Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

About Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), was a pivotal French aristocrat and military officer whose commitment to republican ideals defined his career. Ranked #838 in historical importance by MIT's Pantheon project, his most significant contribution was his service as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was a trusted aide to George Washington and played a crucial role in securing French support for the American cause, directly impacting the success of the military effort.

Lafayette's high historical ranking contrasts sharply with his modern digital footprint. He garnered 1.1 million annualized Wikipedia views in 2025, yet this level of attention indicates a significant +3x overattention relative to historical importance based on the Pantheon scale. To contextualize this, figures like Elizabeth (#534 importance) and Eugène Delacroix (#546 importance) both rank significantly higher in historical influence but received dramatically lower traffic, with only 40K and 240K views, respectively. Despite his foundational role in the American Revolution for kids and French politics, Lafayette's online visibility suggests an unusual degree of modern cultural currency compared to his historical peers.

Interest in Lafayette appears to be gently receding, as his 2025 Wikipedia views show a year-over-year decline of -12.7%, with a slight negative momentum of -8% when comparing Q1 to Q3 traffic.