Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne: Difference between revisions

*[[French Army]]{{ubl|{{*}}[[French Royal Army]]}}}}

**{{ill[[:zh:卡薩萊戰役|Battle of Casale|lt=|zh|卡薩萊戰役}}]]

** {{ill|Siege of Rethel|lt=Siege of Rethel|[[:zh|:勒泰勒圍城戰}}|Siege of Rethel]]

** {{ill[[:zh:莫松圍城戰|Siege of Mouzon|lt=Siege of Mouzon|zh|莫松圍城戰}}]]

**[[Siege:fr:Siège ofde Landrecies (16561655)|Siege of Landrecies]]

**{{ill|Siege[[:fr:Siège ofde Bergues (1658)|lt=Siege of Bergues|fr|Siège de Bergues (1658)}}]]

*'''[[War of Devolution]]'''

**[[BattleTurenne's ofWinter EntzheimCampaign]]

***[[Battle of Entzheim]]
***[[Battle of Mulhouse (1674)|Battle of Mulhouse]]

Born to a [[Huguenot]] family, the son of a [[Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon|Marshal of France]], he was introduced to the art of war at a young age. He first served as a volunteer in the [[Dutch States Army]] under the orders of his maternal uncles [[Maurice of Nassau]] and [[Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange|Frederick Henry]] butbefore later chose to continuepursuing his career in the service of France, where his noble origins and proven qualities soon saw him rise to the top of the military hierarchy. He rose to prominence during the [[Thirty Years' War]] by [[Battle of Breisach|capturing the fortress of Breisach]] in 1638. Promoted [[Marshal of France]] in 1643, he struck against [[Electorate of Bavaria|Bavaria]] the following year, defeating the Bavarian army in three years of campaigning and forcing the [[Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria|Elector of Bavaria]] to make peace. The Elector soon broke the treaty and in 1648 Turenne invaded again with [[Swedish Empire|Swedish]] support, subduing the [[Holy Roman Empire|Imperial]] army at [[Battle of Zusmarshausen|Zusmarshausen]] and pacifying Bavaria.

[[File:Armoiries Turenne Chantilly.jpg|thumb|left|Turenne's coat of arms in the [[Château de Chantilly]]]]

The second son of [[Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Duke of Bouillon]], sovereign [[Prince of Sedan]], by his second wife [[Elisabeth of Nassau|Elizabeth]], daughter of [[William the Silent]],{{sfn|Elliott|2020}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Ramsey|1735|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}} }}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Morris|1891|p=18}} [[Prince of Orange]], he was born at Sedan.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Ramsey|1735|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}} }}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} It is said that much of his money found its way to the poor during his early life.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} He received a [[Huguenot]] education and the usual training of a young noble of the time, but physical infirmity hampered his progress,{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} and a speech impediment (which he never lost) hampered his progress, though he showed a marked skill at history and geography, and was greatly impressed by the exploits of [[Alexander the Great]] and [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]].{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} At first he was a lazy student but after his father started saying his intellectual laziness was as great a barrier to joining the army as his physical weakness, he began to study on his own accord.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} After his father's death in 1623, he devoted himself to bodily exercises and in a great measure overcame his natural weakness.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} Turenne and his mother were devout Calvinists and were suspicious of [[Cardinal Richelieu]], so when Turenne wentbegan tohis studymilitary warcareer at the age of fourteen, he did so in the camp of his uncle, [[Maurice of Nassau]], the [[Stadtholder]] of [[Holland]] and [[Princes of Orange|Prince of Orange]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} He started as a private{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=8}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} in Maurice's bodyguard during the [[Eighty Years' War]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}

[[Frederick Henry, prince of Orange|Frederick Henry of Nassau]], who succeeded his brother Maurice as Stadtholder and Prince of Orange in 1625, granted Turenne a captaincy in 1626.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=8}} Turenne personally drilled his troops, as was the custom at the time, and won their respect with his charity and simple lifestyle.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=9}} His company was alleged to be the best drilled and most disciplined one in the army, he required of his soldiers not only discipline but also high moral standards.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=9}} His kindness made him well-liked among the entire army.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=10}} The young officer took his part in the sieges of the period, learning much about fortifications and siege warfare.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} HeIn won1629, specialTurenne commendationserved for his skill atin the siege of [['s-Hertogenbosch|Bois-le-Duc]] as commander of 1629a artillery and reconnaissance.<ref name="Maxime Weygand">{{cite book |author1=Maxime Weygand |author1-link=Maxime Weygand |title=Turenne |date=1938 |location=Munich |page=11 |url=https://www.babelio.com/livres/Weygand-Turenne/642964 |access-date=26 April 2024 |language=Fr}}</ref> He won special commendation for his skill at this battle, but was reprimanded for recklessness.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|pp=11–12}} He also learned much about the details of leading an army, like posting guards and reconnaissance.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=8}} In 1630 Turenne left the Netherlands and entered the service of France, motivated both by the prospect of military advancement{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} but also because of his mother's desire to display loyalty to the French crown.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}

[[File:ChampaigneTriple portraitPortrait richelieuof ebCardinal de Richelieu probably 1642, Philippe de Champaigne.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cardinal Richelieu]]]]

[[Cardinal Richelieu]] immediately made him colonel of an infantry regiment.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} Yet he continued to serve with the prince of Orange at short intervals, who at the time had an alliance with France.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=21}} He took part in successful fighting near [[Antwerp]] and fought against [[Hendrik van den Bergh (count)|Hendrik van den Bergh]].{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=21}} He took part in an uneventful campaign under [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg|Schomberg]] in 1630{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p=21}} but his first serious service under the French flag occurred at the siege of [[La Mothe-en-Bassigny|La Mothe]] in [[Lorraine (province)|Lorraine]] by [[Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force|Marshal de la Force]] (1634), where his brilliant courage at the assault won him immediate promotion to the rank of ''[[maréchal de camp]]''{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|pp=21–23}} (equivalent to the modern grade of major-general).{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}}{{sfn|Hozier|1885|pp=21–23}} In 1635 Turenne served under [[Louis de Nogaret de La Valette]] in Lorraine and on the [[Rhine]]. The French and their allies raised the Imperial siege of [[Mainz]] (8 August 1635), but the French army had to fall back on [[Metz]] for want of provisions. In the retreat he measured swords with the famous imperial General [[Matthias Gallas|Gallas]], and distinguished himself greatly.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=21}} He managed to defeat his pursuers in battle but the Imperials were too numerous to be turned around.{{sfn|Hozier|1885|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=21}} The reorganised army took the field again in 1636 and captured [[Saverne]] (Zabern), at the storming of which he was seriously wounded. In 1637 he took part in the campaign of [[Flanders]], including the capture of [[Landrecies]] (26 July). In the latter part of 1638, serving under [[Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar]] (1608–1639), he directed the assault on [[Breisach]] (reputedly the strongest fortress on the upper [[Rhine]]), which surrendered on 17 December.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}} In led the assault on the powerful fortress of Vieux-Brisach in 1638 and obtained its capitulation on December 17

Turenne began the 1645 campaign with a successful forward movement,{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=79}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}} but Mercy managed to deceive him into thinking the Bavarians were scattered and far away{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=80}} and he was taken by surprise and [[Battle of Mergentheim|defeated at Mergentheim]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=81}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=412}} While Turenne had quickly ordered his forces to unite one of his subordinates, general [[Reinhold von Rosen|Rosen]], was not informed on the situation, defied the order, leading to defeat while Turenne's main force was winning.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=82}} Turenne's army lost all of its artillery and baggage and five -sixths of its infantry.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=84}} Turenne retreated to [[Hesse]], which caused its forces to join the French as well as a Swedish force and reinforcements under Condé, who took command once again.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=85}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} The Swedes soon departed, but Enghien commanded still 17,000 men.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=86}} The French marched into Bavaria with facing little opposition until they caught up with Mercy's retreating army.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=86}} Mercy inflicted casualties ofon the French in an artillery duel and outmaneuveredoutmanoeuvred them in the march on Allerheim, buying time to fortify his position. {{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=87}} Turenne advised not to fight but this was rejected by Condé. Turenne's plan of attack was accepted by Condé.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=88}} The [[Battle of Nördlingen (1645)|following battle]] was a French victory and Mercy was killed but the French had suffered heavily. Ill- health forced Enghien to retire soon afterwards, leaving Turenne for the third time in command of the French army.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} He was met by superior imperial forces and forced to retreat.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |pp=96–97}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} At Philippsburg, Turenne crossed the Rhine using a bridge made of boats.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=97}}

A month after his retreat Turenne marched 120 miles to [[Trier]] which he recaptured for its elector [[Philipp Christoph von Sötern]] after over a decade of imperialist occupation.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=97}} Having taken control of the Moselle for France by this move he set upon improving the defence of that river.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=98}} Turenne now returned to France where he was offered the [[Duchy of Château-Thierry]], which had also been promised to his brother, by Mazarin, who was trying to drive a wedge between Turenne and his rebellious brother, but Turenne saw what the cardinal was doing and accepted only if the transaction to his brother was completed.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=98}}

In 1646 Turenne obtained more military successes.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} He decided to unite his forces with thosethe Swedish under [[Carl Gustaf Wrangel]].<ref name="Wakeman" /> Mazarin however had made a deal with the Duke of Bavaria not to unite French and Swedish forces and not to cross the Rhine. In return, the Bavarians would not join the Imperial army. He ordered Turenne to besiege Luxembourg but Turenne correctly suspected the Duke of Bavaria of foul play and procrastinated.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=100}} Soon the Bavarian army linked up with the imperials and Turenne tried to the same to assist Wrangel. He was successful by using a detour via [[Wesel]] because there was no other bridge south of there he could use.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=101}} In conjunction with Wrangel, Turenne marched unhindered up until the area between [[Memmingen]] and [[Landsberg am Lech]].<ref name="The history of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne, marshal-general of France">{{cite book |author1=Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne Bouillon (vicomte de turenne) |title=The history of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne, marshal-general of France Volume 2 |date=1735 |publisher=J. Bettenham |pages=46–48 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mODYOSpz-b8C |access-date=13 April 2024 |language=En}}</ref><ref name="American Illustrated Magazine Volume 28; Turenne">{{cite book |title=American Illustrated Magazine Volume 28 |date=1889 |publisher=Crowell-Collier Publishing Company |page=219 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V25PAQAAMAAJ |access-date=13 April 2024 |language=En}}</ref> Their combined army marched[[Bavarian downcampaign (1646–1647)|invaded Bavaria]] by crossing the Danube and advanced as far as [[Munich]] and [[Bregenz]],<ref name="Wakeman" /> plundering their way through Bavariathe country.<ref name="Wakeman" />{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=105–106}} This convinced the Elector of Bavaria to makeconclude peacea [[Truce of Ulm (1647)|truce in March 1647]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=112}} With these manoeuvres [[Napoleon]] said he displayed "great boldness, sagacity and genius; they are fertile in grand results, and ought to be studied by all military men".{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=113}}<ref name="American Illustrated Magazine Volume 28; Turenne" /> [[File:Anselmus-van-Hulle-Hommes-illustres MG 0557.tif|thumb|Turenne at the [[Peace of Westphalia]], engraving after [[Anselm van Hulle]].]]In 1647 he proposed to attack the weakened army of the emperor, but he was ordered into [[Flanders]] instead.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=114}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} Not only did France thus lose an opportunity, but a serious mutiny broke out amongst the Weimar troops, who had not received their pay for six months.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=115}}{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} Rosen, who had been recently promoted to high office on Turenne's insistence, convinced the Weimarian cavalry to revolt, pretending to be held prisoner by them.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=115}} Turenne had already left for Flanders with his main force but rode back with a small contingent, surprising the mutineers. Instead of destroying them with a surprise attack, he marched with them as if he was still in command and managed to secretly have Rosen arrested after which the mutiny died down.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=116–119}} He then marched into [[Luxembourg]] but soon received orders to switch to the Rhine.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} As Turenne predicted Bavaria again joined the Imperial cause in 1647.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=114 and 121}} He compelled the imperials to lift [[Siege of Worms]] and formally declared war on Bavaria. After joining with the Swedes, once again led by Wrangel, they moved together against the imperials.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=121}} Scouts detected the imperials, and during the following night Turenne secretly moved his troops close to the imperials.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=122}} The following day, 17 May,{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} the imperials marched off unaware of the danger resulting in their rearguard being caught isolated and defeated in a vicious [[Battle of Zusmarshausen|battle at Zusmarshausen]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=122–123}} Troops subsequently wasted Bavaria with fire and sword until a more secure pacification was obtained. This devastation, for which many modern writers have blamed Turenne, appeared no more harsh a measure than the spirit of the times and the circumstances of the case permitted.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}} Turenne planned on moving into Austria and taketaking Vienna, but as the [[Peace of Westphalia]] had been signed this campaign never materialized.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=124}}

The [[Peace of Westphalia]] (1648) brought little peace to France, which soon became involved in the civil war of the [[Fronde]] (1648–1653). During the first war, he refused to join either side.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=131}} Mazarin had him removed as commander of the army of Weimar{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=132}} causing Turenne to flee to the [[Spanish Netherlands|Netherlands]], where he remained until the [[treaty of Rueil]] (March 1649) put an end to the first war of the Fronde.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=132}} Louis, Grand Condé had made many enemies at court,{{sfn|Beach|1914}} especially Mazarin, which would eventually lead to conflict.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} While Condé had expected to be rewarded greatly for his military service, which had turned the Fronde in Mazarin's favorfavour, Mazarin did not have a high opinion of Condé's accomplishment.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=133}} Condé had recently inherited the princely title of Condé, won great fame and influence through his military actions, was made [[Prince du sang|prince of the blood]] and had built strong connections among the members of the first Fronde.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} Now he and Mazarin were busy plotting each other's destruction.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=133}} The second war erupted when Condé and some of his allies were arrested.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=134}} Turenne, intended for arrest with them, escaped in time, and with the [[Anne Genevieve, duchesseDuchesse de Longueville|duchess de Longueville]] held [[Stenay]] for the cause of the "Princes"—Condé, his brother [[Armand, Prince of Conti|Conti]], and his brother-in-law the Duc de Longueville. Love for the duchess seems to have ruled Turenne's action, both in the first war, and, now, in seeking Spanish aid for the Princes.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p={{page needed|date=July 2020}}}} In this war Turenne sustained one of his few reverses at [[Rethel]] (15 December 1650);, but the second conflict ended in the early months of the following year with the collapse of the court party and the release of the Princes.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

Turenne still needed to deal with Condé, who was fighting alongside the Spaniards.{{sfn|Beach|1914}} The long -drawn-out campaigns of the "Spanish Fronde" gave ample scope for the display of military skill by both the famous captains. In June 1653 Turenne and [[Henri de La Ferté-Senneterre|La Ferté]] marched against the Frondeurs.<ref name="Britannica 126997" /> They had 7,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry (or 6,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry, according to a different source). Condé controlled 30,000 troops.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=211}} Hearing that the Spanish army camped in two positions 120 miles apart, he rapidly marched on and captured Rethel, which lay between them.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=211-211}} Now a Spanish force, the one not commanded by Condé, of 16,000 infantry and 11,000 cavalry arrived in the area.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=212}} Turenne decided to shadow this force to prevent it from taking Paris with Condé, and limit their freedom of action until winter.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=212}} The Spanish intended only to take a few forts so Turenne was successful.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=214-215}} At one point Condé was in a position to defeat Turenne but the Spanish commander didn't allow Condé to attack.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=217-218}} Eventually the Spanish managed to evade Turenne and captured Rocroi, but while they were doing this Turenne took [[Mouzon, Ardennes|Mouzon]].{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=219}} He also took [[Sainte-Menehould]]. {{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

Turenne started the 1654 campaign by moving on Stenay, one of the centres of the Fronde and personal property of Condé.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=222-223}} Turenne had received reinforcement for the campaign and prepared vigorously to defend against a relief attempt.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=222-223}} Instead Condé and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm outmaneuveredoutmanoeuvred him by besieging the crucial fortress of Arras.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=222-223}} As Condé and the Archduke had 25,000 troops, and Turenne could call on only 14,000-15,000, Turenne decided to wait until Stenay fell before moving against the Frondeurs in force.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=223-224}} Turenne was not in sole command: [[James II of England|the Duke of York]], La Ferté, [[Victor-Maurice, comte de Broglie|Broglie]], and [[:fr:Charles de Monchy d'Hocquincourt|Hocquincourt]] all had authority as well. ButHowever he overcame opposition to his plan to deal aggressively with the more numerous Spanish army.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=230}} Turenne had tirelessly prepared for the attack. He scouted the enemy positions in person, and realized the Spanish would take too long to decide whether to attack him or not. He provided religious services to his troops and explained to his officers the techniques to use against the elaborate Spanish defences.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=233}} The Spanish were routed, losing 6,000 men and 63 cannons, while the French lost just 400 men.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|pp=237-238}} This victory was a turning point: from then on, the French had a marked advantage in the region.{{sfn|Morris|1891|p=24}}

Before the campaign of 1655 another important matter required Turenne's energies. Riots had broken out in Paris, combined with political disputes between the king and parliament; civil conflict threatened again.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=239}} The king forbade parliament from the meeting while parliament for their part ignored this demand.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=240}} At the invitation of the increasingly despotic Mazarin Turenne was invited to negotiate, which he did successfully.{{sfn|Longueville|1907|p=240}}

The war eventually concluded soon after Turenne's crushing victory at the [[Battle of the Dunes (1658)|Battle of the Dunes]] near [[Dunkirk, France|Dunkirk]] in 1658, in which a corps of English veterans sent by Cromwell played a notable part (3–14 June); a victory which, followed by another successful campaign in 1658, led to the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] in 1659.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

In 1652, Turenne married Charlotte de Caumont, a daughter of the Protestant Marshal [[Armand-Nompar de Caumont, ducDuc de la Force|de la Force]], to whom he remained deeply attached. But he sincerely deplored the division of Christianity into two hostile camps. He had always distrusted the influence of many dissident and uncontrolled sects; the history of independence in the English army and people made a deep impression on his mind, and the same fear of indiscipline which drove the English [[Presbyterians]] into royalism drew Turenne more and more towards the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. The letters between him and his wife show how closely both studied available evidence on the matter, and in the end, two years after her death, the eloquence of [[Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet|Bossuet]] and the persuasions of his nephew, the [[Cardinal de Bouillon]], persuaded him to become Catholic in October 1668.

In 1667 he had returned to the more congenial air of the "Camps and Armies of the King", directing (nominally under Louis XIV) the famous ''Promenade militaireMilitaire'' in which the French overran the [[Spanish Netherlands]]. Soon afterwards Condé, now reconciled with the king, rivaledrivalled Turenne's success by the rapid conquest of the [[Franche-Comté]], shortly before the end of the [[War of Devolution]] in February 1668.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

In Louis XIV's [[Franco-Dutch War|Dutch War]] of 1672, Turenne accompanied the army commanded by the king which overran the Dutch [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]] up to the gates of [[Amsterdam]]. The terms offered by Louis to the [[William III of England|Prince of Orange]] only aroused a more bitter resistance.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

In June 1674, Turenne won the [[battle of Sinzheim]], which made him master of the [[Electorate of the Palatinate]]. Under orders from Paris, the French wasted the country far and wide, and this devastation with the sack of Türckheim usually counts as the gravest blot on Turenne's fame. In the autumn, the anti-French allies again advanced, and though they again outmanoeuvred Turenne, the action of the neutral city of [[Strasbourg]] occasioned his failure by permitting the enemy to cross the Rhine by the bridge at that place. The [[battle of Enzheim]] followed; this proved a tacticalstrategic victory, for Turenne but hardly affected the situation, and, at the beginning of December, the allies remained in Alsace. The old marshal now made the most daring campaign of his career. A [[Turenne's Winter Campaign|swift and secret march]] in mid-winter from one end of the [[Vosges Mountains|Vosges]] to the other took the allies by surprise. Sharply following up his first successes, Turenne drove the enemy to [[Battle of Turckeim|Turkheim]], and there inflicted upon them a heavy defeat (5 January 1675). As revenge for the active resistance the inhabitants of the city had shown, Turenne let his troops loot it and massacre the remaining population duringfor two weeks. In a few weeks he had completely recovered Alsace.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

In the summer campaign he once more faced Montecuccoli, and after the highest display of "strategic chess- moves" by both commanders, Turenne finally compelled his opponent to offer battle at a disadvantage at [[Battle of Salzbach|Salzbach]]. There, on 27 July 1675, he was killed instantly due to wounds inflicted by a cannonball. Thomas de Longueville writes: "Twice he opened his eyes, and then he closed them forever."<ref>{{Cite book |last=de Longueville |first=Thomas |title=Marshal Turenne |publisher=Longmans, Green and Co. |year=1907 |isbn=1177666499 |edition=1st |location=London |pages=388 |language=English}}</ref> The news of his death produced universal sorrow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hdgbw.de/ausstellungen/dezentrale-ausstellungen/turenne-museum/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210043542/http://www.hdgbw.de/ausstellungen/dezentrale-ausstellungen/turenne-museum/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-02-10|title=Turenne-Museum {{!}} Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg|date=2009-02-10|access-date=2019-12-13}}</ref>{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=413}}

Napoleon recommended all soldiers to "read and re-read" the campaigns of Turenne as one of the great captains of history, placing him among [[Alexander the Great]], [[Hannibal]], [[Frederick the Great]], [[Prince Eugene of Savoy]], [[Gustavus Adolphus]], and [[Julius Caesar]]. His fame as a general rivalled that of any other in Europe at a period when the populace studied war more critically than ever before, for his military character epitomized the art of war of his time (Prince de Ligne). Strategic caution and logistic accuracy, combined with a brilliant dash in small combats and constancy under all circumstances—of success or failure—perhaps emerge as the salient points of Turenne's genius for war. Great battles he avoided. "Few sieges and many combats" he used as his own maxim. And, unlike his great rival Condé, who appeared as brilliant in his first battle as in his last, Turenne improved day by day. Napoleon said of him that, his genius grew bolder as it grew older, and a later author, the Duke of Aumale (''Histoire des princes de la maison de Condé''), took the same view when he wrote: "To know him, you must follow him up to Salzbach. In his case, every day signaledsignalled some progress”.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=414}}

In his personal character Turenne showed little more than the nature of a simple and honourable soldier, endowed with much tact; but in the world of politics and intellect he seemed almostdisinterested helplessand inout of place, the handsglittering court of aVersailles skilfulheld intriguerno orsway casuistin the mind of the great commander. His morals, if not beyond reproach, were at least more austere than those prevalent in the age in which he lived. He operated essentially as a commander of regular armies. He spent his life with the troops; he knew how to win their affection; he tempered a severe discipline with rare generosity, and his men loved him as a comrade no less than they admired him as a commander. Thus, though Condé's genius appeared far more versatile, Turenne's genius best represents the art of war in the 17th century. For the small, costly, and highly trained regular armies, and for the dynastic warfare of the age of Louis XIV, Turenne functioned as the ideal army leader.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|p=414}}

During the French Revolution his reputation as a man of the people made his tomb one of the few nobles’ tombs not destroyed by the Revolutionaries.{{sfn|Brown|2018}} Napoleon rated him the greatest modern commander.{{sfn|Brown|2018}}{{sfn|Longueville|1907|loc=First page of the introduction by Francis Lloyd}} [[Prince Eugene of Savoy|Eugene of Savoy]] when praised above Turenne called the flattery ingratiating at the expense of Turenne.{{sfn|Shand|2014|p={{page needed|date=July 2020}} }}{{clarify|date=February 2020}} Turenne is one of the subjects of Morris’ work “Great commanders of modern times”.{{sfn|Morris|1891|p=18}} According to him the “powerful genius” of Turenne greatly contributed to shaping modern warfare.{{sfn|Morris|1891|pp=13-14}}

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