When it comes to heroes of the American Revolution, Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and their French ally Lafayette all spring to mind – but not François-Jean de Chastellux.
If that name leaves even experts scratching their heads, it is because his sizeable contribution to US history has been largely overlooked by French and American academics alike – until now.
Even more remarkably, it has taken a historian from Holland to set the record straight ahead of celebrations this summer marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Iris de Rode, under the treeIris de Rode
Iris de Rode spent part of her childhood at her parents’ 17th-Century property in Brassy (Nièvre) in central France, just a 30-minute drive from Château de Chastellux.
Strikingly situated on a rocky peak above the River Cure, it was from here that Chastellux set out, aged 13, to join the French army, before joining the Expédition Particulière sent in 1780 by Louis XVI to help the American insurgents.
He was third in command of the French forces at Yorktown but played an equally important role shaping Franco-American intellectual, scientific and political cooperation, also becoming a close confidant of George Washington.
As a tribute to their friendship, Washington presented Chastellux with tulip trees from Mount Vernon when he returned to France in 1782.
A hidden story
It was this gift that first drew Iris de Rode into their story more than two centuries later: as well as being planted at Château de Chastellux, one tree had found its way into her parents’ garden in Brassy.
“The tree started everything. There was a local legend that it had been planted by Lafayette.
"When I investigated, I discovered that it was not Lafayette, but François-Jean de Chastellux who was connected to the tree, as the owner of our house at the time was in contact with one of Chastellux's nephews.”
Dr de Rode was intrigued and visited Philippe de Chastellux, the chateau’s current owner, to find out more. He gave her a modern edition of Chastellux's US travel account to read, and suggested there might still be original papers preserved at the chateau.
“To our surprise, we discovered 6,000 pages of manuscripts, correspondence, reports and memoirs that had largely been forgotten by the family and never explored by historians.”
These documents became the basis of her doctoral research and eventually an award-winning biography of Chastellux, published in 2022.
“What struck me most was that Chastellux was much more than a military officer. The archives revealed a far richer and more influential figure than historians had previously recognised.”
Nevertheless, Chastellux remains relatively unknown in the US outside specialist circles.
“French support went far beyond Lafayette. It included soldiers, sailors, engineers, artillery, military expertise, financial support, diplomacy, intelligence gathering and logistical coordination. The victory at Yorktown was truly the result of a multinational alliance.”
Painting of Charles Willson Peale, François Jean de Chastellux (1782)Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As the 250th anniversary approaches, there is growing interest in understanding the American Revolution “as an international story”, she said.
“They’re very happy to discover a new historical figure, other than Lafayette or Rochambeau. They’re particularly surprised that he could have been forgotten despite his important role.”
In France, Chastellux has also been overshadowed.
Different worlds
“Part of the reason is that his private papers were not accessible. Additionally, he does not fit neatly into a single category,” said Dr de Rode.
“He was simultaneously a military officer, a philosopher of the Enlightenment, a member of literary circles, a diplomat, and an intellectual. Historians have often studied those worlds separately, whereas Chastellux moved comfortably between all of them.”
Since moving to the US herself four years ago, Dr de Rode has been involved in many projects related to the French role in the American Revolution.
She is currently working on a book which explores the Franco-American alliance and places Chastellux at the centre of the story.
“The alliance was far from straightforward,” she said. “The two countries spoke different languages, came from different social, cultural, religious and military traditions, and often viewed one another with suspicion.
"Chastellux excelled at building relationships. He helped bridge cultural differences, facilitated communication between allies, and built confidence at a time when mutual trust was essential.”
His relationship with Washington, in particular, extended beyond military cooperation.
Dr de Rode points out that both belonged to the same generation and had experienced the Seven Years' War.
Both lost their fathers at a young age and grew up under the influence of older brothers. Both came from prominent families and shared a strong sense of public service.
“They also shared intellectual interests. They were practical men, but also curious thinkers.”
With relations between France and the US currently strained, Dr de Rode hopes her research will remind leaders on both sides of the benefits of putting differences aside.
“Historians are always cautious about drawing direct lessons from the past,” she said.
“The world of the 1780s was very different from our own. That said, the Franco-American alliance shows that successful cooperation does not require complete agreement.
"It was built between two very different societies. There were disagreements, misunderstandings, and moments of tension. Yet both sides recognised that they could achieve more together than apart.”
And what became of the trees? The Brassy one still stands today, although Dr de Rode’s parents sold the house last year. The tree at Chastellux was cut down 20 years ago as it posed a risk to the chateau.
