Jean-Baptiste Chatellier
Jean-Baptiste Chatellier | |
|---|---|
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| Born | September 8, 1718 |
| Died | February 13, 1791 (aged 72) |
| Nationality | Blaykish |
| Spouse(s) | Hua Jinbai Hélène Chatellier |
| Children | Maurice Chatellier Jean Chatellier |
Jean-Baptiste Chatellier was a Blaykish Navy sailor, a diplomat, and an adventurer who played a critical role in the foundation of the Tan Dynasty for whom he served alternatively as General, Grand Administrator, and Minister. He took the Huaren name of Bao Enchen (堡恩沉).
Biography
Adventurer for the Tan
On the recommendation of Nicolas Bertrand D'Arixomage, the Prince of Tan took Chatellier under his service as Naval Officer, fighting the Hong Navy on the Queen River. His successes and the lack of officers in the ranks of the Tan quickly turned Jean-Baptiste Chatellier into a favorite of the prince who promoted him to the rank of General.
In the service of the Dynasty
After the war, his close proximity to the Hegemon-King made him the de-facto leader of the Blaykish "Adventurers" Party. The death of D'Arixomage and the recalling of Charles-Gauthier de Fluery, his political rival, left Jean-Baptiste Chatellier as the sole unofficial leader of the Principeans in Huran. He received the honorary title of "Duke" and "Pillar of the State" (柱國, zhùguó) at the royal court, but also sat at the royal council as Minister of the Navy. He also supervised the establishment of Vives-Eaux as a free port for Principean traders, and became its first Administrator.
He first married Hua Jinbai, daughter of a famous clan of Hua administrators and scholars, cementing his position in the Huranian aristocracy. Their children would continue to play an important role in the political life of the Blaykish in the Tan Dynasty. He would remarry a few years after her death with Hélène Bailly, the daughter of his late friend Laurent-Marie Bailly and of his Huranian wife. The Bailly would also become an important clan within the Hurano-Principeans.
Death
He died the 13th of February 1791 in his ducal residence of Daliang, the then-capital of the Tan Dynasty. He received the privilege to be burried with the honors due to a member of the royal family and was officially mourned in the royal palace. His eldest son, Maurice Chatellier, inherited his position as Grand Administrator of the Principean ports, as well as his ducal title. Meanwhile the younger Jean Chatellier became famous as a principean-language poet and served in the dynasty' customs authority. Both would lose their positions and titles during Tan Mingdi' rule and would go on to organize with the Viceroy Dujue the large-scale rebellion that would put an end to the Tan' hegemony over northern Huran.