PIMENIO, SANTO

### PIMENIO, Saint

His true name was Poemen (= Shepherd); he was born in Egypt around 340. From his youth he devoted himself to the ascetic life and at the age of fifteen entered the monastery of Mount Scete in Libya, where other brothers of his were already living.

One hundred and eighty-seven of his apophthegms, filled with wisdom and acumen, have been preserved; from these his perspicacity and spiritual maturity are evident. Twice, in 395 and 430, he had to leave the monastery, driven out by barbarian incursions. He died around 450, esteemed and venerated by all. He is commemorated in the Greek and Latin Martyrologies on 27 August.

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### PIMODAN, GEORGES-AUGUSTE-MARIE-ELIE DE RARÉCOURT DE LA VALLÉE, Marquis of

Pontifical general, born in Paris on 29 January 1822, of an ancient family from the Argonne; he pursued classical studies with the Jesuits in Fribourg, then entered the military school of St-Cyr and later that of cavalry in Wiener-Neustadt.

As a second lieutenant in the Windisch-Grätz Chevau-légers (August 1847), he fought in the Italian campaign under General Radetzky and in the Hungarian campaign (1848-49). Seriously wounded at Moor (30 December 1848), he was taken prisoner by the Hungarians at Polanka and sentenced to death for attempted escape from Petervaradin (20 May 1849), but his life was spared by chance. At thirty-three he became a colonel and married a Cournel de Montmorency; he then left the military career and, upon returning to France in 1855, devoted himself to military studies. In addition to the memoirs on the aforementioned campaigns (*Souvenirs du général Marquis de P.*, 1847-49, 2 vols., 1st ed., Paris 1861; 2nd ed., Paris 1861), he wrote a valuable *Traité sur la cavalerie* and meticulous historical-tactical observations gathered during detailed visits to the Napoleonic battlefields in Russia and Germany (1856), which were used by Thiers for his *Histoire du Consulat et de l’Empereur de Napoléon*. Driven by a profound religious sentiment, he responded to the appeal of Pius IX among the Catholic volunteers (1 April 1860) to defend the rights of the Holy See and assumed the position of chief of staff of the new Papal army. On 19 May following, he routed the Garibaldians led by Zambianchi near Grotte di Castro. Joining the column of General de Lamoricière, and having received on 18 September the order to clear the way to Ancona for the small papal forces against the overwhelming royal troops stationed beyond the Musone near Castelfidardo, he threw himself into the fray at the head of the assault at La Crocette. Wounded in the face and right arm, he took up his sword in his left hand and, continuing to lead from the front on horseback, exhorted a handful of brave men: “Forward, my sons, God is with us!” He finally fell, mortally wounded, not without murmuring to de Lamoricière—thanks to whose sacrifice and that of his men the march toward Ancona was now secured—“General, they fight like heroes; the honor of the Church is safe!” He died on the field during the night of 18-19 September; his body and sword were, by express and chivalrous order of Victor Emmanuel II, returned to Rome. He was buried in San Luigi dei Francesi.

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