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Henri TurenneFrench commander, Marshal of France.
Date of Birth: 11.09.1611
Country:  France |
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Biography of Henri Turenne
Early Life and Military CareerHenri Turenne, also known as Turenne, was a renowned French military commander and Marshal of France. He was born in the castle of Sedan, Ardennes, and was the youngest son of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon. Through his mother, he was also the grandson of William the Silent, Prince of Orange. From a young age, Turenne showed a keen interest in military affairs. At the age of 15, his mother sent him to the Netherlands to study the art of war under the guidance of his uncle, Maurice of Orange. Turenne started his service as a common soldier during the Thirty Years' War, but his exceptional abilities and bravery quickly led to his promotion. By 1634, he was commanding a regiment, and the following year, he became a brigadier general. In 1640, he seized Turin from the Spanish forces.
Rise to Prominence
In 1643, at the age of only 33, Turenne was granted the baton of Marshal of France by Cardinal Mazarin. Mazarin hoped to bind the brilliant military leader to the young king by this appointment. However, due to certain suspicions Mazarin had towards Turenne, he sent him to Germany to reorganize the army, while placing Prince de Condé at the head of the new troops. In 1645, Turenne skillfully commanded the Upper Rhine army, and in 1646, he joined forces with the Swedish army led by Wrangel in Hesse, resulting in their joint successes and the Bavarian elector's peace treaty with France. Turenne continued his military operations in the Netherlands in 1647, and in 1648, alongside Wrangel, he campaigned in Bavaria. After a series of victories in 1648, Turenne entered Munich, leading to the signing of the Peace of Westphalia. From 1649 to 1651, during the Fronde rebellion, Turenne, influenced by his brother, the Duke of Bouillon, and especially by the Duchess of Longueville, whom he had long been in love with, fought against Mazarin. He commanded the Fronde forces, reinforced with Spanish troops. In May 1651, Turenne reconciled with the royal court, and he was granted amnesty. In the following year, he was tasked with actions against Prince de Condé. Leading the royal troops, Turenne achieved victories in Jargeau and around Gien, forcing Condé to retreat from Paris. Turenne continued to win battles, while Condé suffered defeat after defeat, most notably the painful defeat in the suburb of Saint-Antoine. The Queen Mother wrote to Turenne: "For the second time, you have saved the crown for my son." Although Turenne never entered the Council, Louis XIV always sought his advice on important matters and gave him carte blanche in leading military campaigns and battles.
Military Achievements and Personal Life
Turenne concluded the war against Condé and the Spanish forces. In 1653, he captured Rethel and Mouzon, and in 1654, he lifted the siege of Arras, while in 1658, he achieved a brilliant victory in the Battle of Dunkirk. These victories compelled the Spanish to sign the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. In recognition of these successes, Turenne was appointed Chief Marshal of France, the highest military rank in the country, in 1660. Until 1666, he remained in the service of Louis XIV and accompanied him on the campaign to Flanders in 1667. During the first Dutch War, Turenne operated on the Rhine and defended Alsace, demonstrating great skill in maneuvering and achieving several successes against imperial forces. On July 27, 1675, while scouting the enemy position near Sasbach, Turenne was killed instantly by a cannonball. In 1651, Turenne married Charlotte de Coligny (1623-1666), a Protestant and the daughter of Armand-Nompar de Caumont, Duke of La Force. The marriage remained childless. Two years after his wife's death, Turenne converted to Catholicism. He never remarried and left no descendants. Turenne, one of the greatest military commanders of his time, was known for his extraordinary modesty and simplicity in both attire and demeanor. He carefully weighed all circumstances that could be relevant in any given military situation. Turenne made significant contributions to the art of war, particularly in the fields of tactics and strategy. King Louis XIV honored Turenne with the highest posthumous honor by ordering his remains to be buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the royal necropolis of French kings. In 1793, during the French Revolution, his tomb was desecrated, but his remains were later transferred to the Museum of Monuments. In 1800, under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, Turenne was reburied in the Hôtel des Invalides. During the Battle of Austerlitz, Napoleon I was inspired by Turenne’s tactics and fought with the same spirit of surprise.
