CAVALIER', JEAN, 1680-1740; a native of lower Languedoc, in southern France; the famous chief of the Camisards (who in some particulars seem to have been the pre cursors of the English and American shakers). He was a peasant's son, and was employed in sheep-keeping, afterwards as apprentice to a baker, and within that period trained by a pious Protestant mother. He was driven from his native place by the piti less persecution of Protestants that followed upon the revocation of the edict of Nantes, and took refuge in Geneva. The murderous dragonnades of Louis XIV. drove the Prot estants of the Cevennes at last to revolt, and C., inspired with the hope of being their deliverer, returned in 1702 to his own country, where he became one of the chosen lead ers of the insurrection, which broke out in July of that year. It was Roland who was put in chief command, but C. soon rose to be his equal, and, though untrained in arms, he displayed not only fiery courage, but extraordinary military skill. Although these " children of God," as the insurgents were called, numbered at the most not more than 3,000 men-at-arms, they coped successfully again and again with the far greater forces of the king, and were never entirely conquered. After several conflicts, C. changed the seat of the war to the Vivarais; 10, 1703, defeated the royal troops at Ardeche; but only a few days later he was completely defeated on the same ground, and was sup posed to have fallen. He reappeared, however; was again defeated at Tour-de-Bellot: and again recovered himself, recruits gladly flocking to his standard to take the places of the slain. By a long series of successes he raised his reputation to the highest pitch, and gained the full confidence of the people. The harshest measures were tried in vain against the Camisards; their mountain retreat was invaded by the Roman Catholics, and their houses sacked and burned; but C. retaliated in kind, invaded the region of the plains, and even threatened the city of Nismes. April 16, 1704, lie encountered marshal Mon trevel at the bridge of Nages with 1000 men against 5,000. and, although defeated, man
aged to retreat with two thirds of his forces. Marshal Villiers was next sent against him, but proposed to negotiate instead of fighting. Roland refused to listen, but C. agreed to treat, and (lid so, the result being that C. received for himself a commission and a pension of 1200 livres, and for his brother a captain's commission. C. was authorized to raise a regiment of Camisards to be sent to Spain; and liberty was given to his father and other Protestant prisoners. This treaty, which did not include any provision for general liberty of conscience, excited great indignation among the con panions of C., who called him coward and traitor, and deserted him. lie was greatly disheartened at this treatment, and soon afterward visited the king iu Paris, by whom be was coldly received. These disappointments and rebuffs, together with stories cur rent of probable attempts upon his life, impelled him to leave France. Ile went to Switzerland, and then to Holland, where lie married a daughter of Mme. Dionoyer, a lady of Nismes, who had once been sought in marriage by Voltaire. C. then went to Eng• land to recruit his regiment of Camisards, and had an interview with queen Anne, who sent hini with his regiment to Spain tinder the earl of Peterborough and sir Cloudsley Shovel, in May, 1705. At the battle of Almanza his Camisards encountered a French regiment which they had met in the Cevennes, and, without firing, both bodies rushed upon each other in a fierce hand to hand fight, and made a fearful slaughter, C. being severely wounded, but saved from death by an English officer. Long after his return to England he was made a =Igen., and governor of Jersey; and finally governor of the Isle of Wight. He died at Chelsea, where he was buried.
a t. of n. Italy, in the province of Ounce, 24 m. n.e. of Coni. It was formerly fortified and defended by two castles, but of these there is now hardly a vestige remaining. It is a.bilsy place, with a pop. of 5,300.