Henry d'Harcourt (2 April 1654 – 19 October 1718) was a French noble, first Duke of Harcourt,

Marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...

, and extraordinary ambassador to Madrid.

Life

As son of François III d'Harcourt, marquis of Beuvron and Thary-Harcourt, he was a member of the ancient

House of Harcourt The House of Harcourt is a Duchy of Normandy, Norman family, and named after its Fief, seigneurie of Harcourt, Eure, Harcourt in Normandy. Its mottos were "Gesta verbis praeveniant" (Olonde branch), "Gesta verbis praevenient" (Beuvron branch), ...

that dates back to the 11th century. Aged 18, he entered in the army and participated in all the wars of his time. He was present at the

Battle of Sinsheim The Battle of Sinsheim took place on 16 June 1674 during the 1672-1678 Franco-Dutch War. An Imperial force commanded by Aeneas de Caprara was marching towards Heidelberg, in order to join their main army under Alexander von Bournonville. It was ...

(1674), Battle of Turckheim (1675),

Siege of Cambrai (1677) The siege of Cambrai took place from 20 March to 19 April 1677 during the 1672–1678 Franco-Dutch War; then part of the Spanish Netherlands, it was invested by a French army under the duc de Luxembourg. Siege operations were supervised by the ...

Siege of Philippsburg (1688) The siege of Philippsburg was a siege of the fortress of Philippsburg during the War of the League of Augsburg. It occurred between 27 September and 30 October 1688 and ended in a French victory over the Imperial Imperial is that which relat ...

and Battle of Neerwinden (1693). In 1695 and 1696, he commanded the Army of the Moselle as a lieutenant general. In 1697, he was appointed extraordinary ambassador to Spain, which was in a crucial period when King Charles II of Spain died without a successor. It is unknown which role he played in the intrigues following Charles's death, but it resulted in the installation of a Bourbon on the throne of Spain. When he returned to France, the grateful Louis XIV made him a Duke in 1700 and a

in 1703.
During the

Spanish War of Succession Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

, he commanded the Army of the Rhine in 1709, 1711, and 1712, when he suffered a stroke and was forced to retire.

Marriage and children

He married in 1687 Marie Anne Claude Brulart de Genlis, daughter of Claude Charles Brulart and Angélique de Fabert, daughter of Abraham de Fabert.
They had 11 children, including: * François d'Harcourt (1689–1750), 2nd Duke of Harcourt and also Marshal of France. * Louis Henri d'Harcourt (1692–1716), comte de Beuvron, Order of the Golden Fleece. * Louis Abraham d'Harcourt (1694–1750), 3rd Duke of Harcourt (only for 3 months). * Anne Pierre d'Harcourt (1701–1783), 4th Duke of Harcourt and also Marshal of France. Had issue.

Source

* Georges Martin, Histoire et généalogie de la Maison d'Harcourt, tome 2, Lyon, l'auteur, 2013, pp. 53–54 {{DEFAULTSORT:Harcourt, Henry

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

Ambassadors of France to Spain 1654 births 1718 deaths Marshals of France French army commanders in the War of the Spanish Succession Peers created by Louis XIV