French Revolution
Unlike the majority of naval officers, Villaret did not emigrate during the Revolution.
In 1791, he was given command of the frigate Prudente to transport troops to Saint-Domingue. Arriving shortly before the slave revolt that launched the Haitian Revolution, he helped the governor transport troops around the island.
On 14 March 1792, he swore the "civic oath" to the Republic, while his brother emigrated. Promoted to capitaine de vaisseau in 1792, he was given the command of a ship-of-the-line, Trajan. In 1793, he commanded a small squadron patrolling the coast of the Vendée, in order to prohibit the British from aiding the Vendéan Revolt. When the rest of the Brest fleet sailed to Belle-Isle and a mutiny broke out among many ships in the fleet, Villaret was one of the few officers who maintained order aboard his ship.
In 1794, Jeanbon Saint André named Villaret-Joyeuse as the commander of the Brest fleet because of his ability to maintain discipline during the turmoil of the revolution. The same year, Villaret was promoted to contre-amiral. Assisted by Saint André, Villaret reorganised and revitalised the Brest fleet. Among other measures, Saint André and Villaret-Joyeuse founded a naval artillery school.
Read more about this topic: Louis Thomas Villaret De Joyeuse
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“The revolution must end and the republic must begin. In our constitution, right must take the place of duty, welfare that of virtue, and self-defense that of punishment. Everyone must be able to prevail and to live according to one’s own nature.”
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