Marquis de La Fayette

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de La Fayette, known to Americans as Lafayette is a national hero to both France and America.

A French nobleman born to rank and privilege in the decadent era before the French Revolution, he heard the political theories in France that would later form the basis for that revolution and adopted them. He traveled against orders to the Americas, obtained a commission as a Major General from the Continental Congress, and was George Washington's chief aide for most of the war.

Got a Big Damn Heroes when he disappeared for a bit to only show up again with the French Fleet, blockading the British Fleet and their troops causing them to surrender and win the American War for Independence. Very well liked, he helped in the Treaty of Paris that ended the war and proceeded to find two new causes, Abolitionism and reform in France. He led parts of the early French Revolution to try and reform the system, but lost when the Jacobians became too powerful to ignore. Spent parts of the period imprisoned, then in political exile. He refused offers to govern Louisiana in order to attempt to reform France.

Eventually his efforts led to him being Offered the Crown, but he declined.

Very well liked by Americans, where nearly every state has a town of Lafayette. When Colonel Charles E. Stanton reached La Fayette's tomb he was moved to say "La Fayette We are here"


 * Badass: To the point he was forever lionized by Americans for his aid in their time of need.
 * Badass Grandpa: Even in old age he calling out anyone who trampled on the ideals of liberty in France, even though this put his own life at risk countless times, once nearly being torn apart by an angry mob.
 * Royals Who Actually Do Something: He had a noble title, and while he could have limited his support to the colonies to passive aid like sending money, he decided it was even better to put himself on the line as well.
 * Cincinnatus: He took a lot notes from George Washington on this one, outright refusing a chance to be a king when he could have gotten it without a hitch in 1830, citing he stood for democracy and would not betray those principles for power.
 * Americans Love La Fayette: He wasn't half as beloved in his homeland as he was in America, mostly because the French path to democracy didn't go nearly as well, so he wound up becoming hated because he was perceived as being disloyal, simply because he felt he wasn't serving truly democratic governments and leaders. America, on the other hand, named a ton of towns after him, Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams put aside any political differences to mourn his passing, and his descendants were all given automatic American citizenship in gratitude for his service to the nation he helped bring into being.
 * He later was somewhat rehabilitated in the eyes of his country, but he's still far more beloved by Americans.
 * The Lancer: To Washington.
 * Like a Son to Me: George Washington felt this way about him. He then took this trope full circle when he named his own son after George.
 * Offered the Crown: Turned down cold. He wanted to establish a true democracy in his homeland, not switch out one despotic king for another.
 * Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right: He refused to concede his wish for a truly democratic France, even though it cost him his honor, titles, land, and left him destitute.