Admiral of France
Encyclopedia
The title Admiral of France is one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France
, the naval equivalent of Marshal of France
.
The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France
, during the Eighth Crusade
. At the time it was equivalent to the office of Constable of France
. The Admiral was responsible for defending the coasts of Picardy
, Normandy
, Aunis
, and Saintonge
. In times of war, it was his responsibility to assemble French merchant ships into a navy. He had to arm, equip, and supply the ships for the course of the war, and give letters of marque to corsairs
. In peacetime, he was responsible for the maintenance of the royal fleet (when one existed). He was also responsible for maritime commerce and the merchant fleet.
During the modern era, few admirals were sailors - moreover, with the exception of Claude d'Annebault
, none of them actually commanded the fleet. It must be said that the actual power of the admiral was rather small, partly because of the creation of other admirals (the Admiral of the Levant for Provence
, the Admiral of Brittany
, and the Admiral of the West for Guyenne
), and because of the creation of the General of the Galleys and the Secretary of State for the Navy.
The title, like the title of Constable, had much more political importance (which would eventually lead to the suppression of both titles). It was also a lucrative position: the admiral was allocated a part of the fines and confiscations imposed by the admiralty, and he had a right to unclaimed ships and shipwrecks as well as a tenth of the spoils taken in battle. He also had juridicial rights, comparable to those exercised by the constable and the marshal. This was known as the Table de marbre, after the seat of the admiralty in Paris
. A second headquarters of the admiralty was established at Rouen
, and about 50 other headquarters were set up at various other places around the coast of France. These tribunals judged cases dealing with fishing disputes and any crimes committed in the country's ports.
The Admiralty was suppressed in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu, who had been named to the newly-created post of Grand Master of Navigation and who wanted to bring all naval authority under one position. The position was recreated in 1669, but was now only an honorific title. The first new admiral was Louis de Bourbon, comte de Vermandois
, who at the time was only 2 years old. Thereafter, only Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse involved himself in maritime affairs.
It was suppressed once more in 1791, restored in 1805 in the person of Marshal of France
Joachim Murat
. Currently, the last known Admiral of France was Trehouard de Beaulieu, in 1869.
Great Officers of the Crown of France
The Great Officers of the Crown of France, known as the Grand Dignitaries of the Empire during the French Empire, were the most important officers of state of the royal court in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the French monarch, with all but the...
, the naval equivalent of Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
.
The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France
Louis IX of France
Louis IX , commonly Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death. He was also styled Louis II, Count of Artois from 1226 to 1237. Born at Poissy, near Paris, he was an eighth-generation descendant of Hugh Capet, and thus a member of the House of Capet, and the son of Louis VIII and...
, during the Eighth Crusade
Eighth Crusade
The Eighth Crusade was a crusade launched by Louis IX, King of France, in 1270. The Eighth Crusade is sometimes counted as the Seventh, if the Fifth and Sixth Crusades of Frederick II are counted as a single crusade...
. At the time it was equivalent to the office of Constable of France
Constable of France
The Constable of France , as the First Officer of the Crown, was one of the original five Great Officers of the Crown of France and Commander in Chief of the army. He, theoretically, as Lieutenant-general of the King, outranked all the nobles and was second-in-command only to the King...
. The Admiral was responsible for defending the coasts of Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, Aunis
Aunis
Aunis is a historical province of France, situated in the north-west of the department of Charente-Maritime. Its historic capital is La Rochelle, which took over from Castrum Allionis the historic capital which gives its name to the province....
, and Saintonge
Saintonge
Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of France within the département Charente-Maritime, west and south of Charente in the administrative region of Poitou-Charentes....
. In times of war, it was his responsibility to assemble French merchant ships into a navy. He had to arm, equip, and supply the ships for the course of the war, and give letters of marque to corsairs
Privateer
A privateer is a private person or ship authorized by a government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping during wartime. Privateering was a way of mobilizing armed ships and sailors without having to spend public money or commit naval officers...
. In peacetime, he was responsible for the maintenance of the royal fleet (when one existed). He was also responsible for maritime commerce and the merchant fleet.
During the modern era, few admirals were sailors - moreover, with the exception of Claude d'Annebault
Claude d'Annebault
Claude d'Annebault was a French military officer; Marshall of France ; Admiral of France ; and Governor of Piedmont in 1541. He led the French invasion of the Isle of Wight in 1545...
, none of them actually commanded the fleet. It must be said that the actual power of the admiral was rather small, partly because of the creation of other admirals (the Admiral of the Levant for Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, the Admiral of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, and the Admiral of the West for Guyenne
Guyenne
Guyenne or Guienne , , ; Occitan Guiana ) is a vaguely defined historic region of south-western France. The Province of Guyenne, sometimes called the Province of Guyenne and Gascony, was a large province of pre-revolutionary France....
), and because of the creation of the General of the Galleys and the Secretary of State for the Navy.
The title, like the title of Constable, had much more political importance (which would eventually lead to the suppression of both titles). It was also a lucrative position: the admiral was allocated a part of the fines and confiscations imposed by the admiralty, and he had a right to unclaimed ships and shipwrecks as well as a tenth of the spoils taken in battle. He also had juridicial rights, comparable to those exercised by the constable and the marshal. This was known as the Table de marbre, after the seat of the admiralty in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. A second headquarters of the admiralty was established at Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, and about 50 other headquarters were set up at various other places around the coast of France. These tribunals judged cases dealing with fishing disputes and any crimes committed in the country's ports.
The Admiralty was suppressed in 1627 by Cardinal Richelieu, who had been named to the newly-created post of Grand Master of Navigation and who wanted to bring all naval authority under one position. The position was recreated in 1669, but was now only an honorific title. The first new admiral was Louis de Bourbon, comte de Vermandois
Louis de Bourbon, comte de Vermandois
Louis de Bourbon, Légitimé de France, Count of Vermandois was the eldest surviving son of Louis XIV of France and his mistress Louise de La Vallière....
, who at the time was only 2 years old. Thereafter, only Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse involved himself in maritime affairs.
It was suppressed once more in 1791, restored in 1805 in the person of Marshal of France
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
Joachim Murat
Joachim Murat
Joachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
. Currently, the last known Admiral of France was Trehouard de Beaulieu, in 1869.
Admirals
- Hugues QuiéretHugues QuiéretHugues Quiéret was a French nobleman, admiral and military commander. He was a knight, lord of Tours-en-Vimeu and of Hamicourt, in Picardie. Before becoming an admiral, he had been a conseiller, chambellan, maître d'hôtel du roi, then the seneschal of Beaucaire and Nimes from 1325 to 1332.He was...
1340 - Luis de la CerdaLuis de la CerdaLuis de La Cerda, also called Louis of Spain was an expatriate royal prince of the Crown of Castile, who lived and served in the Kingdom of France. Among his titles, Luis de la Cerda was the count of Talmont, count of Clermont and an admiral of France...
1341–1346 - Jean de VienneJean de VienneJean de Vienne was a French knight, general and Admiral of France during the Hundred Years' War.-Early life:Jean de Vienne was born at Dole, in what is now Franche-Comté. As a nobleman, he started his military career at the age of 19, and was made a knight at 21.-Career:By the age of 24, de Vienne...
1373–1396 - Louis de CulantLouis de CulantAdmiral Louis de Culant was a French nobleman and Admiral of France. He held the titles of Baron of Châteauneuf-sur-Cher, Lord of Culant and Ainay-le-Vieil...
1421–1437 - André de Laval-MontmorencyAndré de Laval-MontmorencyAndré de Laval-Montmorency, seigneur de Lohéac was a Marshal of France. He was the son of Guy XIII de Laval and Anne de Laval....
?1437– - Jean V de BueilJean V de BueilJean V de Bueil , called le Fléau des Anglais "plague of the English", count of Sancerre, vicount of Carentan, lord of Montrésor, Château-la-Vallière, Saint-Calais, Vaujours, Ussé and Vailly, son of Jean IV de Bueil and Margarete Dauphine of Auvergne. He is the author of Le Jouvencel Jean V de...
1450–1477 - Charles d'AmboiseCharles d'AmboiseCharles d'Amboise, Seigneur de Chaumont was a French politician and military figure, who was the French governor of Milan during the reign of Louis XII, and a French commander during the War of the League of Cambrai.-Biography:...
1473–1511 - Guillaume Gouffier, seigneur de BonnivetGuillaume Gouffier, seigneur de BonnivetGuillaume Gouffier, seigneur de Bonnivet was a French soldier.The younger brother of Artus Gouffier, seigneur de Boisy, tutor of Francis I of France, Bonnivet was brought up with Francis, and after the young king's accession he became one of the most powerful of the royal favourites. In 1515 he...
1517–1525 - Philippe de ChabotPhilippe de ChabotPhilippe de Chabot, Seigneur De Brion, Count of Charny and Buzançois , also known as Admiral De Brion, was an admiral of France.- Biography :...
1526–1543 - Claude d'AnnebaultClaude d'AnnebaultClaude d'Annebault was a French military officer; Marshall of France ; Admiral of France ; and Governor of Piedmont in 1541. He led the French invasion of the Isle of Wight in 1545...
1544–1552 - Gaspard de ColignyGaspard de ColignyGaspard de Coligny , Seigneur de Châtillon, was a French nobleman and admiral, best remembered as a disciplined Huguenot leader in the French Wars of Religion.-Ancestry:...
1552–1572 - Charles of Lorraine, Duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, Duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne , or Charles de Guise, was a French nobleman of the house of Guise and a military leader of the Catholic League, which he headed during the French Wars of Religion, following the assassination of his brothers at Blois in 1588...
–1582 - Anne de JoyeuseAnne de JoyeuseAnne de Batarnay de Joyeuse, Baron d'Arques, Vicomte then Duke of Joyeuse was a royal favourite and active participant in the French Wars of Religion....
1582–1587 - Jean Louis de Nogaret de La ValetteJean Louis de Nogaret de La ValetteJean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette , created Duke of Épernon, was a powerful member of the French nobility at the turn of the 17th century. He was deeply involved in plots and politics throughout his life....
1587– - Charles de Gontaut, duc de BironCharles de Gontaut, duc de BironCharles de Gontaut, duc de Biron was a French soldier.-Biography:He was the son of Armand de Gontaut, baron de Biron, under whose command he fought for the royal party against the Catholic League in the later stages of the Wars of Religion in France. His efforts won him the name “Thunderbolt of...
1592–1594 - André de BrancasAndré de BrancasAndré de Brancas or Amiral de Villars was a French admiral.He fought for the Catholic League and the Spanish, wishing to make Normandy an independent lordship. He remained in Rouen even after the abjuration of Henry IV of France, and did not submit until 1594. He was made an Admiral of France on...
1594–1595 - Henri II de MontmorencyHenri II de MontmorencyHenri II de Montmorency was a French nobleman and military commander.Born at Chantilly, Oise, he was the son of duke Henry I, whom he succeeded in 1614, having previously been made grand admiral...
- César de Bourbon, duc de VendômeCésar de Bourbon, duc de VendômeCésar de Bourbon, Légitimé de France , Duke of Vendôme, was the son of Henry IV of France and his mistress Gabrielle d'Estrées. Sometimes simply known as César de Vendôme. Through his daughter, Élisabeth de Bourbon, César was a great-great-great-grandfather of Louis XV of France, merging thereafter...
1651–1665 - Louis de Bourbon, comte de VermandoisLouis de Bourbon, comte de VermandoisLouis de Bourbon, Légitimé de France, Count of Vermandois was the eldest surviving son of Louis XIV of France and his mistress Louise de La Vallière....
1669–1683 - Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de ToulouseLouis-Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de ToulouseLouis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse , duc de Penthièvre , d'Arc, de Châteauvillain and de Rambouillet , , was the son of Louis XIV and of his mistress Madame de Montespan...
1683–1737 - Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon was the son of Louis Alexandre de Bourbon and his wife Marie Victoire de Noailles. He was also a grandson of Louis XIV of France and his mistress, Madame de Montespan. From birth he was known as the Duke of Penthièvre...
1737–1789 - Joachim MuratJoachim MuratJoachim-Napoléon Murat , Marshal of France and Grand Admiral or Admiral of France, 1st Prince Murat, was Grand Duke of Berg from 1806 to 1808 and then King of Naples from 1808 to 1815...
1805–1815 - Albin RoussinAlbin RoussinAlbin Reine Roussin was a French admiral and statesman.-Republic and Empire:His father was a lawyer who was arrested during the French Revolution when Roussin was aged twelve. He left home in Dijon and travelled to Dunkerque where he enlisted as a cadet in the French Navy in December of 1793. He...
1840–1854 - Charles BaudinCharles BaudinCharles Baudin , was a French admiral, whose naval service extended from the First Empire through the early days of the Second Empire....
1854–1854 - François Alphonse HamelinFrançois Alphonse HamelinFerdinand-Alphonse Hamelin , French admiral, was born in Pont-l'Évêque, Normandy.He went to sea in 1806 as cabin boy with his uncle, Jacques Félix Emmanuel Hamelin, on the frigate Vénus. The Vénus was part of the French squadron in the Indian Ocean, and young Hamelin had an opportunity of seeing...
1854–1864 - Armand Joseph BruatArmand Joseph BruatArmand Joseph Bruat was a French admiral.- Biography :Bruat joined the French Navy in 1811, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars. His early career included far-ranging sea duties: in 1815, he served in Brazil and the West Indies. From 1817 to 1820 he was with French forces in the Levant...
1855–1855 - Charles Rigault de GenouillyCharles Rigault de GenouillyPierre-Louis-Charles Rigault de Genouilly was a nineteenth-century French admiral...
1860–1873 - Léonard CharnerLéonard CharnerLéonard Victor Joseph Charner was an Admiral of the French Navy.-Far East:In 1843, Captain Charner was part of the fleet sent to the Pacific Ocean by the French Foreign Minister François Guizot under Admiral Jean-Baptiste Cécille and together with the diplomat Lagrene...
1864–1869
Sources
- B. Barbiche, Les institutions de la monarchie française à l'époque moderne, Presses unversitaires de France, 1999