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 de Broglie was a scion of a family that would become synonymous with French military and scientific genius, but he carved his own path in the mid-17th century's brutal continental conflict. As a lieutenant-general, he fought under the legendary Marshal Turenne, demonstrating a boldness and tactical skill that marked him for higher command. His career, however, was defined by the relentless grind of 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 to be 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 cemented the Broglie name in the annals of martial sacrifice.
#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.”
