Marshal Turenne

Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne
Marshal Turenne
Nickname(s)	Turenne
Born	(1611-09-11)11 September 1611 Castle of Sedan, Principality of Sedan (present-day France)
Died	27 July 1675(1675-07-27) (aged 63) Sasbach, Duchy of Württemberg (present-day Germany)
Allegiance	Dutch Republic (1625–1630)  Kingdom of France (1630–1675)
Service/branch	Dutch States Army French Army
Years of service	1625–1675
Rank	Maréchal général des camps et armées du roi
Battles/wars	Eighty Years' War Siege of 's-Hertogenbosch Thirty Years' War Siege of La Mothe Battle of Breisach Siege of Turin Battle of Freiburg Battle of Herbsthausen Battle of Nördlingen Battle of Zusmarshausen Fronde Battle of Bléneau Battle of the Faubourg St Antoine Franco-Spanish War Battle of Arras Battle of Valenciennes Battle of the Dunes Siege of Dunkirk War of Devolution Franco-Dutch War Battle of Sinsheim Battle of Entzheim Battle of Mulhouse Battle of Turckheim Battle of Salzbach †

War of Devolution

Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne, often called simply Turenne (11 September 1611 – 27 July 1675) was a French Marshal General and the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. His military exploits over his five-decade career earned him a reputation as one of the greatest generals in modern history.

Born to a Huguenot family, Turenne learned his military skills in Dutch service during the Eighty Years' War. After returning to France in 1630, he rose to prominence during the Thirty Years' War by capturing the fortress of Breisach in 1638. Created Marshal of France in 1643, he invaded Bavaria the following year, defeating the Bavarian army in three years of campaigning and forcing the Elector of Bavaria to make peace. The Elector soon broke the treaty and in 1648 Turenne invaded again with Swedish support, subduing the Imperial army at Zusmarshausen and pacifying Bavaria.

Turenne initially supported the Fronde but returned to Royal service in 1651, emerging as France's foremost general by defeating the rebellious army of the Prince of Condé on the outskirts of Paris and re-occupying the city. Turenne's triumphs against Spanish armies at Arras (1654) and at Dunkirk (1658) led to the overrunning of much of the Spanish Netherlands and brought the war against Spain to a victorious conclusion. Two years later, Louis XIV appointed him Marshal General of France. A supporter of absolute monarchy, he converted to Catholicism in 1668.