HomeFigth, suffer and Die in the Wars of the French Revolution and of the First Empire

Figth, suffer and Die in the Wars of the French Revolution and of the First Empire

Combattre, souffrir, mourir dans les guerres de la Révolution et de l’Empire

Approches croisées histoire-anthropologie

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Published on Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Abstract

This symposium entitled takes part in the renewal of studies concerning the historical anthropology of war focusing on the 1789-1815 period. To start with, violence in all forms will be the topic of a questioning bases on the  chronological point of view. Is it relevant to consider the period as a time of strong reorientation sided with an increase in importance of the “ideologising” of violence on the battlefield ? By setting the analysis at the level of fighters, our purpose is to think about the sufferings that are inherent to war.

Announcement

Argument

'The bloody solution to the crisis, the effort aiming at the annihilation of the enemy is the legitimate son of war.' Clausewitz's conclusions that are encapsulated in the phrase ‘absolute war’ do entice one to think beforehand about the question of the 'brutalization' of war in its diversity and its complexity.

This avenue of research has been explored for a few years through a cultural approach by historians specialised in the 18th and 19th centuries. The works of François Furet and Patrice Gueniffey on the originality of the nature and expression of political violence from the French Revolution onwards corroborate the empirical analysis of many War Studies thinkers and encourage a new reading of the war phenomenon in the 19th century, as well as they lead one to think about violence in combat or in soldiering. The works of Jean-Yves Guiomar (who defines total war as 'the one that sets in motion unprecedented amounts of troops, eager to win and cause the enemy's utter destruction') and that of American David Bell come to terms on the idea that the French Revolution is a breach from the former, regulated, Old Regime type of war.

In this symposium entitled Fight, Suffer, Die in the Wars of the Revolution and of the Empire, we would like to take part in the renewal of the debate concerning the historical anthropology of war by focusing on the 1789-1815 period. To start with, violence in all its forms will be the topic of a questioning based on a chronological point of view. It will be broached from the standpoint of the fighters' suffering, be it physical or psychological. Is it relevant to consider the period as a particular moment in the evolutions of violence? What evolutions can be observed in terms of wounds? Can these new types of violence be articulated with an increase in importance of the 'ideologising' of war?

We would like to place this symposium in a perspective based on disciplinarian opening and on an exchange of ideas between historians and anthropologists. We will particularly insist on:

  • the questions raised by the 'homecomings' from the battlefield (soldiers coming back from the Russian campaign...), as well as the suffering of prisoners, civilians and, more broadly speaking, the fate of the defeated, as many topics within the scope of this symposium.
  • we would like to take into account the physical wounds as well as the psychological ones.
  • we would also like to insist on different moments concerning the appearance and management of wounds and traumas (in combat, first aid, hospital care, convalescence, return to civilian life, the dead). From that viewpoint, the issue of evacuated troops is prominent and it is consubstantial with the quality of medical treatment.
  • beyond these considerations related with the battlefield, we find it could be worth thinking about the methods of creation, flow and reception of a medical knowledge that makes military medicine and civilian medicine overlap.

If the 1792-1815 period is at the core of our thoughts, it will also be worth referring to longer periods according to the relevance of the topic. We would like to take into account all war times in France, in Europe, or even overseas as long as they are linked with the dynamics of revolution (Santo Domingo, Egypt).

Places

  • Secteur Nord Batiment A - Faculté de Médecine, Boulevard Pierre Dramard, CS80011
    Marseille, France (13)

Date(s)

  • Friday, October 14, 2016

Keywords

  • souffrance, violence de masse, guerre, violence politique, conflit

Contact(s)

  • Walter Bruyère-Ostells
    courriel : walter [dot] bruyere-ostells [at] sciencespo-aix [dot] fr
  • Benoit POUGET
    courriel : benoit [dot] POUGET [at] univ-amu [dot] fr

Information source

  • Walter Bruyère-Ostells
    courriel : walter [dot] bruyere-ostells [at] sciencespo-aix [dot] fr

License

CC0-1.0 This announcement is licensed under the terms of Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal.

To cite this announcement

« Figth, suffer and Die in the Wars of the French Revolution and of the First Empire », Call for papers, Calenda, Published on Wednesday, August 24, 2016, https://doi.org/10.58079/vml

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