François-Marie, comte de Broglie
A French military comet who blazed across the Thirty Years' War, his daring command for Marshal Turenne cut short by a fatal siege.
1611–1656 (age 45)·Birthday: November 1
Biography
François-Marie, comte de Broglie fought as a lieutenant-general under Marshal Turenne in the mid-17th century's brutal continental conflict. He demonstrated boldness and tactical skill in siege warfare, the dominant military art of his age. The siege of Valencia in 1656, a campaign to secure the Catalan frontier for France, proved his final act. He was mortally wounded during the operations, his promise extinguished just as his family's long ascent into the French aristocracy was beginning. His death marked the Broglie name in annals of martial sacrifice. A scion of a family that would become synonymous with French military and scientific genius, he carved his own path in relentless grind of conflict.
#1 When François-Marie, Was Born
The biggest hits of 1611
François-Marie,'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1611Born
1616Started school
1624Became a teenager
1627Could drive
1629Could vote
1632Turned 21
1641Turned 30
1651Turned 40
1656Died at 45
Key Achievements
- Served as a senior commander under Marshal Turenne during the latter stages of the Thirty Years' War.
- Attained the rank of Lieutenant General in the French army.
- Played a key role in French campaigns in Catalonia during the Franco-Spanish War.
Did You Know?
He was the first member of the Broglie family to settle in France, originally from Piedmont.
King Louis XIV posthumously elevated his family's French lands into the county of Broglie in recognition of his service.
He died from wounds sustained at the siege of Valencia, not in a major pitched battle.
“A cavalry charge is won in the mind before the first lance is lowered.”
