Plaine-Monceau in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe

Fers / Irons

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 24, 2024

1. Fers / Irons Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Général Alexandre Dumas
Œuvre réalisée par Musée Khômbol
2008
Dominique Tillard Constructeur
Commande publique de la Ville de Paris

Thomas-Alexandre Davy de La Pailleterie, né esclave à Jérémie (Saint-Domingue, aujourd'hui Haïti) le 25 mars 1762 d'une femme esclave d'origine africaine et d'un colon, mort libre à Villers-Cotterêts (Aisne) le 26 février 1806. Il s'engage à vingt-quatre ans comme cavalier sous le pseudonyme d'Alexandre Dumas. Héroïque combattant des armées révolutionnaires, il sera rapidement promu général, le premier d'origine afro antillaise. Commandant en chef de l'armée des Pyrénées, des Alpes, de l'Ouest, fondateur des Chasseurs alpins, héros de l'armée d'Italie, connu pour son courage et sa valeur exceptionnels, mais aussi sa sensibilité, son respect des prisonniers et des populations civiles, il saura démissionner pour épargner les Vendéens et sa conscience, justifiant son surnom de Monsieur de l'Humanité Capturé à son retour de l'expédition d'Égypte, il subit deux années d'une dure détention et, revenu en France en 1802 au moment du rétablissement de l'esclavage, il n'obtient le bénéfice d'aucun des honneurs qui lui sont dus. Son fils reprendra ce même pseudonyme d'Alexandre

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Dumas et s'inspirera des aventures du Général pour écrire Les Trois Mousquetaires, dont le succès contribuera à faire de lui l'écrivain français le plus lu dans le monde. Un troisième Alexandre Dumas, auteur de La Dame aux Camélias, petit-fils du Général, viendra clore cette dynastie. La présente œuvre remplace la statue de 1913 détruite sous l'occupation nazie et rejoint sur cette place les monuments dédiés à son fils et son petit-fils.

(English translation:)

General Alexandre Dumas
Work executed by Musée Khômbol
2008
Dominique Tillard, Constructor
A public work commissioned by the City of Paris

Thomas-Alexandre Davy de La Pailleterie, born a slave in Jérémie (Saint-Domingue, today Haiti) on March 25, 1762 to a slave woman of African origin and a colonist, died free in Villers-Cotterêts (Aisne, France) February 26, 1806. He signed up as a rider at the age of twenty-four under the pseudonym Alexandre Dumas. A heroic fighter in revolutionary armies, he was quickly promoted to general, the first of Afro-Caribbean origin. Commander-in-chief at times, of the armies of the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the West, founder of the Alpine Hunters, hero of the army of Italy, known for his exceptional courage and valor, but also his sensitivity, his respect for prisoners and civilian populations, he also would know how to resign to spare the Vendéens and his conscience, justifying his nickname of Monsieur de l'Humanité.

Fers / Irons Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, March 24, 2024

2. Fers / Irons Marker - wide view

Captured on his return from the Egyptian expedition, he underwent two years of harsh detention and, returning to France in 1802 at the time of the reestablishment of slavery, he did not obtain the benefit of any of the honors which were due to him. His son took up the same pseudonym of Alexandre Dumas and was inspired by the General's adventures to write The Three Musketeers, the success of which helped to make him the most widely read French writer in the world. A third Alexandre Dumas, author of La Dame aux Camélias, grandson of the General, completed this dynasty. This work replaces the 1913 statue destroyed under the Nazi occupation and joins the monuments dedicated to his son and grandson on this square.

Erected 2008 by Mairie de Paris.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Wars, Non-US. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1762.

Location. 48° 52.973′ N, 2° 18.641′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Plaine-Monceau. Marker is at the intersection of Place du Général Catroux and Rue Jacques Bingen, on the left when traveling north on Place du Général Catroux. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Paris, Île-de-France 75017, France. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Charles Gounod (within shouting distance of this marker); La Mulâtresse Solitude (within shouting distance of this marker); Elena Theodorini and l’Académie Lyrique Roumaine

Statue of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas image. Click for full size.

courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

3. Statue of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas

Picture of the 1913 statue of General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas that was destroyed by the Germans during the occupation of Paris.

(about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Mstislav Rostropovich (about 150 meters away); Louis Armand (about 150 meters away); Maxime Fabert (about 150 meters away); Joseph Denais (about 180 meters away); La château de Monceau (approx. 0.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paris.

Also see . . .
1. Paris : Fers brisés, hommage au général Thomas Alexandre Dumas (Paris La Douce, in French). Full title: Paris : Fers brisés, hommage au général Thomas Alexandre Dumas, une oeuvre signée Musée Khômbol alias Driss Sans-Arcidet - XVIIème

Excerpt (in translation): Irons, a symbolic work signed Musée Khômbol, the pseudonym of Driss Sans-Arcidet, represents two broken slave bracelets. This monumental sculpture pays homage to General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (1762-1806), freed slave, first general of Afro-Caribbean origin in the French army, father of Alexandre Dumas, the author of "The Three Musketeers" and “Count of Montecristo”, grandfather of Alexandre Dumas son, author of “The Lady of the Camellias”. Inaugurated on April 4, 2009 under the patronage of UNESCO, it celebrates the unsung hero and through him, through his history, the slaves and their descendants. Present
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in Paris that day to mark sixty years of NATO, Barack Obama was symbolically invited to this inauguration. Since May 10, 2009, at the initiative of the Association of Friends of General Dumas and in collaboration with the Paris City Hall, each year on this date a ceremony is organized on the occasion of the national commemorative day of remembrance of the slavery and its abolition. These broken chains have become a place of memory and dignity.

(Submitted on March 25, 2024.)

2. Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (Wikipedia). (Submitted on March 25, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 35 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.