Château La Mission Haut-Brion: Martial-Victor Vaillant

Those with even a passing knowledge of French history will be anticipating the next chapter in the story of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. As is the case with other ecclesiastical institutions and establishments, it all came to an end with the Revolution in the latter years of the 18th century. In 1792 the property was confiscated by the newly formed French republic and sold off, the buyer being Martial-Victor Vaillant who acquired it all, including 15 hectares of vines, for the sum of 302,000 livres.

Martial-Victor Vaillant was a magistrate, for the new republic surely, which perhaps put him in a strong position when it came to acquiring the estate. He was also something of an entrepreneur, being the owner of L’Éclairage de Bordeaux, which presumably provided lighting services for the city. He married Thérèse Adélaïde Fauchard de Grandmesnil and they had a daughter, Adélaïde Vaillant (1779 – 1843). She married Charles Flury (1765 – 1842), Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, Chevalier de l’Empire and Consul Général de France. He was an international diplomat and after their marriage they resided in Paris, showing little interest in their property at Château La Mission Haut-Brion. They sold the estate in 1821.

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