Marquis de St Ruth
| Marquis de Saint Ruth Charles Chalmont |
|
|---|---|
| Marquis de Saint Ruth | |
| Reign | 16..-1691 |
| Born |
c. 1650 France |
| Died | 12 July 1691 Aughrim |
| Burial | Loughrea, Galway |
| House | Marquis de Saint Ruth |
Charles Chalmont Marquis of St Ruth (c. 1650 – 12 July 1691) was a French general. Early in his military career, he fought against Protestants in France. Later, he fought in Ireland on the Jacobite side in the Williamite wars, where he was killed at the Battle of Aughrim.
After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, there was an exodus of thousands of Protestants from France in the direction of Geneva. France exerted much pressure upon the Duchy of Savoy for the Protestants fleeing to Geneva to be arrested and handed over. The duke was not in a position to accept another new war or another French occupation. The Marquis de Saint-Ruth, the general of the King of France, ordered the burning of the dwellings if "...the Ternier clann and the Gaillard clann did not pay the eight quarter and a half (tax) of the normal, plus 8 other quarters to the contribution of war that one had just imposed by the king". The population, confronted with a dilemma, had to pay the tax to the Marquis de Saint-Ruth.
In 1690, the Marquis de Saint Ruth besieged the town of Annecy and played a part in the victory at the Battle of Staffarda, among other battles. He directed the operations against the Château d'Aléry. (The château, belonging to the Aussedat family, has today been restored.)
On 20 March, General St. Ruth arrived at Limerick from Brest, France, with the lieutenants-general and the governor. At his landing on the quay, he was saluted by a discharge of artillery from the castle. Proceeding, he found the soldiery of the town ranged on each side of the street. The Viceroy came to meet him a hundred paces from his palace, welcomed him to Ireland, and took him to dinner. In the evening St. Ruth was lodged in a house prepared for his residence. Along with him came a fleet bringing arms, clothes for several regiments, powder, ball, and a considerable quantity of oats, meal, biscuit, wine, and brandy, which was much appreciated in the country. A few days later, the general began to apply himself to his charge and issued orders that the army should prepare to take the field, except for such battalions as were posted for the defence of a few important towns which remained in the possession of the loyal party, such as Limerick, Galway, Athlone, and Sligo, besides some petty strongholds.
...
Wikipedia