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

**[[BattleTurenne's ofWinter EntzheimCampaign]]

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

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

[[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

In 1646 Turenne obtained more military successes.{{sfn|Atkinson|1911|pp=412–414}} He decided to unite his forces with the 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 thenmarched setunhindered up hisuntil campthe area betweembetween [[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=46-4846–48 |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.idcom/books/edition/The_history_of_Henri_de_La_Tour_d_Auverg/?id=mODYOSpz-b8C?hl= |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://wwwbooks.google.co.idcom/books/edition/American_Illustrated_Magazine/V25PAQAAMAAJ?hlid=V25PAQAAMAAJ |access-date=13 April 2024 |language=En}}</ref> thenTheir hecombined commandarmy the[[Bavarian combinedcampaign army(1646–1647)|invaded marchedBavaria]] by downcrossing 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 taking Vienna, but as the [[Peace of Westphalia]] had been signed this campaign never materialized.{{sfn|Longueville|1907 |p=124}}

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