French General & Colonial Administrator
Antoine Richepanse was born into a military family on March 25, 1770, in Metz, France. His father served in the Conti-Dragoon Regiment, exposing Richepanse to military discipline and strategy from an early age. By age 15, he had joined a regiment of chasseurs, beginning his career as a soldier. The French Revolution accelerated his rise through the ranks. In 1791, he became a sous-lieutenant, followed by rapid promotions to lieutenant (1792) and captain (1793). By 1794, he had reached the rank of chef d’escadron in the 1st Chasseurs à Cheval, serving in the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse.
Richepanse distinguished himself in several battles, including Siegburg and Altenkirchen (1796), where he sustained injuries but was promoted to général de brigade. His leadership at Neuwied (1797) was particularly notable, inflicting 8,000 casualties on the Austrians and capturing 27 cannons. By 1799, he had reached the rank of général de division, serving under General Grenier. In 1800, he joined the Army of the Rhine, commanding the 3rd Division under General Moreau. His most significant military achievement came at the Battle of Hohenlinden (December 1800), where his aggressive maneuvers secured a decisive French victory against the Austrians, influencing the outcome of the war.
Governor of Guadeloupe & Reinstatement of Slavery
In 1801, Napoleon appointed Richepanse governor of Guadeloupe, instructing him to restore full French control over the colony. At the time, Guadeloupe had been governed by Black officers, and tensions were high due to fears that France would reverse the abolition of slavery, which had been enacted in 1794. Upon landing in May 1802, Richepanse led a violent military campaign against resistance fighters. Initially, Black officer Magloire Pélage sided with the insurgents but later switched allegiance to Richepanse. The most dramatic confrontation occurred under the leadership of Louis Delgrès, whose forces resisted the reinstatement of slavery. The rebellion culminated in mass suicide at Fort Saint Charles, where Delgrès and his followers detonated the fort’s gunpowder stores rather than surrender.
On July 17, 1802, Richepanse issued a resolution that formally reinstated slavery by abolishing wages for freed plantation workers and revoking citizenship for free people of color. These measures effectively restored the conditions of forced labor that had previously been abolished. His brutal suppression of the local population continued for months, earning criticism—even among his officers.
Death & Legacy
Shortly after taking control of Guadeloupe, Richepanse contracted yellow fever and died in Basse-Terre on September 3, 1802. However, his policies had lasting consequences—armed resistance against French colonial rule continued until 1804, when the remaining fighters surrendered and were allowed to leave the island. Despite his controversial actions, Richepanse’s name was inscribed on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris alongside other prominent military leaders of the era. While he was celebrated for his military achievements in Europe, his role in reinstating slavery in Guadeloupe has led to his legacy being viewed with deep scrutiny. His name was eventually removed from some official military honors in France, reflecting the modern reassessment of his actions in the colony.