On this day in history, July 15th in 1789, just one day after the storming of the Bastille, Marquis de Lafayette was named as an officer in the newly established regime in the French Revolution regime. This post came twelve years after Lafayette began fighting as a volunteer officer in the American Revolution, serving under Geroge Washington (whom Lafayette would later name his only son).
In his home country Lafayette played a key role in their revolution for the codification of “Liberté, Égalité, and Fraternité!” His draft of the 1789 Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was ratified by the National Assembly and became a foundational document for the French government. The principles of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen heavily inform the current French constitution preamble.
LaFafyette advocated for change yet opposed terror. In the Reign of Terror his opposition to the chaotic atrocity landed him in jail from 1792-1797. Upon his release, however, he continued advocating for rights and freedom, and at points joining forces, even through his 70s.
Where did Lafayette get his life-long revolutionary fervor?
One reason historians point to was LaFayette’s desire to continue (or to avenge) the fight his father, Michel du Motier, had against the British. His father fought as a French military officer in the Sevens Year’s War (1756–1763). This global conflict, with theaters in Europe, North America and Asia, was a clash for influence between the French and British.
In the strategic battle in 1759 in Minden (present day Germany) du Motier lost his life, leaving LaFayette fatherless. A bitter defeat to the British for the French came four years later. In their victory, the British gained naval dominance, expanded territory, and possession of valuable French colonies in the sugar-producing West Indies. For LaFayette’s family this was a second, terrible wound. It reasons that LaFayette wanted to both assert his family’s name and defeat the British in the next opportunity in American colonies.
In this, LaFayette points to a biblical theme of sons wanting to continue (or to avenge) the fights of their fathers. Jonathan, the son of Saul, joined in his father’s fight against the Philistines in which he showed remarkable bravery (1 Sam. 14). However, Jesus is the ultimate example of a son continuing his father’s fight. Jesus came to continue the fight against sin, death and the enemy. Of this work Jesus said: ‘“Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise’” (John 5:19).
On the cross, Jesus the Son finished the work that His Father called Him to do (John 19:30) as Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them” (Col. 2:15).
The fight continues for us, the adopted sons of God (Rom. 8:14; John 20:17), but it’s a “good fight . . . to keep the faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). As God’s sons and daughters, we fight in view of Christ’s first victory on the cross and looking forward to Christ’s final victory when He will return and declare: “It is done!” (Rev. 21:5).