César Phoebus d'Albret, Count of Miossens
Encyclopedia
César Phoebus d'Albret comte de Miossens, was a French soldier, a Marshal of France
under Louis XIV
, his distant cousin, and a court gallant. He was also a cousin of the marquise de Montespan.
His faithful attachment to Anne of Austria
and Cardinal Mazarin during the Fronde
, rather than any military talent, motivated his designation as a marshal of France, 1 June 1653. He set the name of Miossens aside for the grander name of Albret.
, under Maurice of Nassau and Jean de Werth in the Eighty Years' War against the Spanish in the Low Countries. In 1635 he was made maître de camp alongside his father in a French infantry regiment in the army of Lorraine and commanded a regiment in the siege of Corbie
, 1636. As a Captain in the regiment of Guards in 1639, he became successively ensign then Lieutenant of the Gendarmes de la Garde ordinaire du Roi in 1644, and second-in-command during the Fronde.
Though he was on intimate terms with the young Louis de Bourbon-Condé, the duc d'Enghien, he nevertheless joined the party of Mazarin. On 19 January 1650, he was charged with escorting the arrested dukes of Conti, Condé and Longueville to the donjon at the château de Vincennes
. Mazarin's promise of the rank of Marshal was extracted only at the price of pressures brought by court intrigues, in which César Phoebus was supported by his cousin Madame de Montespan, who was soon to supplant the young Louise de La Vallière
in the King's affections. The title of duke
continued to elude him.
He served as field marshal
at the successful siege of Mardyck
and at Dunkirk in 1646. "He was then 39 years of age and had served very little, never anywhere as a leader, and afterwards saw no more of war," the duc de Saint-Simon
wrote in his memoirs. The Abbé d'Aumont, who had taken a box at the Comédie that the maréchal commanded for his own, was heard to remark, "A fine Marshal! He has never stormed anything except my box!" .
. With the support of Turenne
he was named a chevalier of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit, 31 December 1661, continuing the honour that was traditional in his family. The favour of the marquise de Maintenon secured him the post of governor of Guyenne from November 1670 to 1676. In 1675 he conducted a veritable campaign, pursued with energy, against the public uprising at Bordeaux
over taxes on timber and tobacco, and successfully demolished the Porte Sainte Croix and 500 toises of the city ramparts.
Saint-Simon's incisive word portraits of the duc d'Albret were uncompromising: "He was a man of spirit, competent, proud, and even more, of intrigue. "He was a man who, without having served much and never in charge, made a good account of himself by his spirit, his courage, his address and his magnificence. He kept great state everywhere and had with him at Pons the best company".
His exploits in gallantry are more considerable than his military ones. The list of his conquests is a long one: Marion Delorme
, Ninon de Lenclos, with whom he fathered a son, Marguerite de Béthune-Sully, Madame d'Olone. He frequented the salon
of Françoise d'Aubigné the future future Madame de Maintenon, who said Widowed by Paul Scarron
she took refuge at the hôtel d'Albret, where she met Mme de Montespan, cousin by marriage of the maréchal as well as Bonne d'Heudicourt (his cousin of the Pons family, thanks to whom Mme de Montespan entrusted to her the education of the children she had with Louis XIV, who took a fancy to the widowed governess.
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...
under Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, his distant cousin, and a court gallant. He was also a cousin of the marquise de Montespan.
His faithful attachment to Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
and Cardinal Mazarin during the Fronde
Fronde
The Fronde was a civil war in France, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The word fronde means sling, which Parisian mobs used to smash the windows of supporters of Cardinal Mazarin....
, rather than any military talent, motivated his designation as a marshal of France, 1 June 1653. He set the name of Miossens aside for the grander name of Albret.
Military career
He first took up arms in the service of the United ProvincesDutch 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...
, under Maurice of Nassau and Jean de Werth in the Eighty Years' War against the Spanish in the Low Countries. In 1635 he was made maître de camp alongside his father in a French infantry regiment in the army of Lorraine and commanded a regiment in the siege of Corbie
Corbie
Corbie is a commune of the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The small town is situated up river from Amiens, in the département of Somme and is the main town of the canton of Corbie. It lies in the valley of the River Somme, at the confluence of the River Ancre. The town...
, 1636. As a Captain in the regiment of Guards in 1639, he became successively ensign then Lieutenant of the Gendarmes de la Garde ordinaire du Roi in 1644, and second-in-command during the Fronde.
Though he was on intimate terms with the young Louis de Bourbon-Condé, the duc d'Enghien, he nevertheless joined the party of Mazarin. On 19 January 1650, he was charged with escorting the arrested dukes of Conti, Condé and Longueville to the donjon 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:...
. Mazarin's promise of the rank of Marshal was extracted only at the price of pressures brought by court intrigues, in which César Phoebus was supported by his cousin Madame de Montespan, who was soon to supplant the young Louise de La Vallière
Louise de La Vallière
Louise de La Vallière was a mistress of Louis XIV of France from 1661 to 1667. She later became the Duchess of La Vallière and Duchess of Vaujours in her own right...
in the King's affections. The title of duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
continued to elude him.
He served as field marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
at the successful siege of Mardyck
Mardyck
Mardyck is a former commune in the Nord department in northern France. Associated since 1980 with Dunkerque.-Heraldry:-References:...
and at Dunkirk in 1646. "He was then 39 years of age and had served very little, never anywhere as a leader, and afterwards saw no more of war," the duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy commonly known as Saint-Simon was a French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs, was born in Paris...
wrote in his memoirs. The Abbé d'Aumont, who had taken a box at the Comédie that the maréchal commanded for his own, was heard to remark, "A fine Marshal! He has never stormed anything except my box!" .
Court career
He married 6 February 1645, Madeleine de Guénégaud, daughter of Gabriel de Guénégaud, seigneur du Plessis-Belleville, a Secretary of State of the Maison du RoiSecretary of State of the Maison du Roi
The Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi was the secretary of state in France during the "Ancien Régime" and Bourbon Restoration in charge of the Département de la Maison du Roi...
. With the support of Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne
Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne,often called simply Turenne was the most illustrious member of the La Tour d'Auvergne family. He achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France...
he was named a chevalier of the Ordre du Saint-Esprit, 31 December 1661, continuing the honour that was traditional in his family. The favour of the marquise de Maintenon secured him the post of governor of Guyenne from November 1670 to 1676. In 1675 he conducted a veritable campaign, pursued with energy, against the public uprising at Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
over taxes on timber and tobacco, and successfully demolished the Porte Sainte Croix and 500 toises of the city ramparts.
Saint-Simon's incisive word portraits of the duc d'Albret were uncompromising: "He was a man of spirit, competent, proud, and even more, of intrigue. "He was a man who, without having served much and never in charge, made a good account of himself by his spirit, his courage, his address and his magnificence. He kept great state everywhere and had with him at Pons the best company".
His exploits in gallantry are more considerable than his military ones. The list of his conquests is a long one: Marion Delorme
Marion Delorme
Marion Delorme was a French courtesan known for her relationships with the important men of her time.- Early life, life as a courtesan, early death :...
, Ninon de Lenclos, with whom he fathered a son, Marguerite de Béthune-Sully, Madame d'Olone. He frequented the salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
of Françoise d'Aubigné the future future Madame de Maintenon, who said Widowed by Paul Scarron
Paul Scarron
Paul Scarron was a French poet, dramatist, and novelist. His precise birthdate is unknown, but he was baptized on July 4, 1610...
she took refuge at the hôtel d'Albret, where she met Mme de Montespan, cousin by marriage of the maréchal as well as Bonne d'Heudicourt (his cousin of the Pons family, thanks to whom Mme de Montespan entrusted to her the education of the children she had with Louis XIV, who took a fancy to the widowed governess.