DEROULEDE, PAUL (1846-1914), French author and politician, was born in Paris. His first published verses appeared in the Revue rationale, under the pseudonym of Jean Rebel, and in 1869 he produced at the Theatre Francais a one-act drama in verse entitled Juan Strenner. On the outbreak of the Franco Prussian War he enlisted as a private, was wounded and taken prisoner at Sedan, and sent to Breslau, but effected his escape. He then served under Chanzy and Bourbaki, took part in the Tat ter's disastrous retreat to Switzerland, and fought against the Commune in Paris. After attaining the rank of lieutenant, he was forced by an accident to retire from the army. He published in 1872 a number of patriotic poems (Chants du soldat), which enjoyed unbounded popularity. This was followed in 1875 by another collection, Nouveaux Chants du soldat. In 1877 he pro duced a drama in verse called L'Hetman, which derived a passing success from the patriotic fervour of its sentiments. For the exhibition of 1878 he wrote a hymn, Vive la France, which was set to music by Gounod. In 188o his drama in verse, La Moabite, which had been accepted by the Theatre Francais, was forbidden by the censor on religious grounds.
In 1882 M. Deroulede founded the Ligue des patriotes, with the object of furthering France's "revanche" against Germany. He was one of the first advocates of a Franco-Russian alliance, and as early as 1883 undertook a journey to Russia for the fur therance of that object. On the rise of General Boulanger, M. Deroulede attempted to use the Ligue des patriotes, hitherto a non-political organization, to assist his cause, but was deserted by a great part of the league and forced to resign his presidency. Nevertheless he used the section that remained faithful to him with such effect that the Government found it necessary in 1889 to decree its suppression. In the same year he was elected to the chamber as member for Angouleme. He was expelled from the chamber in 1890 for his disorderly interruptions during debate. He did not stand at the elections of 1893, but was re-elected in 1898. After the funeral of President Faure, on Feb. 23, 1899, he endeavoured to persuade Gen. Roget to lead his troops upon the Elysee. For this he was arrested, but on being tried for treason was acquitted (May 31) . On Aug. 12 he was again arrested and accused, together with Andre Buffet, Jules Guerin and others, of conspiracy against the republic. After a long trial before the high court, he was sentenced, on Jan. 4, 1900, to ten years' banishment from France, and retired to San Sebastian. In Nov. 1905, however, the law of amnesty enabled him to return to France. He died near Nice on Jan. 3o, 1914.
Besides the works already mentioned, he published Le Sergent, in the Theatre de campagne (188o) ; De l'education rationale (1882); Monsieur le Ulilan et les trois couleurs (1884) ; Le Pre mier grenadier de France; La Tour d'Auvergne (1886) ; Le Livre de la ligue des patriotes (1887) ; Refrains militaires (1888) ; His toire d'amour (189o) ; a pamphlet entitled Desarmement? (1891) ; Chants du paysan (1894) ; Poesies Militaires (1896) and Messire du Guesclin, drame en vers (1895) ; La mort de Hoche. Cinq actes en prose (1897) ; La Plus belle fille du monde, Conte dialogue en vers libres (1898) ; 1870, Feuilles de route (19o5), a volume of reminiscences.