Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 27 July 1675
- Vicomte de Turenne was named Marshal of France (Maréchal de France) and was later even promoted to Marshal General of France. This highest possible title in the French royal army was bestowed only a few times in history.
On this day in 1675, French military commander Turenne was killed in the Battle of Salzbach in Germany.
He was a member of the famous La Tour d’Auvergne dynasty, which had the status of so-called “foreign prince” in France (French: Prince étranger). Members of such dynasties were higher in rank than all members of the French nobility and were allowed to marry even the royal princesses.
Turenne’s name was Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, and he had the title of Viscount of Turenne (Vicomte de Turenne). It is interesting to note that the title of viscount was held in high regard in France, though it was nominally lower than the title of count and marquis. The reason for this was its rarity, as well as its long tradition.
Turenne achieved many victories on the battlefield in the service of the French king. He was given the title of Marshal of France (Maréchal de France), and was later even promoted to Marshal General of France. This highest possible title in the French royal army was bestowed extremely rarely (only a few times in history). In French, the full name of the position was Maréchal Général des Camps et Armées du Roi.
On this day, in the Battle of Salzbach in Germany, Turenne was hit with a deadly shot. Apparently, the viscount was shot at the very beginning of the battle, but even so, the French army was victorious. Vicomte de Turenne was 63 at the time of his death.
