany on his way to a Dutch port, he was quickly challenged. Although Lafayette insisted that he was no longer a French general, but an American citizen—he had been made a citizen after the American Revolution—the Austrian and Prussian rulers were unsympathetic and took him captive. They were fighting their own wars against this idea of democracy of which Lafayette himself was a major proponent. Imprisoned first in a Prussian fortress at Westphalia in 1792, Lafayette was transferred several times in Germany before his final imprisonment at Olmütz in Austria in 1794.

Detail from the engraved map of Germany by Thos Kitchin, ca. 1763

III. Lafayette’s Sword, 1792

Photograph, Sword taken from Lafayette at Prussian border

One of the most remarkable artifacts associated with the Marquis de Lafayette in the College’s collection is the sword shown here. This is the sword taken from Lafayette by his Prussian captors in August, 1792. The sword had remained in the family of a Prussian diplomat until it was presented to Lafayette College at its 1932 centennial by the Baroness von Miltitz. Along with the sword came an 1828 letter written by Lafayette attesting to its authenticity: "This sword, which as much as I remember was straight and has as a pommel a cap of liberty, might have been given to me when I left the army. I do not remember, but I am quite sure that I have not got it, and your uncle like yourself now, can very well have received it immediately after my arrest."

IV. The Austrian Fortress of Olmütz

At Olmütz prison in Moravia, Lafayette was reduced to a common prisoner. His few remaining possessions were taken from him—his watch, razor, and his final books pertaining to democracy. He was unable to send or receive letters, and, by this time, his friends did not know his whereabouts. George Washington and other prominent Americans wanted to have Lafayette released as an American citizen, but they did not think it would be prudent for America to intervene. They feared that America would be pulled into the French Revolution and other entanglements of politically unstable Europe.

Engraving, "La Tour De Glaskouw ou le General la Fayette a ete detenu par l'Autriche"

V. The Not-So-Great Escape

Word of Lafayette’s imprisonment angered Americans, who revered the boy hero of their revolution. In particular a group of Americans and others in London began to work to secure Lafayette’s release, first through diplomatic channels, then, when that did not work, by planning a rescue attempt. The group hired Erich Bollman, A German adventurer, who was able to locate Lafayette and pass him secret messages through the prison doctor. The two worked out an escape plan to be activated when Lafayette was taken for a carriage ride by his guards. The plan, unfortunately, went awry. Lafayette’s guards could not be completely overpowered, and, although Lafayette did escape on horseback, he was soon recaptured and returned to Olmütz.

VI. Lafayette’s Wife and Daughters Arrive at Olmütz

Engraving, "Captivite de La Fayette"

During Lafayette’s last two years of captivity he was joined by his wife, Adrienne, and two daughters, who chose to endure the deprivation of prison at his side. Adrienne had lost her mother, grandmother, and sister to the guillotine in 1794. She was spared only because of American diplomatic warnings to France about what the death of Madame de Lafayette would do to American public opinion.

VII. Madame de Lafayette’s Memoir

During the years that she shared her husband’s captivity in 1795-97, Madame de Lafayette secretly composed a life of her mother, the Duchess de’Ayen, a victim of the French Revolution’s guillotine in 1794. She wrote the manuscript in the margins of another volume using toothpicks and China ink. When she returned to France in 1799, she arranged for a clandestine printing of a few copies of the work on a hidden printing press in 1800. Unbound copies were distributed to family members. The Lafayette College copy of this work is one of two known copies in the United States; six copies are accounted for in France. It was a gift to the College by William and John Avery Crawford in 1990.

Photocopy, Title page of Madame de Lafayette's memoir

VIII. Lafayette’s Son Takes Refuge in America

Before Madame de Lafayette and her daughters went to Olmütz, she made arrangements for her son, George Washington Lafayette, to go to America where she hoped he would be taken in by his namesake, George Washington. The trip to America, though, proved to be difficult. Because the French government would not permit the trip, all the arrangements had to be made in secret. Madame de Lafayette enlisted the aid of James Monroe, who secured an American passport and George set sail on April 20, 1795. Although George’s primary purpose in coming to America was to persuade George Washington to intervene on his father’s behalf, the strained relations between France and America made this impossible. Washington was not even able to see George Washington Lafayette at first. Six months later, when it was politically safer, Washington took George to Mount Vernon, where he stayed for the remainder of his time in America.

Engraving, "Interview of Gen. La Fayette with his wife and daughters, in the prison of Olmütz"

IX. Lafayette’s Release From Olmütz

When Napoleon Bonaparte and his revolutionary armies had conquered Austria in 1797, a clause was added to the Treaty of Campo Formio for the release of Lafayette. John Parish, an American diplomat in Hamburg, was Lafayette’s host the night of his release on September 19, 1797. After two subsequent years in exile in Holland, Lafayette was finally able to return to France in 1799.

All images from the Marquis de Lafayette Collections, Skillman Library, Lafayette College

EXHIBIT CURATED BY EMELIE GEORGE ‘02