CAVALIER, kit 'valytt', JEAN ( e.1680-1740 ) . The famous chief of the Camisards (q.v.). Ile was a native of Lower Languedoc, the son of a peasant, and was first a shepherd, and afterwards a baker. Ile was driven from home by the pitiless persecution of Protestants that followed upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and took refuge in Geneva. When the persecution under Louis :XIV. drove the Protestants of the Cisvennes to revolt, Cavalier returned in 1702 to his ONVII coun try, where lie became one of the leaders of the in surrection, ‘•bieli broke out in July of that year. Roland was put in chief command, but Cavalier soon rose to be his equal, and, though untrained in arms, Ile displayed extraordinary skill as well as courage. Although the 'Children of God,' as the insurgents were called. numbered at the most not more than 3000 men, they eoped successfully with the far greater forces of the King. and were never entirely compered. After several conflicts, Cava lier changed the seat of war to Vivarais, and on February 10, 1703, defeated the royal troops at Anreelle. few days later he was himself defeated, but was successful in subse quent en•(amters, invaded the region of the plains, and even threatened Nimes. In April,
1704, he was defeated by :Marshal Montrevel, but retreated with two-thirds Marshal Villars was sent against the Cami,:ard.:, Roland remained obdurate, but Cavalier agreed to treat, and received it •ollmcl's commission and a pension, while his father and other Protestant prisoners were liberated. As this treaty did not secure general liberty of conscience, Cavalier was denounced as a traitor, and was so disheart ened by his treatment everywhere that he left France for Switzerland, and from there passed to Holland, where he married. He then entered the service of England, became the head of a regiment of French refugees, and served with the English forces in Spain in 1705. After his return to England lie was made a major-general and Governor of Jersey, and finally Governor of the Isle of Wight. lle died at Chelsea in 1740. Cavalier published in 1726 his Memoirs of the Wars of the Ct'vcnncs.