Volta
Person1735 – 1820

François Christophe Kellermann

Also called: Kellermann

Revolutionary general who held the windmill hill against the Prussians at Valmy in 1792, later a Marshal of Napoleon

Born in Strasbourg in 1735, he fought as a cavalry officer in the Seven Years’ War. A supporter of the Revolution, he was given command of the Army of the Centre (Moselle) in 1792, and at Valmy on 20 September he held the windmill hill, rallying his troops with cries of “Vive la nation!” to repulse the Prussians. Suspected of slowness against the Lyon revolt in 1793, he was imprisoned during the Terror and freed after Thermidor. Under Napoleon he became a senator and Marshal of the Empire (1804) and was made Duke of Valmy. He died in Paris in 1820.

Show on the map

Where they went

Open the full map

OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 related event

  1. 1
    1792Revolutionary Wars and the Battle of Valmycommander

    Revolutionary France declared war on Austria, and at Valmy its army halted the Prussians advancing on Paris.

People who appear alongside

  • Charles-François Dumouriez1739 – 1823

    Revolutionary general who commanded at Valmy and Jemappes in 1792 and defected to the Austrians the following year

Themes this person appears in

  • The French Revolution1787 – 1799

    From the Assembly of Notables and the Estates-General to the coup of 18 Brumaire — twelve years that toppled the absolute monarchy, founded a republic, passed through Terror and reaction, and ended with Napoleon