Urbain de Maillé-Brézé
Encyclopedia
Urbain de Maillé-Brézé (1597 - February, 13 1650), was a Marshal of France
during the Thirty Years' War
and Franco-Spanish War (1635).
in 1632 and viceroy of Catalonia in 1641.
Urbain de Maillé-Brézé fought in many battles. He participated in the Siege of La Rochelle
(1627–1628). In 1635 he conquered Heidelberg
and Speyer
, together with Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force
, at the head of the Army of Germany.
In 1635 he was put, together with Gaspard III de Coligny
, at the head of the French army that invaded Flanders. They won the Battle of Les Avins
against the Spanish, but the Siege of Leuven
was a complete failure.
In 1641, together with duc de la Meilleraye
, he conquered Lens
in 3 days, Aire-sur-la-Lys
(august) and Bapaume
(September).
After these successes Maillé-Brézé is made Viceroy of newly conquered Catalonia. He tries to chase the Spanish from Collioure
, Perpignan
and Sainte-Marie
, but fails. In May 1642 he is replaced and retires from active duty to spend the rest of his life in his castle in Milly-le-Meugon
.
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...
during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and Franco-Spanish War (1635).
Biography
Married with Nicole du Plessis-Richelieu, sister of cardinal Richelieu, Urbain de Maillé-Brézé had a brilliant career. He was ambassador in Sweden in 1631, Marshal of FranceMarshal 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...
in 1632 and viceroy of Catalonia in 1641.
Urbain de Maillé-Brézé fought in many battles. He participated in the Siege of La Rochelle
Siege of La Rochelle
The Siege of La Rochelle was a result of a war between the French royal forces of Louis XIII of France and the Huguenots of La Rochelle in 1627-1628...
(1627–1628). In 1635 he conquered Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
and Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, together with Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force
Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force
Jacques-Nompar de Caumont, duc de la Force was a marshal of France and peer of France.He was born in La Force, the son of Francois de Caumont and Philippes de Beaupoil....
, at the head of the Army of Germany.
In 1635 he was put, together with Gaspard III de Coligny
Gaspard III de Coligny
Gaspard III de Coligny, Maréchal de Châtillon, of the House of Coligny , comte de Coligny and seigneur de Châtillon-sur-Loing, then duc de Coligny, marquis d'Andelot, Peer of France, Marshal of France , was a French Protestant general.He was the son of François de Coligny and his wife Marguerite...
, at the head of the French army that invaded Flanders. They won the Battle of Les Avins
Battle of Les Avins
The Battle of Les Avins or Battle of Avein was fought on May 20, 1635 during the Thirty Years' War between a French and a Spanish army.The battle was fought in the Belgian village of Les Avins, south of Huy, in what was then the bishopric of Liège...
against the Spanish, but the Siege of Leuven
Siege of Leuven
The Siege of Leuven was an important siege in the Thirty Years' War in which a Franco-Dutch army under Frederick Henry of Orange and the French Marshals Urbain de Maillé-Brezé and Gaspard III de Coligny, who had invaded the Spanish Netherlands from two sides, laid siege to the Spanish city of...
was a complete failure.
In 1641, together with duc de la Meilleraye
Charles de La Porte
Charles de La Porte was a French nobleman and general. He was marquis then duke of La Meilleraye, duke of Rethel and peer of France, baron of Parthenay and of Saint-Maixent, count of Secondigny, seigneur of Le Boisliet, La Lunardière, La Jobelinière and Villeneuve.In 1639 he became Marshal of...
, he conquered Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
in 3 days, Aire-sur-la-Lys
Aire-sur-la-Lys
Aire-sur-la-Lys is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Geography:The commune is located 10 miles southeast of Saint-Omer, at the junction of the N43 with several departmental roads, by the banks of the Lys and the Laquette rivers.-History:Aire-sur-la-Lys is mentioned for...
(august) and Bapaume
Bapaume
Bapaume is a commune and the seat of a canton in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A farming and light industrial town located 10 miles south of Arras at the junction of the A1 autoroute and the N17 and N30 national roads its location is...
(September).
After these successes Maillé-Brézé is made Viceroy of newly conquered Catalonia. He tries to chase the Spanish from Collioure
Collioure
Collioure is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies on the Mediterranean and was a part of the ancient Roussillon province....
, Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
and Sainte-Marie
Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Orientales
Sainte-Marie or Sainte-Marie-la-Mer is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-References:*...
, but fails. In May 1642 he is replaced and retires from active duty to spend the rest of his life in his castle in Milly-le-Meugon
Milly-le-Meugon
Milly-le-Meugon is a village now attached to the city of Gennes, Maine-et-Loire department, France. It is also the site of a castle, which also belonged to the Maillé-Brézé family, a notable family of the French nobility with close ties to King Louis XIII's powerful minister, the Cardinal...
.
Marriage and children
He married on november 25 1617 Nicole du Plessis-Richelieu (1587–1635), sister of cardinal Richelieu. They had two children :- Jean Armand de Maillé-BrézéJean Armand de Maillé-BrézéJean Armand de Maillé-Brézé was a French admiral.He was born in Milly-le-Meugon, in one of the most powerful French families of the time; his father was Urbain de Maillé-Brézé, marquis de Brézé, Marshal of France, his uncle Cardinal Richelieu, King Louis XIII's renowned minister, and his...
, (1619-1646), French admiral. - Claire-Clémence de Maillé-BrézéClaire-Clémence de Maillé-BrézéClaire-Clémence de Maillé-Brézé, Princess of Condé , Princess of Condé and Duchess of Fronsac, was a French noblewoman from the Brézé family and a niece of Cardinal Richelieu...
, (1628–1694), married Louis II de Bourbon, prince de Condé
Links
- Milly-le-MeugonMilly-le-MeugonMilly-le-Meugon is a village now attached to the city of Gennes, Maine-et-Loire department, France. It is also the site of a castle, which also belonged to the Maillé-Brézé family, a notable family of the French nobility with close ties to King Louis XIII's powerful minister, the Cardinal...
- Biographie (Site of professor Dénecheau)