How to Pronounce Louis Eugène Cavaignac

Meaning and Context

Louis Eugène Cavaignac (1802-1857) was a prominent French general and statesman whose legacy is inextricably linked to the turbulent period of the 1848 Revolution and the establishment of the French Second Republic. Appointed by the Provisional Government as Minister of War in May 1848, Cavaignac is most historically significant for his ruthless suppression of the June Days uprising, a bloody class-based insurrection by Parisian workers protesting the closure of the National Workshops. His decisive, if brutal, military action in June 1848 earned him the moniker "the man of order" and led to his appointment as Chief of the Executive Power, effectively making him head of state from June to December of that year. As a candidate in the first presidential election of the Second Republic, he was resoundingly defeated by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, a defeat that marked the end of his political ascendancy and paved the way for the rise of the Second Empire. His career remains a critical case study in the conflict between republican ideals and authoritarian stability in 19th-century French political history.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Louis Eugène Cavaignac" presents several common points of orthographic confusion. The most frequent error involves the surname, which is often misspelled by transposing letters or altering vowels, resulting in variants like "Cavaigniac," "Cavaignac," or "Cavaignec." The hyphen between "Louis" and "Eugène" is sometimes omitted or incorrectly replaced with a space, leading to the erroneous "Louis Eugene Cavaignac." Furthermore, the acute accent on the first 'e' in "Eugène" is frequently dropped in non-French contexts, a typographical error that changes the pronunciation. Researchers should also be aware that he is sometimes referenced by his military title as "General Cavaignac," which can lead to confusion with his father, Jean-Baptiste Cavaignac, who was also a notable political figure, or his brother Godefroy Cavaignac.

Example Sentences

Following the February Revolution of 1848, the Provisional Government turned to General Louis Eugène Cavaignac to restore control amidst growing social unrest.

His harsh but effective suppression of the June Days uprising cemented his reputation as a defender of the republican order against radical socialism.

Despite his temporary executive authority, Cavaignac's rigid republicanism failed to capture the popular imagination, leading to his decisive loss to Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in the December 1848 presidential election.

Historians often debate whether Cavaignac's actions during the June Days ultimately weakened the very republic he sought to preserve by alienating the working class.

Today, his name is invoked in discussions of the often-contradictory demands of liberty and authority during revolutionary periods.

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