Auguste Marie Raymond, Comte de la Marck
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Auguste Marie Raymond d'Arenberg, Prince of Arenberg, Count of La Marck (30 August 1753 – 1833)
Auguste-Marie-Raymond, Count de la Marck was the second son and fourth child of Charles, 5th Duke of Arenberg
, the head of the House of Arenberg
, and who still held the rank of sovereign princes, was born on the 30 August, 1753, at Brussels, where his father resided. The duke, who had served with great distinction during the Seven Years' War
, and was a field-marshal in the Austrian army, originally intended Prince Auguste for the same service, in which, indeed, he began his career at the age of fifteen; but certain family circumstances altered his destination.
Louis Engelbert, Compte de la Marck, the last of his name, and the father-in-law of Charles, 5th Duke of Arenberg, was the proprietor of a regiment of German infantry in the service of France, and, having no son, proposed that Prince Augustus should enter the French service, offering, if he did so, to give him the regiment which it was in his power to dispose of. The proposition was accepted, and it was further arranged that on the death of his maternal grandfather, the young prince should take the title of compte de la Marck, by which he subsequently became known. The family of Arenberg
had constantly borne arms in the Austrian army, but belonging to a sovereign house, they were free to take service wherever they pleased; the Duke d'Arenberg, however, who stood high in the estimation of the Empress-Queen, Maria Theresa
, judged it advisable to obtain her consent to this change in the career of his son. The request was made at the very moment when the marriage was decided on between the Archduchess Marie-Antoinette and the Dauphin of France; and the empress, in acceding to it, strongly recommended the Prince of Arenberg to her daughter. He was accordingly presented in due form to Louis XV, assisted at all the fetes which were given on the occasion of the marriage, was warmly welcomed by the dauphiness, and honored by a kindness and confidence never afterwards withdrawn. Consequently, the Marck was a zealous defender of Marie-Antoinette, whom he endeavored, to represent as much less disposed towards political interference—until the gravity of events compelled her to interfere—than she has often described during his later life.
After being thus presented, Prince Augustus joined his regiment in the South of France, remained with it for a year to learn his duty, and then, at the age of twenty, returned to court, where, having succeeded to his grandfather's title, and being invested with the rank of Grandee of Spain, he enjoyed every facility for establishing a political and social connection of the highest kind.
Marck distinguishing himself in India fighting under Count de Bussy, and from whence he returned severely wounded. On his return he was involved in a duel in Paris with a former young Swedish officer of his regiment, called M. Peyron. Marck and Peyron had exchanged words before Marck's regiment had embarked for India when Peyron had resigned his commission. They fought with swords, and after a few passes M. Peyron fell dead, having received a sword thrust through an eye. The Count perceived at the same moment that he also was wounded, by a torrent of blood which gushed from his mouth. M. Peyron's sword had in fact pierced his lungs just below the armpit, leaving a slight mark on his back.
Marck recovered from his wounds and directed his martial qualities towards his military career. He bestowed considerable pains on the discipline of his regiment, which became a model for the rest of the service, was appointed inspector-general of infantry, and finally vice-president of the committee for regulating the tactics of the troops of the line, in which latter capacity he acquired considerable reputation.
These duties were Marck's chief occupation till 1789, apart from them, having married in 1776, Marck led an agreeable life, alternately at Raismes
, his country residence near Valenciennes
, and at Versailles, where his rank and position gave him the means of observing all that was passing, which he appears to have noted with care and tolerable impartiality. As he had no personal interests to serve, sought no employment, needed no title, had ample wealth, and, the ties of friendship excepted, stood aloof from all who sought the monarch's levée
or the minister's ante-chamber.
In 1789 Marck met with Count de Mirabeau
at a dinner given by the Prince de Poix, the Governor of Versailles, to which Mirabeau was taken by M. de Meilhan, a friend of Marck. Though de la Marck and Mirabeau met each other several times after this on terms of growing intimacy, it was not till the convocation of States-General, in 1789, that their friendship became closely cemented.
Marck, who was friend of both the Queen and Mirabeau became an interlocutor between them. After the march on Versailles
Marck consulted Mirabeau as to what measures the king ought to take, and Mirabeau, drew up a state paper, which was presented to the king by Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII
. However as events unfolded these negotiations came to nothing.
During this period Marck was first a member of the States-general, and afterwards of the National Assembly. However he was deprived of command of his regiment by the National Assembly and when the royal cause became hopeless he left France, and entered the Austrian army with the rank of major-general. He was employed as a diplomatist on various occasions, but never on any military service. On his brother's establishment at Paris (Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg
), he was anxious to re-enter the service of France; this however Napoleon would not allow him to do, and he remained at Vienna till 1814, when he came to Brussels, and was made lieutenant-general by the new king of the Netherlands. He left the Dutch army after the revolution of 1830, and died in 1833.
Auguste-Marie-Raymond, Count de la Marck was the second son and fourth child of Charles, 5th Duke of Arenberg
Charles Marie Raymond of Arenberg
Charles Marie Raymond d'Arenberg was the fifth Duke of Arenberg, 11th Duke of Aarschot and an Austrian Field Marshal.-Biography:...
, the head of the House of Arenberg
House of Arenberg
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Eifel. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy...
, and who still held the rank of sovereign princes, was born on the 30 August, 1753, at Brussels, where his father resided. The duke, who had served with great distinction during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, and was a field-marshal in the Austrian army, originally intended Prince Auguste for the same service, in which, indeed, he began his career at the age of fifteen; but certain family circumstances altered his destination.
Louis Engelbert, Compte de la Marck, the last of his name, and the father-in-law of Charles, 5th Duke of Arenberg, was the proprietor of a regiment of German infantry in the service of France, and, having no son, proposed that Prince Augustus should enter the French service, offering, if he did so, to give him the regiment which it was in his power to dispose of. The proposition was accepted, and it was further arranged that on the death of his maternal grandfather, the young prince should take the title of compte de la Marck, by which he subsequently became known. The family of Arenberg
Arenberg
Arenberg, also spelled as Aremberg or Ahremberg, is a historic county, principality and finally duchy located in modern Germany. The Dukes of Arenberg remain a prominent Belgian aristocratic family.- History :...
had constantly borne arms in the Austrian army, but belonging to a sovereign house, they were free to take service wherever they pleased; the Duke d'Arenberg, however, who stood high in the estimation of the Empress-Queen, Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, judged it advisable to obtain her consent to this change in the career of his son. The request was made at the very moment when the marriage was decided on between the Archduchess Marie-Antoinette and the Dauphin of France; and the empress, in acceding to it, strongly recommended the Prince of Arenberg to her daughter. He was accordingly presented in due form to Louis XV, assisted at all the fetes which were given on the occasion of the marriage, was warmly welcomed by the dauphiness, and honored by a kindness and confidence never afterwards withdrawn. Consequently, the Marck was a zealous defender of Marie-Antoinette, whom he endeavored, to represent as much less disposed towards political interference—until the gravity of events compelled her to interfere—than she has often described during his later life.
After being thus presented, Prince Augustus joined his regiment in the South of France, remained with it for a year to learn his duty, and then, at the age of twenty, returned to court, where, having succeeded to his grandfather's title, and being invested with the rank of Grandee of Spain, he enjoyed every facility for establishing a political and social connection of the highest kind.
Marck distinguishing himself in India fighting under Count de Bussy, and from whence he returned severely wounded. On his return he was involved in a duel in Paris with a former young Swedish officer of his regiment, called M. Peyron. Marck and Peyron had exchanged words before Marck's regiment had embarked for India when Peyron had resigned his commission. They fought with swords, and after a few passes M. Peyron fell dead, having received a sword thrust through an eye. The Count perceived at the same moment that he also was wounded, by a torrent of blood which gushed from his mouth. M. Peyron's sword had in fact pierced his lungs just below the armpit, leaving a slight mark on his back.
Marck recovered from his wounds and directed his martial qualities towards his military career. He bestowed considerable pains on the discipline of his regiment, which became a model for the rest of the service, was appointed inspector-general of infantry, and finally vice-president of the committee for regulating the tactics of the troops of the line, in which latter capacity he acquired considerable reputation.
These duties were Marck's chief occupation till 1789, apart from them, having married in 1776, Marck led an agreeable life, alternately at Raismes
Raismes
Raismes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-References:*...
, his country residence near Valenciennes
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
, and at Versailles, where his rank and position gave him the means of observing all that was passing, which he appears to have noted with care and tolerable impartiality. As he had no personal interests to serve, sought no employment, needed no title, had ample wealth, and, the ties of friendship excepted, stood aloof from all who sought the monarch's levée
Levée (ceremony)
Lever , adopted in English as levée—initially the simple act of getting up in the morning—has traditionally been a daily moment of intimacy and accessibility to a monarch or leader...
or the minister's ante-chamber.
In 1789 Marck met with Count de Mirabeau
Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau
Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau was a French revolutionary, as well as a writer, diplomat, freemason, journalist and French politician at the same time. He was a popular orator and statesman. During the French Revolution, he was a moderate, favoring a constitutional monarchy built on...
at a dinner given by the Prince de Poix, the Governor of Versailles, to which Mirabeau was taken by M. de Meilhan, a friend of Marck. Though de la Marck and Mirabeau met each other several times after this on terms of growing intimacy, it was not till the convocation of States-General, in 1789, that their friendship became closely cemented.
Marck, who was friend of both the Queen and Mirabeau became an interlocutor between them. After the march on Versailles
The March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles, also known as The October March, The October Days, or simply The March on Versailles, was one of the earliest and most significant events of the French Revolution. The march began among women in the marketplaces of Paris who, on the morning of 5 October 1789, were...
Marck consulted Mirabeau as to what measures the king ought to take, and Mirabeau, drew up a state paper, which was presented to the king by Monsieur, afterwards Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
. However as events unfolded these negotiations came to nothing.
During this period Marck was first a member of the States-general, and afterwards of the National Assembly. However he was deprived of command of his regiment by the National Assembly and when the royal cause became hopeless he left France, and entered the Austrian army with the rank of major-general. He was employed as a diplomatist on various occasions, but never on any military service. On his brother's establishment at Paris (Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg
Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg
Louis Engelbert, 6th Duke of Arenberg , nicknamed the blind duke, was between 1778 and 1801 the sixth Duke of Arenberg and 12th Duke of Aarschot...
), he was anxious to re-enter the service of France; this however Napoleon would not allow him to do, and he remained at Vienna till 1814, when he came to Brussels, and was made lieutenant-general by the new king of the Netherlands. He left the Dutch army after the revolution of 1830, and died in 1833.