Biography of Louis de Bourbon Condé
Conde, Louis de Bourbon (Prince of Conde) (1621 – 1686), known as the Grand KA – one of the famous generals, was born in Paris in 1621, died in Fontainebleau in 1686g. When his father's lifetime K. held the title of Duke of Enghien, and early (1641) married a niece of Richelieu, Marie-Breese.
Began his military career for 17 years, he was 22 the command of troops in the war with Spain, comes out on May 19, 1643 landslide victory of Rocroy (amounting to an era in military history) and ends with the campaign this year, taking Tionvillya and several other cities.
Replacing the track. by Turenne, C. receives appointment Commander in Germany and Freiburg (1644) defeated the Bavarian General Mersey. Capture of Mainz, Philippsburg, victory at Nördlingen (1645) follow the bloody battle at
In 1646, K. possession, after a series of military operations, Dunkirk. Seconded to Catalonia (1647), K. unsuccessfully besieged Lleida, but due in 1648 in the Netherlands, is destroyed when the remnants of the once formidable Lens App. Infantry, and contributes to this conclusion of the Peace of Westphalia.
During the outbreak of anti-Fronde K. took first side of Mazarin and mastered Paris, but between the ambitious and arrogant and overbearing commander minister clash was inevitable. By order of cardinal K. was imprisoned in Vincennes Castle. Released a year later, Karl became the head of a new front in, intending to overthrow Mazarin, be in power and even to turn their possession into an independent state.
Rallying around Bordeaux remnants of feudal lords, K. appeared near Paris, but Turenne marched to protect the yard and smashed K., escaped to Paris itself. The great warlord was unskilled politician. Anarchy in the capital, discord between them and other leaders of the Fronde was forced to flee to Netherlands K., and passed on to the Spaniards (1653). Winner of Rocroy drew his gun against his country and ravaging the northeast. franz. province.
In the war that the share of K. rarely encountered luck. Preferring to K. K. citizen neighbor, Mazarin, at the conclusion pirineyskogo World (1659), resigned from AK, which Spain was plotting to give an independent principality at sowing. franz. border. Karl has been restored in their titles and rights, but within 8 years remained out of work. To this period of life is that it is K. candidate for the Polish throne (1660 – 69), initially supported by Louis XIV, subsequently, however, expressed in favor of the Duke neyburgskogo.
In Poland itself the name of K. was very popular, but against his candidacy united party nominees – supported by Emperor Duke of Lorraine and the Duke neyburgskogo. In 1668, K., on behalf of Louis XIV, 3 weeks Franshkonte won in 1672 – 1673. commanded troops in Netherlands, in 1674 the Allies had three bloody battles without a decisive result, in 1675, AK, after the death of Turenne, was sent to Alsace against Montekukulli. This was his last campaign.
The elderly, sick with rheumatism, K. past few years of his life in his possession in Chantilly, surrounded by the enlightened minds of France. The distinguishing feature of military genius Karl is quick scheme, descends upon him among the battle – his famous "inspiration", as characterized by these moments Bossuet.
One of those sudden and daring impulses K. and must win at Rocroy. But K. rightly blamed for the fact that for light rapid and strong onslaught he did not spare the blood stream. As a man, K. differed arrogance, avarice, cruelty, abusive rude to subordinates. In an effort to surround himself with great thinkers of his time, he, nevertheless, mistreated them. K. troops especially distinguished by looting and violence. All this is in sharp contrast with the idealized, without any factual basis, Bossuet, in his magnificent eulogy traits of the great general. cm. Desormeaux "Histoire de Louis de Bourbon" (II., 1766 – 68), Prince Louis-Joseph de Conde, "Essai sur la vie du grand C." (11. 1798, 2 ed. 1806), the Duke of Aumale, "Histoire des princes de S. "(P. 1886 – 1992); Fitzpatrick," The great C and the period of the Fronde "(LA 1874);" Journal d'un voyage a Pairs en 1657 – 58 ", ed. A.-P. Faugere (P. 1862); "Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de Louis de Bourbon, prince de C."(Anonymous, Cologne, 1695); Cheruel," Histoire de France pendant la minorite de Louis XIV "(P. 1879 – 80); his zhe," Histoire de France sous le ministere de Mazarin "(P. 1883).