Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau

Charles Joseph Patissier de Bussy-Castelnau.

Charles Joseph Patissier, Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau (1718–1785) was the Governor General of the French colony of Pondicherry from 1783 to 1785. He servied with distinction under Joseph François Dupleix in the East Indies, receiving the Order of Saint Louis. He contributed to the recovery from British of Pondicherry in 1748, and was named in 1782 to lead all French military forces beyond the Cape of Good Hope. He coordinated his operations with Pierre André de Suffren and fought with distinction against the numerically superior British during the Indian campaigns of the American War of Independence.

The Yanam region was presented to the Marquis de Bussy, the French General by Vizianagaram King Pusapati Peda Vijaya Rama Raju (1670–1756) as a token of gratitude for the help rendered by him in the fight against the rulers of Bobbili. Actually, it was in 1750 when French leader de Bussy was staying with entire battalion near Hyderabad. Many soldiers have died due to some disease (Masuchi). He was running with financial crisis. Vijayaramaraju of Vizianagaram helped him to overcome financial crisis and rebuild his battalion.

In 1753, a Paravana of Asif ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, Subedar of Deccan conceded to Marquis de Bussy the paraganas of Chicacole, Ellore, Rajahmundry etc. with an annual revenue RS.2, 00,000 for the maintenance of the French troops in the Subah in recognition of the help of these Circars amounted up to 10 lakhs of Rupees per year. de Bussy helped Salabat Jang to be the Subedar of Deccan. The agreement made between the French and Salabat Jang in Aurangabad bears the signature of Said Loukshur, Minister of Salabat Jang. Actually, He was one of the key sub-ordinates of Dupleix who helped him in expanding French activities in Northern Circars and along the Coromandel Coast. Men in his command also included the famous Hyder Ali of Mysore.

In 1756 Marquis de Bussy visited Rajahmundry. It is heard that Vijayaramaraju has given a warm welcome to Bussy by going in front at Rajahmundry. There are some differences between Vizianagaram Maharaja and Bobbili ruller. Because of those differences and some reasons Bobbili battle started on 23 January 1757. The war was fought between the Rajah of Vizianagaram, Vijayaramaraju aided by the Bussy, the then French General and the Rajah of Bobbili. During the battle entire Bobbili fort got destroyed and many Bobbili soldiers died in the battle. Even now we can see a street named after Bussy in Yanam. It is believed that Bussy had stayed in a certain building in the street. He was notorious for looting people and the telugu word Boochi used to scare children is a variant of his last name

Marriage

He was married to the youngest stepdaughter of Dupleix, Marie in March 1754. He begot a daughter from her who died at Paris in 1759.

Death

De Bussy died in Pondicherry in 1785.

Titles

Government offices
Preceded by ?	Commandant général des forces de terre et de mer dans l'Inde 13 November 1781–31 March 1783	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Guillaume Léonard de Bellecombe, Seigneur de Teirac	Gouverneur Général de l'Inde française 1783–1785	Succeeded by François, Vicomte de Souillac

See also

• Carnatic Wars
• Madame Dupleix
• Inde française
• Hyder Ali
• Muzaffar Jung

References

• d'Hozier, Jean François Louis. L'impot du sang: ou, La noblesse de France sur les champs de bataille, Volume 3
• Malleson, George. History of the French in India: from the founding of Pondichery in 1674 to the capture of that place in 1761