Pierre-Antoine Antonelle
| Pierre-Antoine Antonelle | |
|---|---|
Mayor of Arles, deputy
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| Mayor of Arles | |
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In office February 1790 – September 1791 |
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| Deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône and secretary | |
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In office 30 August 1791 – September 1792 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
17 July 1747 Arles, France |
| Died | 26 November 1817 (aged 70) Arles, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Political party | Jacobin |
| Profession | Politician and Journalist |
Pierre-Antoine Antonelle (17 July 1747 – 26 November 1817) was a French journalist, politician, president of the Jacobin Club and revolutionary. He was the first democratically elected mayor of Arles. Although he came from an aristocratic family, he was a strong supporter of the French Revolution, initially in the south of France, particularly Arles and Provence, and ultimately in Paris. Called the single most influential figure of the French Revolution in Arles, Antonelle was heavily involved in the reunion of the Comtat Venaissin with France and was one of the leading figures in Gracchus Babeuf's Conspiracy of the Equals.
Antonelle was born to a wealthy aristocratic family in Arles. Antonelle's father died in December 1747, and therefor Antonelle was largely raised by his mother and the archbishop of Angoulême. The strict education he received from the archbishop is cited as one of the primary factors behind his later anticlericalism. In 1762, Antonelle served as a cadet in the Armée, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant and commanding his own regiment. He had little taste for army life, resigning in 1782.
Antonelle, heavily inspired by the Age of Enlightenment was an early supporter of the French Revolution. He was the leader of the Monnaidiers, the Arlesien partisans of the Revolution. He was the first elected mayor of Arles and as mayor adopted a series of anticlerical policies, including the expulsion of non-juring priests. While still mayor of Arles, Antonelle was sent to Avignon to facilitate the reunion of the Comtat Venaissin with France. Afterwards, Antonelle was sent to Marseille with orders to restore public order. Beginning in June 1791, Antonelle was forced to flee Arles for Aix-en-Provence, when public opinion turned against the revolution.
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