An officer under the Ancien Régime, a general of the Republic, ambassador to Spain, Marshal of the Empire in 1804, governor of Naples and then of Catalonia: he served five regimes. His inscription is made of places, five battles within laurel wreaths, and of three letters: S.T.T.L.
The story
An officer under the old monarchy, then a general of the Republic, Catherine-Dominique de Pérignon served five regimes in one career. Ambassador to Spain in 1795, where he signed the Treaty of San Ildefonso; Marshal of the Empire in 1804; governor of Parma and Piacenza from 1806 to 1808, then of Naples until 1813; and finally a peer of France under the Restoration.
He died on 25 December 1818. His monument in Division 24, the work of the architect Godde and the sculptor Plantar, carries an inscription made almost entirely of places: five names of battles — Montesquiou, Escola, Figueiras, Roses, Pastourana — cut at the centre of laurel wreaths.
Three letters complete the epitaph: S.T.T.L., for sit tibi terra levis — may the earth lie light upon you. Neither the embassy, nor the governments, nor the marshal's baton: the places of victory stand in for a life.
The grave
A monument by the architect Godde (1781-1869) and the sculptor Plantar (1790-1879), whose inscription is made almost entirely of place names: “PERIGNON, M. le 25 décembre 1818. S.T.T.L.” — Pérignon, died 25 December 1818 — then, at the centre of laurel wreaths, five battles: “Montesquiou, Escola, Figueiras, Roses, Pastourana.” The three Latin letters abbreviate sit tibi terra levis — may the earth lie light upon you. Nothing of the marshal's baton, of the embassy in Spain, or of the governments of Naples and Catalonia.
On site, do not miss
Five names of battles within laurel wreaths — Montesquiou, Escola, Figueiras, Roses, Pastourana — and three Latin letters: S.T.T.L., “may the earth lie light upon you”.
Visitors' questions
Where is Marshal Pérignon's grave?
In Division 24, chemin Laplace, first row. The monument is signed by the architect Godde and the sculptor Plantar, and its stone carves five battle names inside laurel wreaths, with the letters S.T.T.L.
Honoré DaumierWhat does S.T.T.L. mean on his grave?
Sit tibi terra levis — “may the earth lie light upon you”, an ancient Latin funerary formula. It is carved beside five battle names: Montesquiou, Escola, Figueiras, Roses, Pastourana — his campaigns in the Pyrenees.
Marshal VictorWhat was his real first name?
Dominique. His full name was Catherine Dominique de Pérignon, and usage and his stone both keep Dominique — the first name, one given only to women today, long caused confusion in the reference books.
Marshal MassénaWhat offices did he hold?
An officer under the Ancien Régime, a general of the Republic, ambassador to Spain in 1795, Marshal of the Empire in 1804, governor of Naples and then of Catalonia, and finally peer of France under the Restoration: five regimes served in one career.
Laurent Gouvion-Saint-CyrAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99