From Napoleon to Ranjit Singh : The stories of Foreign Warriors in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's camp.

Paolo Avitabile: part 1

After the demise of Napoleon rule after his defeat in Waterloo war many of his soldiers and generals travelled all over the world in search of employment .

Pic: Napoleon -the great french ruler

Many French impoverished came to the Maharaj of Lahore Ranjeet Singh to seek employment . The Maharaja placed near about hundred such foreigners at various post in his administration by recognising their skills and talents. Like French there were Italian, Spanish, American and few British.Few of them were employed in army as generals, few as administrator in army,
Few as technicians and few as governors. This all foreigners remained loyal to Ranjit Singh and served him till his death.

Pic: Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Napoleon of East

One of this Foreigners was Paolo Avitabile. His full name was Paolo Cresenzo Martino Avitabile and he was Italian by roots. He was famously called as 'Abu Tabela' in the punjab province and he reached till the post Governor in the Maharaja's administration. Born in 1791 in Italy at Hazrola in a poor farmers house. After completing his formal education he joined the Imperial Army of Napoleon.

Pic: Paolo Avitabile

After completing two years in the French army he heard that in America there are more opportunities for business and employment. So Paolo resigned from the French army and boarded on a ship to america. But near the French coast the ship hit a rock and broke. Paolo saved his life and stayed for a week at a near by village along the coast. During his stay he met Fateh Alishah , a c relative of the Shah of Iran. During this period the Shah of Iran to was upgrading his army on the European lines. Seeing this opportunity Paolo got employed under the Shah by reference of Fateh Alishah.
Paolo served for nearly six years for the Shah. Shah was so impressed by the work of Paolo that he promoted him to post of colonel and awarded him with 'Lion and the Son'. In same period Cloud Courte, a french was also serving shah. When they both heard of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who was known as Napoleon of East, they resigned from the Shah and left for Lahore.......
( to be continued in part 2.....)
Thanks for reading.
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