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French Royal Army (1652–1830)
The French Royal Army () was the principal land force of the Kingdom of France. It served the Bourbon dynasty from the reign of Louis XIV in the mid-17th century to that of Charles X in the 19th, with an interlude from 1792 to 1814 and another during the Hundred Days in 1815. It was permanently dissolved following the July Revolution in 1830. The French Royal Army became a model for the new regimental system that was to be imitated throughout Europe from the mid-17th century onward. It was regarded as Europe's greatest military force for much of its existence. Early history The first permanent army of France, which was paid with regular wages instead of being supplied by feudal levies, was established in the early 15th century under Charles VII. It was formed due to the need for reliable troops during the Hundred Years' War, though the Army was not disbanded because it saw continued use by the Kings of France following the conflict. Upon the outbreak of a conflict, an ordonnan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Emblem Of France
The coat of arms of France is an unofficial emblem of the French Republic. It depicts a lictor's fasces upon branches of laurel and oak, as well as a ribbon bearing the national motto of . The full achievement includes the star and grand collar of the Legion of Honour. This composition was created in 1905 (during the Third Republic) by heraldic painter-engraver Maurice de Meyère, and it has been used at the Foreign Ministry during state visits and for presidential inaugurations. The country is traditionally associated with the fleurs-de-lis design, which came into use by French kings during the High Middle Ages. This design still represents France and the House of Bourbon in the form of marshalling, such as in the arms of Spain, Quebec, and Canada. The fleur-de-lis was also the symbol of Île-de-France, the core of the French kingdom, and the arms of many French communes. The only national symbol specified in the present constitution is the tricolour flag in Article ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marshal General Of France
Marshal General of France, originally "Marshal General of the King's camps and armies" (), was a title given to signify that the recipient had authority over all of the French armies, in the days when a Marshal of France usually governed only one army. This title was bestowed only on Marshals of France, usually when the title of Constable of France was unavailable or, after 1626, suppressed. Unlike the title of marshal, marshal general was rarely granted to active military commanders. Rather, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, it was an end-of-career reward for particularly deserving or loyal marshals. List of titleholders Six in the Ancien Régime, pre-revolutionary kingdom of France: * Charles de Gontaut, duc de Biron (1562–1602): ** Admiral of France, 1592 ** Admiral and Marshal, 26 January 1594 ** unclear when promoted to Marshal General ** executed in 1602 * François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières (1543–1626): ** Marshal, 27 September 1609 ** Marsha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jean-de-Dieu Soult
Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman. He was a Marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, and served three times as President of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) of France. Son of a country notary from southern France, Soult enlisted in the French Royal Army in 1785 and quickly rose through the ranks during the French Revolution. He was promoted to brigadier general after distinguishing himself at the Battle of Fleurus in 1794, and by 1799 he was a division general. In 1804, Napoleon made Soult one of his first eighteen Marshals of the Empire. Soult played a key role in many of Napoleon's campaigns, most notably at the Battle of Austerlitz, where his corps delivered the decisive attack that secured French victory. He was subsequently created Duke of Dalmatia and from 1808, he commanded French forces during the Peninsular War. Despite several initial victories, for ins ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jean-Baptiste Donatien De Vimeur, Comte De Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau (1 July 1725 – 10 May 1807) was a French Royal Army officer who played a critical role in the Franco-American victory at the siege of Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. He was commander-in-chief of the ''Expédition Particulière'', the French expeditionary force sent to North America during the conflict. Military life Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur was born in Vendôme, in the province of Orléanais, and he was educated at the Jesuit college in Blois. After the death of his elder brother, he entered a cavalry regiment and served in Bohemia, Bavaria, and on the Rhine during the War of the Austrian Succession. By 1747, he had attained the rank of colonel. He took part in the Siege of Maastricht and became governor of Vendôme in 1749. He distinguished himself in the Battle of Minorca on the outbreak of the Seven Years' War and was promoted to brigadier general of infantry. In 1758, he fought in Ge ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis De Lafayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de La Fayette (; 6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (), was a French military officer and politician who volunteered to join the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, in the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette was ultimately permitted to command Continental Army troops in the decisive Siege of Yorktown in 1781, the Revolutionary War's final major battle, which secured American independence. After returning to France, Lafayette became a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830 and continues to be celebrated as a hero in both France and the United States. Lafayette was born into a wealthy land-owning family in Chavaniac in the province of Auvergne in south-central France. He followed the family's martial tradition and was commissioned an officer at age 13. He became convinced that the American revolutionary cause was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nicolas Catinat
Nicolas Catinat (, 1 September 1637 – 22 February 1712) was a French military commander and Marshal of France under Louis XIV. Life The son of a magistrate, Catinat was born in Paris on 1 September 1637. He entered the Gardes Françaises at an early age and distinguished himself at the Siege of Lille in 1667. He became a brigadier ten years later, ''maréchal de camp'' in 1680, and lieutenant-general 1688. He served with great credit in the campaigns of 1676–1678 in Flanders during the Franco-Dutch War, and was later employed in the persecution of the Vaudois in 1686. After taking part in the Siege of Philippsburg at the opening of the Nine Years War, he was appointed to command the French troops in the south-eastern theatre of war. In 1691 he crossed into the County of Nice, and captured the towns Nice and Villefranche. His victories against Victor Amadeus of Savoy at the Battle of Staffarda in 1690, and the Battle of Marsaglia in 1693, were amongst his gre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James FitzJames, 1st Duke Of Berwick
James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick (21 August 1670 – 12 June 1734) was a French Royal Army officer and nobleman who was the eldest illegitimate son of James II of England by Arabella Churchill (royal mistress), Arabella Churchill, the sister of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Born and raised in France, Berwick was a senior Jacobitism, Jacobite commander in his father's army during the Williamite War in Ireland. He subsequently became a successful general in the service of Louis XIV and in 1706 he was made a Marshal of France. Berwick was honored with noble titles from the kings of both France and Spain, in addition to his English ducal title which was attainted in 1695. He was decapitated by a cannonball during the Siege of Philippsburg (1734), Siege of Philippsburg in 1734. Early life FitzJames was born at Moulins, Allier, Moulins in Kingdom of France, France before his father's accession to the throne, and was brought up in France as a Catholic. He was t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maurice De Saxe
Maurice, Count of Saxony (, ; 28 October 1696 – 20 November 1750) was a notable soldier, officer and a famed military commander of the 18th century. The illegitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Elector of Saxony, he initially served in the Army of the Holy Roman Empire, then the Imperial Army (Holy Roman Empire), Imperial Army, before finally entering French service. De Saxe became a Marshal of France, Marshal and even Marshal General of France. He is best known for his deeds in the War of the Austrian Succession and especially for his decisive victory at the Battle of Fontenoy. Childhood Maurice was born at Goslar, an Illegitimacy, illegitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Elector of Saxony, and the Countess Maria Aurora of Königsmarck. He was the first of eight extramarital children whom August acknowledged, although as many as 354 are claimed by sources, including Wilhelmine ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Louis Joseph De Vendôme
Louis may refer to: People * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer Other uses * Louis (coin), a French coin * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also * Derived terms * King Louis (other) * Saint Louis (other) * Louis Cruise Lines * Louis dressing, for salad * Louis Quinze, design style Associated terms * Lewis (other) * Louie (other) * Luis (other) * Louise (other) * Louisville (other) Associated names * * Chlodwig, the origin of the name Ludwig, which is translated to English as "Louis" * Ladislav and László - names sometimes erroneously associated with "Louis" * Ludovic, Ludwig, Ludwick, Ludwik Ludwik () is a Polish given name. Notable people with the name include: * Ludwik Czyżewski, Polish WWII general * Ludwik Fleck (1896–1961), Polish medical doctor and biologist * Ludwik Gintel (1899–1973), Polish-Israeli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Duc De Villars
Claude Louis Hector de Villars, Prince of Martigues, Marquis then (1st) Duke of Villars, Viscount of Melun (, 8 May 1653 – 17 June 1734) was a French military commander and an illustrious general of Louis XIV of France. He was one of only six Marshals to have been promoted Marshal General of France. Early career Villars was born at Moulins (in the present-day département of Allier) in a noble but poor family, his father was the diplomat Pierre de Villars. He entered the French army through the corps of pages in 1671 and distinguished himself at the age of twenty in the Siege of Maastricht in 1673 during the Franco-Dutch War and again at the bloody Battle of Seneffe. A year later he was promoted on the field to mestre de camp (colonel) of a cavalry regiment. The next promotion would take time in spite of a long record of service under Turenne, The Great Condé and Luxembourg, and of his aristocratic birth, as he had incurred the enmity of the powerful Louvois. He was fin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
