Victor-Marie d'Estrées, Duke of Estrées count then duke (1723) of Estrées (30 November 1660,

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...

– 27 December 1737,

) was a

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 subsequently known as the ''"Maréchal d'Estrées''".

Biography

Son of Marshal Jean d'Estrées, Count of Estrées (1624–1707), Victor Marie began his military career in the infantry in 1676, but joined the Navy one year later. In the

Franco-Dutch War The Franco-Dutch War, also known as the Dutch War (french: Guerre de Hollande; nl, Hollandse Oorlog), was fought between France and the Dutch Republic, supported by its allies the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Brandenburg-Prussia and Denmark-Nor ...

(1672–1678), he commanded a ship in the Battle of Tabago (3 March 1677) and fought afterwards in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...

. At the beginning of the

War of the Grand Alliance The Nine Years' War (1688–1697), often called the War of the Grand Alliance or the War of the League of Augsburg, was a conflict between Kingdom of France, France and a European coalition which mainly included the Holy Roman Empire (led by t ...

, he volunteered in the army and was wounded in the siege of Philippsburg in 1688. In 1690, he commanded 20 ships in the Battle of Beachy Head. Then, on command of

Louis XIV Louis XIV (Louis Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was List of French monarchs, King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign of 72 years and 110 days is the Li ...

, he took charge of the Mediterranean fleet and supported the

Duke of Vendôme Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranke ...

in the conquest of

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

in 1697. In 1698, he married Lucie Félicité de Noailles (°1683), daughter of Marshal Anne Jules de Noailles, Duke of Noailles. They had no children. At the beginning of the

War of Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phili ...

, he was ordered to sail

Philip V of Spain Philip V ( es, Felipe; 19 December 1683 – 9 July 1746) was King of Spain from 1 November 1700 to 14 January 1724, and again from 6 September 1724 to his death in 1746. His total reign of 45 years is the longest in the history of the Spanish mo ...

Naples Naples (; it, Napoli ; nap, Napule ), from grc, Νεάπολις, Neápolis, lit=new city. is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 909,048 within the city's adm ...

to claim the throne of the Two Sicilies. The success of this mission earned him the title of

Grandee of Spain Grandee (; es, Grande de España, ) is an official aristocratic title conferred on some Spanish nobility. Holders of this dignity enjoyed similar privileges to those of the peerage of France during the , though in neither country did they ...

. He received the title of

in 1703, and commander in the

Order of the Holy Spirit , status = Abolished in 1830 after the July RevolutionRecognised as a dynastic order of chivalry by the ICOC , founder = Henry III of France , head_title = Grand Master , head = Disputed:Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou Jean, Count of Pari ...

in 1705. In 1704, Estrées was appointed mentor to the

Count of Toulouse The count of Toulouse ( oc, comte de Tolosa, french: comte de Toulouse) was the ruler of Toulouse during the 8th to 13th centuries. Originating as vassals of the Frankish kings, the hereditary counts ruled the city of Toulouse and its surroundi ...

, illegitimate son of Louis XIV and admiral of France. Together they fought the tactically indecisive

Battle of Vélez-Málaga A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

(24 August 1704). During the Regency of Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France, he was member of the council and minister, but he had no political skills. After the death of his father he inherited the title of Viceroy of the American Islands and received the island of

Saint Lucia Saint Lucia ( acf, Sent Lisi, french: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Ameri ...

as his private property. He gathered an enormous fortune. He spent his fortune buying art and books, accumulating it in his Paris house and castles, never unpacking a large proportion of the collection. He was elected member of the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

in 1715. He became Duke of Estrées and

Peer of France The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages. The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) was ...

in 1723, after the death of his uncle. He died in 1737. The cruiser ''Destrées'' and

D'Estrees Bay D'Estrees Bay (french: Baie D'Estrees) is a bay in the Australian state of South Australia located on the southern coast of Kangaroo Island about south of Kingscote, the Island's principal centre. D’Estrees Bay was named in 1803 by Peron a ...

in South Australia was named in his honour.

References

External links

Notice sur le site de l'École nationale des chartes

Notice biographique de l'Académie française
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estrees, Victor Marie Duc D' 1660 births 1737 deaths Military personnel from Paris 5 Marshals of France Grandees of Spain Members of the Académie Française Members of the French Academy of Sciences Members of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres French military personnel of the Nine Years' War French naval commanders in the War of the Spanish Succession Secretaries of State of the Navy (France) Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain 18th-century French people 17th-century French people People of the Regency of Philippe d'Orléans People of the Ancien Régime 18th-century peers of France