Thomas-Alexandre Dumas
General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas 1762 - 1806
The French Revolution is the most globally consequential civilian uprising in the history of the modern world. General Thomas-Alexandre Dumas was a central figure commanding troops during that and other struggles.
While Dumas is essential to French history, his indirect influence on literature continues to this day. Dumas’ true-life story inspired his son Alexandre Dumas’s timeless classic “The Count of Monte Cristo” and “The Three Muskateers.”
Dumas was born Thomas-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie in Haiti in 1762. Dumas’ mother was a slave (which meant he was born enslaved), but his father was a French nobleman. In order to orchestrate his freedom, Dumas’ father sold him to a friend in the French army that took Dumas to France. The exchange was reversed upon his father’s arrival as slavery was outlawed in France. Thus, Dumas was freed.
With profound pride in his new country, as an adult, Dumas enlisted in the French army. Since he was born to a noble, Dumas was entitled to an officer’s commission upon joining. This privilege was denied him, however, because he was Black. Still interested in fighting for the country he loves, Dumas was compelled to enlist as a private.
Dumas’ father believed this appointment was unfair and beneath the dignity of his noble son. He then convinced Dumas to alter his name to earn the respect and title he rightfully deserved. This prompted the change from Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie (his father’s last name) to Dumas (his mother’s slave given last name).
In addition to becoming the first person of color to rise to the rank of brigadier general of the French army, Dumas was also the first person of color to reach the rank of divisional general, and ultimately the highest rank of general-in-chief of the French army. Dumas was the chief swordsman for Napoleon, who eventually turns on Dumas and views him as a threat.
Dumas directed soldiers that intervened to stop a riot during the French Revolution. This did not win him any points with the Committee of Public Safety. But Dumas did what he believed was just and preventing the unnecessary massacre. Years later, Dumas was involved in a similar disagreement with Napoleon over French soldiers pillaging. Napoleon retaliated by removing Dumas from official military reports.
In reality, Dumas fell out of favor with Napoleon because Dumas’ physical domineering presence and his instinctive brilliance as a war general, made him a paradox from Napoleon. In addition to their physical and strategic differences, Dumas did not temper his speech. When he chose to disclose his thoughts on strategy, Dumas shared his heart and experience and often made recommendations. Napoleon viewed this behavior as ‘insubordinate.’
After successfully commanding a cavalry in Egypt, Dumas’ ship was damaged, and he was taken prisoner in Naples, where they were forced to dock. Napoleon sat idly by, allowing the war hero to languish in an Italian prison for two years. Due to prison conditions, Dumas was half-blind and partially paralyzed by the time French forced finally freed him. Unlike most war heroes, Dumas was not met with the respect and celebration he was owed. Instead, Napoleon refused to pay Dumas for the two years of his imprisonment and then rejected his pension for retired officers. Napoleon’s pettiness and hatred for Dumas led him to deny Dumas’ wife the widow’s pension she deserved after his death in 1806.
Thomas-Alexandre Dumas should be just as revered and well known in France as Napoleon. Still, Napoleon’s envy and ego prevented history from properly honoring and recording his contributions to the modern world’s most important civilian uprising.
