Vivien Gérin-Lajoie

Vivien Gérin-Lajoie
Full length engraving of Patriote General Vivien Gérin-Lajoie.
Born	April 22, 1729 Rivière-Rouge, Upper Cassier
Died	December 31, 1769 (aged 39) Château Lamoth, Louiseville, Lower Cassier
Allegiance	Gaullican Empire Patriotes
Service/branch	Gaullican Colonial Army (1747-1764) Patriote Army (1766-1769)
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Asterian War of Secession Patriote Rebellion

Vivien Gérin-Lajoie (April 22, 1729 – December 31, 1769) was an Cassien soldier who first served in the Gaullican Colonial Army. He later became the central figure of the Patriote Movement during the Asterian War of Secession, and he is most famous for leading the unsuccessful revolt against Gaullica.

Lajoie was born in the village of Rivière-Rouge in Upper Cassier. In 1745, he enrolled at Université de Charlesbourg, Saint-Marie, and two years later joined the Gaullican Colonial Army. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving in Asteria Superior and Inferior in various minority conflicts with rebel groups and native tribes. In 1764, Lajoie returned to Cassier, married, and began farming.

When the Asterian War of Secession broke out in the United Colonies, Lajoie took up the Patriote cause under the influence of various pro-independence politicians and follow officers, and was elected to the Upper Cassier Congress in November 1766. In June 1767, he was commissioned as a general in the Patriote Army. He captured Fort St. Matthew and various other small settlements on the fringes of Gaullican control in Upper Cassier. He negotiated with several friendly native tribes in the upper Saint Marcus river whom he had established positive relations with during his time in the Gaullican army, earning support from tribes and chiefs disgruntled by colonial policies. By the end of 1767, Lajoie's army had grown significantly in size and strength. Successful raids on forts and supply depots allowed for the Patriotes to become a well supplied and armed force, though a lack of popular support from the majority of Cassiens proved to be detrimental for the rebellion. He would lead the Patriotes through a string of victories against Gaullican and Cassien armies in Upper and Lower Cassier in 1768 until late 1769. His generalship would reach its climax at the Battle of Louiseville in December 1769 in Lower Cassier where he would be engaged by a smaller but more experienced Gaullican and Cassien force where he would die from a chest wound made by a sharpshooter. The Loyalist forces found his body and gave him an honorable burial. His remains were moved to Nouvelle-Rayenne in 1818.

Early Life

Lajoie was born in Rivière-Rouge in Upper Cassier. He was born into an Cassien family of fur traders. His father, Gérin Lajoie, was a successful and well respected coureur des bois and forester in Upper Cassier.

Lajoie spent most of his childhood accompanying his father during his exhibitions to the north, where he learned to hunt, ride, shoot, and deal with aboriginal peoples. Gérin, however, desired that his sons receive a good education instead of continuing the rapidly diminishing beaver pelt trade. Vivien attended the school of the Rev. Hue Favre in Timbell, and learned Ghaillish, Solarian, and rhetoric. Lajoie went on to enter the Université de Charlesbourg in Saint-Marie. Despite his great love of knowledge, Lajoie did not receive a degree. He was convinced by his peers at the university and his oldest brother Alexandre to join the military, which he did on September 21, 1747.