Godefroi, Comte d'Estrades (1607 – February 26, 1686) was a French diplomat and
marshal
Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...
.
Biography
D'Estrades was born in
Agen
Agen (, , ) is the prefecture of the Lot-et-Garonne department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Southwestern France. It lies on the river Garonne, southeast of Bordeaux. In 2021, the commune had a population of 32,485.
Geography
The city of Agen l ...
. He was the son of Francois d'Estrades (died 1653), a partisan of
Henry IV, and brother of ,
Bishop of Condom. He became a page to
Louis XIII
Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown.
...
, and at the age of nineteen was sent on a mission to
Maurice of Holland.
In 1646 d'Estrades was named ambassador extraordinary to
Holland
Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...
, and took part in the conferences at
Münster
Münster (; ) is an independent city#Germany, independent city (''Kreisfreie Stadt'') in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a ...
. Sent in 1661 as Ambassador to
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, he obtained in 1662 the restitution of
Dunkirk
Dunkirk ( ; ; ; Picard language, Picard: ''Dunkèke''; ; or ) is a major port city in the Departments of France, department of Nord (French department), Nord in northern France. It lies from the Belgium, Belgian border. It has the third-larg ...
. In a dispute in London over precedence of the Ambassadors' carriages, he clashed with
Charles de Watteville, Ambassador of Spain, which degenerated into an armed struggle with several dead, and almost led to a new Franco-Spanish war.
In 1667 he negotiated the
Treaty of Breda with the
king of Denmark
The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional political system, institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous administrative division, autonomous territories of the Faroe Is ...
, and in 1678 the
Treaty of Nijmwegen, which ended the war with Holland. Independently of these diplomatic missions, he took part in the principal campaigns of
Louis XIV
LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...
, in
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
(1648), in
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
(1655), in Holland (1672); and was created
marshal of France
Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
in 1675. He left ''Lettres, memoires et négociations en qual d'ambassadeur en Hollande depuis 1663 jusqu'en 1668'', of which the first edition in 1709 was followed by a nine-volume edition (London (the Hague), 1743).
Family
Of the sons of Godefroi d'Estrades, was ambassador to Venice and Piedmont;
Louis, marquis d'Estrades (died 1711), succeeded his father as governor of Dunkirk, and was the father of
Godefroi Louis, comte d'Estrades (died 1717), lieutenant-general, who was killed at the
siege of Belgrade.
See also
*
Marshals of France
Marshal of 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 (1793–1804) and for a period ...
Notes
References
*
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Estrades, Godefroi, Comte d'
17th-century French diplomats
Ambassadors of France to the Netherlands
Ambassadors of France to the Kingdom of England
People from Agen
1607 births
1686 deaths
Marshals of France
People from Agenais