CHARETTE DE LA CONTRIE, ATTIANASE de. — Papal and French officer, born at Nantes on 18 May 1832, of a baronial family related to the comte de Chambord; died at the château of La Basse Motte on 8 November 1911. Having completed his studies at the Military Academy of Turin, he entered the Este forces and then, in 1860, those of the Papal States.
Lieutenant colonel of the zouaves, in 1867 he commanded the third territorial zone (Tivoli and the Comarca), where for about a month he successfully conducted a harsh guerrilla war against the columns of Menotti Garibaldi, del Blenio, and others, and, after a hard-fought engagement, recaptured the important and precipitous position of Nerola (8 October). At Mentana (5 November), C.’s boldness and expertise were major factors in the outcome of the day. In August 1870 he was given command of the Viterbo zone, where he remained until the last useful moment, withdrawing with his men to Rome. He was thus able to take part in the final defense of the City on 20 September. Having gone to France, he fought valiantly against the Prussians and then against the Communards.
After retiring to private life, he remained ever devoted to the Holy See, and enjoyed the favor of Pius IX and Leo XIII, also on account of the assistance he continued to provide to the flourishing associations of former zouaves and Papal soldiers that arose in Italy, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and Canada. He is responsible for the interesting Souvenirs du régiment des zouaves pontificaux (Rome 1860-70, France 1870-71), Paris, n.d.