House of Noailles

Duke of Noailles
Coat of arms of the Dukes of Noailles as peers of France
Creation date	1663
Peerage	France
First holder	Anne
Present holder	Hélie Marie Auguste Jacques Bertrand Philippe

The title of Duke of Noailles was a French peerage created in 1663 for Anne de Noailles, Count of Ayen.

Noailles is the name of a prominent French noble family, derived from the castle of Noailles in the territory of Ayen, between Brive and Turenne in the Limousin, and claiming to date back to the 11th century. The family did not obtain fame until the 16th century, when its head, Antoine de Noailles (1504–1562), became admiral of France and was ambassador in England during three important years, 1553–1556, maintaining a gallant but unsuccessful rivalry with the Spanish ambassador, Simon Renard. Henri de Noailles (1554–1623), son of Antoine, was a commander in the religious wars and was made comte d'Ayen by Henry IV of France in 1593.

Anne de Noailles (d. 1678), the grandson of the first count, played an important part in the Fronde and the early years of the reign of Louis XIV, became captain-general of the newly-won province of Roussillon, and in 1663 was made duc de Noailles and peer of France.

The sons of the first duke raised the family to its greatest fame. The eldest son, Anne Jules de Noailles (1650–1708), was one of the chief generals of France towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV. After raising the regiment of Noailles in 1689, he commanded in Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession and was made marshal of France in 1693. A younger son, Louis Antoine de Noailles (1651–1729), was made archbishop of Paris in 1695, holding this high dignity until his death; he was made a cardinal in 1699.

The name of Noailles occurs with almost confusing reiteration throughout the 18th century. Adrien Maurice (1678–1766), the third duke, served in all the most important wars of the reign of Louis XV in Italy and Germany, and became a marshal in 1734. His last command was in the War of the Austrian Succession, when he was beaten by the English at the battle of Dettingen in 1743. He married Françoise Charlotte d'Aubigné, a niece of Madame de Maintenon, and two of his sons also attained the rank of marshal of France.