Etienne de Flacourt

Born in 1607 with Orleans within a noble family and died at sea the June 10th 1660 in broad of Lisbon, the Knight Etienne de Flacourt is an administrator French which exerted the role of chief of colony with Madagascar and to which the Historien S allot the second or third taking possession by the France of current the island of the Réunion, in the Indian Ocean. During its mandate, he wrote a work of presentation for which he was made sometimes naturalist and sometimes geographer.

Arrival in Madagascar

Started from La Rochelle on board the the St. Lawrence , a vessel accomplishing its third stay towards Madagascar and whose captain is Roger the Borough, it arrives at the Fort-Dauphin the December 3rd 1648 to exert there the functions of chief of the colony. A few months earlier, this one was described to him by the Borough as being in disorder. It thus replaces Jacques Pronis, predecessor against whom it receives 28 complaints while at the same time it did not unload yet. Lodged at this last even, it about it carries out a Enquête during more than one year and must finally invite it to return in France in February 1650.

Having learned the Exile imposed by this man on twelve mutineers in 1646, it on before the occasion to send it with the Borough to seek them where it relegated them, on an island which one then calls Mascareigne. The the St. Lawrence which has not been able to touch ground because of head winds, a boat is launched to go to recover them and finds them in perfect health, against any waiting. It arrives at Fort-Dauphin two days after the ship the September 7th 1649. The health condition of the passengers impresses the new governor, remained in Madagascar, and incites it to consider the Colonisation pure and simple of this ground which is the Réunion today and which he elects the Borough so that he re-elects it Bourbon island.

This one proceeds to this baptism in November 1649 within the framework of a voyage very testing for the sick crew. It is thought whereas it is about the second taking possession of the island by France after that of Alonse Goubert ten years earlier. The historians estimate today that it could be a question of the third.

Government

The the St. Lawrence returned with the country Pronis on its board, the priest S unloaded in Fort-Dauphin as completed to him at the same time by the Disease, Etienne de Flacourt only finds with the head of the colony in the middle of the year 1650. The idleness which develops to with it quickly transforms into gigantic a Révolte insurrectionists supported by warriors of the area perhaps implying 10.000 people, according to the knight himself. For the first time in the history of the colony, he asks that one make use of the guns and those are right indeed of the crowd armed with arrow S.

Time without news of the the St. Lawrence starting to be done long, Flacourt makes undertake the construction of a Shipyard and embarks in addition in a forwarding in the search of food until the island Sainte-Marie. This one sees the death of many members of the crew, carried by the disease, but the small ordered vessel is finished as of the September 10th 1652. Flacourt takes in December following year the decision to leave Madagascar and to regain the Europe on its board.

Having a presentiment of a new revolt with the advertisement of its departure, it makes convene the chief of in person insurgent and makes him share in the greatest secrecy of its project of return to the country, probably to make him wisely hope for the post of head of the colony to its continuation. Then, pretexting a voyage until Manghabé only, Flacourt puts the veils on board its new Sainte-Marie the December 27th 1653. But the ways of water well quickly appear very important and the ship of fortune must return in the colony after having given up the idea of a technical stopover in the island of France, current Mauritius.

Marovoule, the Madagascan formerly risen and from now on governor, feels betrayed by the return of Flacourt. When this one announces man sending to the Mozambique within the framework of a new forwarding, it requires that it be the Knight who takes share there, but this one manages to be withdrawn from it. It is consequently the object of negative petitions and flights which encourage it to make stop Marovoule the April 13rd 1654, which is worth to him to escape an attempt from Assassinat on its person programmed by this last for two days later. The arrest of its opponent in addition makes it possible Flacourt to finally sit its Autorité.

Departure of Madagascar

The French ships the Saint-Georges and the Bear touch with ground with 80 kilometers of the colony. There thinking of finding a means of returning to France, Etienne de Flacourt challenges the commanders for better discovering than that of the second vessel is not other than Jacques Pronis returned in the Large Island, where it had left a child. The commander of the first invites it as for him lasting the month of August to be put at his service in another colony after him to have announced that no changing had been planned for him by its Company, whose direction changed.

Outraged by the changes which have occurred, Etienne de Flacourt does not manage from there less to obtain from Pronis the exile of Marovoule accompanied by some voluntary French with Bourbon by the means of the Bear . The ship arrives there the September 22nd 1654 and its passengers unload there close to the pond of Saint-Paul, on the west coast of the island. On its return to Madagascar, Pronis in addition agrees to leave in Flacourt its ship charged with invaluable goods to return to France to seek of the assistance. It would be perhaps about a reward for its investigation into him wisely led to its arrival in the colony.

Flacourt leaves Madagascar the February 12th 1655 and arrives to France quickly, at the beginning of June.

Businesses in France

Etienne de Flacourt is quickly confronted with many irritating red tapes, in particular on behalf of the sailors of the the St. Lawrence returned in 1650 and who always await their balance. Flacourt honors its debt by liquidating freight with the Bear . Flacourt is in addition attacked in justice with three recoveries by people of the Company of which it however tries to defend the Monopole against inclinations of certain members to arm with the competitor ships.

It publishes Histoire of Large Isle Madagascar to rejoin characters high placed at the cause of the abandoned island and in favor of its project to make arm for this destination with new ships by the Company. It as publishes so that forwarding as it goes up includes/understands priests a Catéchisme in language Malgache, a language that nobody can read, but who gains one big hit.

Little time before its return in the colony, it crosses Marovoule, which it thought of Bourbon, in the corridors of the company, with Nantes. In spite of their opposition passed, they manage to converse and Marovoule learns in Flacourt the rapid died by disease from the Pronis governor after his departure, at the 35 years age. Flacourt takes on board all the same for the Indian Ocean on board the Virgin the May 20th 1660 with Dieppe.

Its boat is attacked with broad barbaresque Lisbon by three Pirate S which plunders it then make it jump. Thus he dies the June 10th 1660.

Source

Conference of Enis Rockel to the University of the Meeting.

See too

Etienne de Flacourt (steamer)

History of Madagascar

External bonds

History of Large Isle Madagascar , composed by the sior of Flacourt.

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