Why is a street in Bondy named after Claude-Carloman de Rulhière? He was more than just a name. Allée Rulhière is named after a man of letters. He was a poet and historian. Rulhière was born in Bondy in 1735. He died there in 1791. So the Allée Rulhière commemorates a local boy who made his mark on the world.
Rulhière’s life was filled with adventure and intrigue. He served as aide-de-camp to Marshal Richelieu. He traveled through Europe. At twenty-five he went to St Petersburg as secretary of legation. There he witnessed the coup d’état that put Catherine II on the Russian throne. This experience gave him material for his “Anecdotes sur la révolution de Russie en 1762”. Catherine tried to suppress this manuscript. But it was published after her death.
He became secretary to the comte de Provence in 1773. The comte de Provence later became Louis XVIII. Rulhière was admitted to the Académie Française in 1787. He spent his later years in Paris. He worked at the Foreign Office and socialized. He visited Germany and Poland in 1776.
Rulhière’s unfinished “Histoire de l’anarchie de Pologne” was published after his death. He wrote “Eclaircissements historiques sur les causes de la révocation de l’édit de Nantes” during his lifetime. This was in view of restoring civil rights to Protestants.
His account of the Russian coup d’état is considered a masterpiece. Thomas Carlyle criticized his “Histoire de l’anarchie de Pologne”. He felt it contained too few facts. Rulhière also wrote light verse, satires, and epigrams. He was part of a witty circle. This circle included Nicolas Chamfort and Antoine de Rivarol. He cared for Jean-Jacques Rousseau. But Rousseau eventually quarreled with him.
Rulhière’s works were edited in 1819. His “Russian Revolution” and “Poland” can be found in collections. Allée Rulhière is more than just a street name. It is a reminder of a man who witnessed history. He wrote about it with wit and insight. He lived a life of adventure and intellect. This is a fitting tribute to a local son.