Anne Jules de Noailles, 2nd Duke of Noailles
A French duke and marshal whose military campaigns in Spain defined the bloody twilight of Louis XIV's expansive wars.
1650–1708 (age 58)·17th and 18th-century French nobleman and general·Birthday: February 5
Biography
Anne Jules de Noailles was born into one of France's most powerful families and was groomed for a life of service to the Sun King. He translated privilege into martial duty, raising his own regiment and proving his mettle on the battlefields that expanded and then defended French hegemony. His elevation to Marshal of France in 1693 was a recognition of both his lineage and his competent, if not brilliantly revolutionary, command. The wars of the Spanish succession became his primary theater, where he navigated the complex, brutal conflict over the future of the Spanish throne. More a steadfast pillar of the ancien régime than a flashy tactician, his career mirrored the era's relentless grind of siege warfare and political maneuvering, cementing the Noailles name in the military annals of a fading royal century.
#1 When Anne Was Born
The biggest hits of 1650
Anne's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1650Born
1655Started school
1663Became a teenager
1666Could drive
1668Could vote
1671Turned 21
1680Turned 30
1690Turned 40
1700Turned 50
1708Died at 58
Key Achievements
- Was made a Marshal of France, the nation's highest military distinction, in 1693.
- Raised and commanded the Regiment of Noailles, a significant military unit, in 1689.
- Served as a chief general for Louis XIV during the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession.
- Held command of French forces in Spain across two major European conflicts.
Did You Know?
He was the father of Adrien Maurice de Noailles, who also became a Marshal of France.
The Noailles family was one of the most illustrious noble houses in French history.
His military career spanned the final decades of Louis XIV's 72-year reign.
He is an ancestor of several notable historical figures, including the Marquis de Lafayette.
“A duke's first duty is to command his regiment with the King's own discipline.”
