Bernardin Gigault de Bellefonds
Encyclopedia
Bernardin Gigault de Bellefonds (1630 - 4 December 1694) was a French general and marshal of France
.
and of general Claude Louis Hector de Villars
. In 1643, at the death of his father, he became governor of Valognes
. In 1651 he defended Cognac
, in 1653 he fought in Catalonia
and in 1654 he took part in the expedition to Castellammare del Golfo
. The following year he became lieutenant general. In 1659 he scored a victory at Tournai
in the Flanders, and later served in Italy
under the Duke of Parma.
In 1666 he was in the United Provinces
. After the declaration of war against Spain in 1667, he commanded several detachments and was later governor of the area between Sambre
and Meuse
. On 8 July 1688 he was created marshal of France
. Two years later he was ambassador to England and subsequently fought in Holland. Here he scored a victory in 1672, but complains from his commander, François de Créquy
, whose prudential orders he had disobeyed, led him to a self exile in his Normandy
lands. In November 1673 he was appointed as commander of the French army in Holland, but gain fell in disgrace and returned to a command in 1684 in Catalonia, where he successfully besieged Girona
.
In June 1692 he led the expeditionary corps which should support king James II of England
in the Battle of La Hogue. Bellefonds died on 4 December 1694 at the Château de Vincennes
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...
.
Biography
He was a member of the noble Gigault de Bellefonds family. He was the cousin of academic Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-PierreCharles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre
Charles-Irénée Castel, abbé de Saint-Pierre was an influential French writer and radical. After Georg von Podiebrad in his Tractatus, he was, perhaps, one of the first to propose an international organisation responsible for maintaining peace.-Life:Saint-Pierre was born at the château de...
and of general Claude Louis Hector de Villars
Claude Louis Hector de Villars
Claude Louis Hector de Villars, Prince de Martigues, Marquis then Duc de Villars, Vicomte de Melun was the last great general of Louis XIV of France and one of the most brilliant commanders in French military history, one of only six Marshals who have been promoted to Marshal General of...
. In 1643, at the death of his father, he became governor of Valognes
Valognes
Valognes is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.It lies on the Merderet river, southeast of Cherbourg.-History:...
. In 1651 he defended Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
, in 1653 he fought in Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and in 1654 he took part in the expedition to Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo
Castellammare del Golfo is a town and comune in the Trapani Province of Sicily. The name is roughly translated "Sea- Fortress of the Gulf", deriving from the medieval fortress in the harbor...
. The following year he became lieutenant general. In 1659 he scored a victory at Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
in the Flanders, and later served in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
under the Duke of Parma.
In 1666 he was in the United Provinces
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. After the declaration of war against Spain in 1667, he commanded several detachments and was later governor of the area between Sambre
Sambre
The Sambre is a river in northern France and Wallonia, southern Belgium, left tributary of the Meuse River. The ancient Romans called the river Sabis.-Course:...
and Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
. On 8 July 1688 he was created 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...
. Two years later he was ambassador to England and subsequently fought in Holland. Here he scored a victory in 1672, but complains from his commander, François de Créquy
François de Créquy
François, chevalier de Créquy and marquis de Marines was marshal of France.-Life:He was born in the military Créquy family dating back to the 10th century....
, whose prudential orders he had disobeyed, led him to a self exile in his 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:...
lands. In November 1673 he was appointed as commander of the French army in Holland, but gain fell in disgrace and returned to a command in 1684 in Catalonia, where he successfully besieged Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
.
In June 1692 he led the expeditionary corps which should support king James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
in the Battle of La Hogue. Bellefonds died on 4 December 1694 at the Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes
The Château de Vincennes is a massive 14th and 17th century French royal castle in the town of Vincennes, to the east of Paris, now a suburb of the metropolis.-History:...