Monsieur Raymond - The French General of Hyderabad
Early Life and Arrival in India Michel Joachim Marie Raymond was born on 25 September 1755 in Sérignac, Gascony, France, to a merchant family. In 1775, at the age of 20, he and his younger brother, William Jean Raymond, set sail for Pondicherry, India, with aspirations of establishing a merchant enterprise. However, the allure of military service soon captivated him, leading to a distinguished career as a soldier. Monsieur Raymond's French Tomb at Malakpet Military Career in India Following the British capture of Pondicherry in 1778, Raymond joined the army of Hyder Ali in Mysore, enlisting in the Corps of Chevalier de Lasse as a sub-lieutenant. His tenure here provided him with invaluable military experience. After Hyder Ali's death, Raymond served under French General Bussy as his aide-de-camp, holding the rank of captain. This period further honed his military acumen and deepened his understanding of the complex political landscape of the Deccan. In 1786, Raymond...