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France - 1821

Hoche, général, 1768-1797 (Gayrard, Petit, etc.)

Obverse:

Buste et légende.

Legend:

LAZARE HOCHE

Size:

41 mm.

Reverse:

NÉ A VERSAILLES EN M.DCC.LXVIII. MORT EN M.DCC.XCVII.
GALERIE METALLIQUE DES GRANDS HOMMES FRANÇAIS

Exergue:

1821

Vern's Comments:

A modern (post-1901, pre-1950s) restrike, probably cleaned at some point as it is almost "brassy" in appearance. The medal you see was engraved by Gayrard and is part of an extensive series released during the early 1820s.

Lazare Hoche was a brilliant general of the Revolution and had he not died early may have rivaled Napoleon himself in exploits. He was commander of the Army of the Moselle from 1793-4; arrested for suspicion of treason he was released after the fall of Robespierre. He went on to defeat the royalist landing at Quiberon and subdue (at least temporarily) the Vendée. Commander of the ill-fated expedition to Ireland he was forced to give up because of bad weather and was given command of the Army of the Sambre and Meuse, winning the battle of Neuweid (July 2, 1796). Briefly the Minister of War he resigned in protest over the corruption he found and returned to the army, dying, probably of consumption on September 19, 1797. Napoleon would remark that he was one of the greatest generals France ever produced and might have had a glittering career had he lived.