WFCC

Classical Fact

There is far more to the personal history of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, than his prominence as an 18th century virtuoso violinist and composer. Joseph de Bologne was born the illegitimate son of an aristocratic plantation owner in the French West Indies colony of Guadeloupe. His mother was a slave of African decent. Joseph's African heritage made him ineligible to inherit any of the privilege of nobility. However, young Joseph was sent to an elite French boarding school for the sons of the aristocracy where he studied mathematics, foreign languages, music and most significantly, fencing. His reputation as a gifted swordsman spread across Europe. Gian Faldoni, a famous Italian fencer, came to Paris to challenge Saint-Georges. Faldoni won the non-lethal duel, but in the end declared Saint-Georges "The finest swordsman in all of Europe".