Championnet, Jean Étienne

Championnet, Jean Étienne

(zhäN ātyĕn` shäNpyônĕ`), 1762–1800, French general in the French Revolutionary WarsFrench Revolutionary Wars,
wars occurring in the era of the French Revolution and the beginning of the Napoleonic era, the decade of 1792–1802. The wars began as an effort to defend the Revolution and developed into wars of conquest under the empire.
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. Placed in command of the Army of Rome in 1798, he captured (1799) Naples from the Second Coalition and set up the Parthenopean RepublicParthenopean Republic
[from Parthenope, an ancient name of Naples], state set up in Naples in Jan., 1799, by the French Revolutionary army under General Championnet and by liberal Neapolitans after the flight of King Ferdinand IV (later Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies).
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. However, he got into trouble with the Directory by denouncing the malpractices of one of its agents in Naples; moreover, his harsh rule caused popular discontent, and he was recalled in disgrace. Later acquitted, he commanded the Army of the Alps, but was unable to win success with this badly organized unit and resigned. He died shortly after.