Xavier de Maistre

January 10, 1763 (age 89)

Chambery, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

He served when young in the Piedmontese army, and wrote his delightful fantasy, Voyage autour de ma chambre (published 1794), when he was under arrest at Turin in consequence of a duel. Xavier shared the politics and the loyalty of his brother, and on the annexation of Savoy to France, he left the service, and took a commission in the Russian army. He served under Suvarov in his victorious Austro-Russian campaign and accompanied the marshal to Russia. He shared the disgrace of his general, and supported himself for some time in St Petersburg by miniature painting. But on his brother's arrival in St Petersburg he was introduced to the minister of marine. He was appointed to several posts in the capital, but also saw active service, was wounded in the Caucasus, and attained the rank of major-general. Besides the Voyage already mentioned, Xavier de Maistre's works (all of which are of very modest dimensions) are Le Lepreux de la cite d'Aoste (1811), a touching little story of human misfortune; Les Prisonniers du Caucase, a powerful sketch of Russian character, La Jeune Siberienne, and the Expedition nocturne, a sequel to the Voyage autour de ma chambre (1825). For a time he lived at Naples, but he returned to St. Petersburg and died there on June 12, 1852.

Xavier de Maistre

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military writer

Background

Xavier de Maistre was born on October 10, 1763, at Chambery, to an aristocratic family.

Education

Lessons with the boy was led by a local priest, who, among other things, taught him drawing. Later, Xavier studied at the school of the artist Louis Gringe.

Career

He served when young in the Piedmontese army, and wrote his delightful fantasy, Voyage autour de ma chambre (published 1794), when he was under arrest at Turin in consequence of a duel. Xavier shared the politics and the loyalty of his brother, and on the annexation of Savoy to France, he left the service, and took a commission in the Russian army. He served under Suvarov in his victorious Austro-Russian campaign and accompanied the marshal to Russia. He shared the disgrace of his general, and supported himself for some time in St Petersburg by miniature painting. But on his brother's arrival in St Petersburg he was introduced to the minister of marine. He was appointed to several posts in the capital, but also saw active service, was wounded in the Caucasus, and attained the rank of major-general.

Besides the Voyage already mentioned, Xavier de Maistre's works (all of which are of very modest dimensions) are Le Lepreux de la cite d'Aoste (1811), a touching little story of human misfortune; Les Prisonniers du Caucase, a powerful sketch of Russian character, La Jeune Siberienne, and the Expedition nocturne, a sequel to the Voyage autour de ma chambre (1825).

For a time he lived at Naples, but he returned to St. Petersburg and died there on June 12, 1852.

Achievements

Xavier de Maistre was a well-noted military as well as romance writer.

Views

Quotations: "Imagination, realm of enchantment!- which the most beneficent of beings bestowed upon man to console him for reality- I must quit you now. "

Connections

On January 19, 1813, Xavier de Maistre married Sophie Ivanova Zagryazhskaya, they had four children.

Father:: François-Xavier de Maistre
Mother:: Christine de Maistre (Desmotz)
Sister:: Jeanne-Baptiste de Buttet (de Maistre)
Sister:: Marie-Josephte de Maistre
Sister:: Anne de Saint Réal (de Maistre)
Sister:: Marie-Christine de Vignet (de Maistre)
Sister:: Marie-Thérèse de Moussy (de Maistre)
Sister:: Jeanne Baptiste Françoise de Maistre
Sister:: Marie-Marthe de Maistre
Wife:: Sophie Ivanova de Maistre (Zagryazhskaya)
Daughter:: Alexandrine de Maistre
Daughter:: Catherine de Maistre
Son:: Arthur de Maistre
Son:: André de Maistre
Brother:: Marie-Jacqueline de Maistre
Brother:: Joseph-Marie de Maistre
Brother:: Victor de Maistre
Brother:: Nicolas de Maistre
Brother:: Eugène Claude de Maistre
Brother:: André de Maistre

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