Michel Jean Maximilien VILLERS (Saint Martin du... Lot n° 20

Oval miniature portrait, unsigned, of Anne Suzanne TASSIN de VILLEPION (1761-1801). In a crimson velvet frame, inscribed "Suzanne de Barante/née Tassin de Vilpion", inlaid with braided hair under glass, gilded bronze straps. Height: 4,4 cm - Width: 3,5 cm Frame: Height: 16,5 cm - Width: 12,5 cm Daughter of Prosper Guillaume TASSIN de VILLEPION (1733-1803) and Anne Suzanne Le CLERC de DOUŸ (1743-1825), she was born on March 21, 1761 in Orleans (Loiret) and died on July 29, 1801 in Carcassonne (Aude). On March 11, 1780, she married Claude Ignace BRUGIÈRE, first baron de BARANTE (February 14, 1810), born on December 10, 1755 in Riom (Puy-de-Dôme) and died on May 20, 1814 in the castle of Barante, Dorat (Puy-de-Dôme). Coming from a noble Jansenist family, the baron de BARANTE was destined for a judicial career. The Revolution upset his plans. If he welcomed the ideas of 1789, he quickly blamed their excesses. His former rank made him suspicious. Imprisoned for five months, he was released the day after the victory of Fleurus and withdrew from public life, waiting, according to his writings, for the arrival of a wise legislator. Indeed, the revolutionary troubles calmed down, he acceded, thanks to the support of the third consul LEBRUN, to a public office for which he was hardly prepared: he became the first prefect of Aude with the recommendation to restore order, while respecting the traditions of the country. As soon as he arrived in Carcassonne, he undertook, on the one hand, to reconstitute the departmental administration, which had been severely weakened by successive resignations and dismissals, and on the other hand, to make an inventory of the wealth and potential of the cantons that had experienced various territorial delimitations. He then undertook a work that his successor carried out. We owe him two works on the department, Observations sur le département de l'Aude and an Essay on the department. His departure followed a confrontation with the elected officials concerning the installation of the concordat bishop. Public opinion in Carcassonne, which seems to have been favorable to the constitutional clergy, obtained his removal. Promoted in Geneva, BARANTE will fall little by little in disgrace, the power reproaching him his friendly relations with NECKER and Madame de STAËL (Les Audois, dictionnaire biographique sous la direction de Rémy CAZALS et Daniel FABRE & Archives de l'Aude). They had nine children, whose descendants are still in the families LEFÈVRE d'ORMESSON (Jean, Olivier...), de NERVO, Lemaignen, de BRUCE, CHODRON de COURCEL, etc.