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(Sedan, 1611 - Salzbach, Baden, 1675.) Marshal of France. Youngest son of the previous and of Elisabeth of Nassau, he was brought up in Protestantism.
He started his career in his fifteenth year under the guidance of his uncles Maurice and Henri de Nassau. It was in 1630 that Louis XIII called him into his service and sent him to help Casal at the head of a regiment.
In the years that followed, Turenne served in the Rhineland and distinguished himself in many encounters under the Cardinal de La Valette. Field marshal in 1635, he was wounded in front of Saverne the following year and contributed in 1638 to the victory of Brisach won by Saxe-Weimar over the Imperials. In 1640, we find him in Piedmont where he seizes Turin and Moncalvo. These successes earned him the title of lieutenant general in 1642.
The intrigues of his brother Bouillon did not prevent his advancement. After the capture of Trino in 1643, Turenne received the baton of marshal, at the age of only 32. In 1644, invested with the command of the army of Germany, he defeated the Bavarians at Donaueschingen, then at Friborg with the Duke of Enghien. But he was surprised and beaten at Marienthal by Mercy the following year. He takes his revenge soon after with the Duke of Enghien in Nordlingen. In 1647, the help of the Swedes allowed him to invade Bavaria and force the elector to an armistice. Commitments not having been respected on the Bavarian side, the French resumed hostilities. Turenne's victory over the Imperials at Sommershausen opens the way to Munich.
When the Fronde broke out, Turenne was initially hesitant as to what action to take towards the Court. His brother Bouillon, perhaps helped by a gratuity of 500,000 pounds according to Dubuisson-Aubenay, managed to pit him against Mazarin, but his troops, poached by the cardinal for 800,000 pounds, did not follow him. He had to retire hastily to Holland in March 1649. Returning to Paris after the Peace of Rueil which amnesty him by name, he supported the quarrel of the princes when he learned of their arrest. Condé freed, he follows him to Stenay where he is soon joined by Madame de Longueville* who turns his head. The influence of this dangerous person added to the family spirit to determine him to deal with the Spaniards and the Imperials, whom he led as far as Guise. But, forced by a maneuver from du Plessis-Praslin to secure his back, he had to get closer to the Netherlands. The royal armies inflicted a severe defeat on him at Rethel on December 15, 1650.
When we consider the danger he represented for France at that time, we can wonder if his total rallying and final at Court in May 1651, after Mazarin's temporary removal, is really the effect of loyalty alone. It seems that, with a jealous temperament, he took umbrage at the preference granted by Condé to Nemours. Perhaps also he believed he served his personal prestige better by presenting himself as a rival to the only French captain worthy of him. Either way, it shouldn't vary anymore. Despite offers and intrigues, his sword will now defend the Court with steadfastness. In 1652, he rectified the seriously compromised situation of the royal troops thanks to a series of successes:in March, he saved the king at Jargeau; in April, at Bléneau, he repairs the disaster at Hocquincourt; in May, he took Étampes on the side of the princes; in July he engaged in a battle in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine which would have caused the loss of Condé* had it not been for the intervention of the cannon of the Bastille; in October, he brings the king back to Paris; finally, in December, he took Château-Porcien and Vervins.
After this busy year, created Governor of Limousin and Minister of State, Turenne pushes back Condé who had reached Picardy (1653), frees Arras (August 1654), seizes Landrecies and the city of Condé (1655) and won the Battle of the Dunes (June 1658) which, forcing Dunkirk to surrender, enabled the conquest of part of Flanders and contributed to the conclusion of the Peace of the Pyrenees*. These brilliant actions were rewarded in 1660 by the granting of the exceptional title of Marshal General of the King's Camps and Armies. Perhaps he would have been made constable if he had been a Catholic. But he was not to abjure until 1668, two years after the death of Charlotte de Caumont, whom he had married in 1652. For the time being, he was reorganizing the armies and preparing for the War of Devolution* (1667-1668) during which he personally seized Charleroi and Tournai. In the Dutch war*, having experienced some difficulties against Montecucculi in 1673, he took his revenge in June 1674 in the victory of Sinzheim which made him master of the Palatinate. Then pursued by the Imperials, he defeated them again at Enzheim in October 1674 but had to evacuate Alsace. The following year, he succeeded in a series of maneuvers of rare audacity, jostling the Imperialists near Mulhouse in December 1674 and completely defeating them at Turckheim in January 1675. A few weeks later, Alsace was entirely in French hands. His glory is then at its peak. Paris gave him a triumphant welcome.
The following summer he lured Montecucculi into a difficult position between Baden and Rhine,
near Salzbach, and was preparing to give him battle when a cannonball shot him down on July 27, 1675. The nation hears the news with immense pain. The greatest honors are rendered to the general marshal. His remains are buried in Saint-Denis (it was to be respected in 1793 and transferred later, in 1800, to the Invalides).
Turenne left memoirs from 1643 to 1658 and letters. Napoleon I wrote a Précis on his wars.