Maurice de Saxe, Marshal General of France, in 1748

Maurice, comte de Saxe (German Moritz Graf von Sachsen) (28 October 1696 – 20 November 1750), Marshal of France and later also Marshal General of France. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1256x1583, 154 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maurice de Saxe List of French military leaders ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1256x1583, 154 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maurice de Saxe List of French military leaders ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... The year 1696 had the earliest equinoxes and solstices for 400 years in the Gregorian calendar, because this year is a leap year and the Gregorian calendar would have behaved like the Julian calendar since March 1500 had it have been in use that long. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... Baton of a modern Marshal of France The Marshal of France (French: Maréchal de France) is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. ... The title Marshal General of France was given to signify that the recipient had authority over all camps and armies of the King in the days when a Marshal governed only one army usually. ...

Childhood

Maurice de Saxe was born at Goslar as a natural son of Augustus II of Poland and countess Aurora Königsmarck. He was the first of 354 acknowledged illegitimate children. Coordinates: Time zone: CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country: Germany State: Lower Saxony District: Goslar City subdivisions: 12 districts Lord Mayor: Henning Binnewies (SPD) Basic Statistics Area: 92. ... // Illegitimacy is a term that was once in common use for the status of being born to parents who were not validly married to one another. ... Reign From 1697, until 1706 and from 1709, until February 1, 1733 Elected In 1697 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Coronation On September 15, 1697 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House Wettin Parents John George III Wettin Anne Sophie Consorts  ? Children August III Sas Maurice... Aurora Königsmarck Countess Maria Aurora (von) Königsmarck (8 May 1662–16 February 1728), was a Swedish noblewoman who became a mistress of Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony and king of Poland. ...

In 1698, the Countess sent him to his father in Warsaw. Augustus II had been elected King of Poland in the previous year, but the unsettled condition of the country obliged Saxe to spend the greater part of his youth outside its borders. This separation from his father made him independent and had an important effect on his future career. Events January 4 - Palace of Whitehall in London is destroyed by fire. ... Warsaw (Polish: , , in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: ) is the capital of Poland, its largest city, and a gamma world city. ...

Military career

At the age of twelve, Saxe was with the army of Prince Eugene of Savoy, at the sieges of Tournai and Mons and at the Battle of Malplaquet. A proposal at the end of the campaign to send him to a Jesuit college in Brussels was dropped due to the protests of his mother. Upon his return to the camp of the Allies in the beginning of 1710, he displayed a courage so impetuous that Prince Eugene admonished him to not confuse rashness with valour. Prince Eugen von Savoyen in a contemporary painting François-Eugène, Prince of Savoy-Carignan, known as Prinz Eugen von Savoyen in German and Eugenio, Principe di Savoia in Italian (October 18, 1663 – April 24, 1736) was arguable the greatest general to serve the Habsburgs. ... Tournai (in Dutch: Doornik in Latin: Tornacum) is a municipality located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt (in French: Escaut, in Dutch: Schelde), in the Belgian province of Hainaut. ... The central square and town hall of Mons Mons (Dutch: Bergen) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. ... The Battle of Malplaquet was a battle of the War of the Spanish Succession that took place on September 11, 1709 between France and a British–Austrian alliance (known as the Allies). ... Seal of the Society of Jesus. ... Nickname: The Capital Of Europe, Comic City City of a 100 Museums[] Map showing the location of Brussels in Belgium Coordinates: Country Belgium Region Brussels-Capital Region Founded 979 Founded (Region) June 18, 1989  - Mayor (Municipality) Freddy Thielemans Area    - City 162 (Region) km²  (62. ... // Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ...

Saxe next served under Peter the Great against the Swedes. In 1711, his father formally recognized him and he was granted the rank of Count. He then accompanied his father to Pomerania, and in 1712 he took part in the siege of Stralsund. At the age of 17 in 1713 he commanded his own regiment. Peter was a tall figure, with an extremely striking build of 2. ... 1711 (MDCCXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... A count is a nobleman in most European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is also still a countess (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). ... Duchy of Pomerania ruled by the slavic dynasty of Griffits (Polish: Gryfici, German: Greiffen) was a semi-independent state in the 17th century. ... // Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ... Stralsund is a city in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. ...

In manhood, Saxe bore a strong resemblance to his father, both in person and character. His grasp was so powerful that he could bend a horseshoe with his hand, and even at the end of his life, his energy and endurance were scarcely affected by the illnesses his many excesses had caused. In 1714, a marriage was arranged between him and one of the richest of his father's subjects, Johanna Victoria, Countess von Loeben, but he dissipated her fortune so rapidly that he was soon heavily in debt. Since he had also given her more serious grounds of complaint against him, he consented to an annulment of the marriage in 1721. Battle of Gangut, by Maurice Baquoi, 1724-27. ... // Events Pope Innocent XIII becomes pope Johann Sebastian Bach composes the Brandenburg Concertos April 4 - Robert Walpole becomes the first prime minister of Britain September 10 - Treaty of Nystad is signed, bringing an end to the Great Northern War November 2 - Peter I is proclaimed Emperor of All the Russias...

After serving in a campaign against the Turks in 1717, he went to Paris to study mathematics, and in 1720 obtained a commission as maréchal de camp. In 1725, he entered negotiations for election as Duke of Courland, at the insistence of the Duchess Anna Ivanovna, who offered him her hand. He was chosen Duke in 1726, but declined marriage with the Duchess. He soon found it impossible to resist her opposition to his claims, but with the assistance of £30,000 lent him by the French actress Adrienne Lecouvreur, he raised a force by which he maintained his authority till 1727, when he withdrew and took up residence in Paris. // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... // Events January 6 - The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble publishes its findings February 11 - Sweden and Prussia sign the (2nd Treaty of Stockholm) declaring peace. ... Events February 8 - Catherine I became empress of Russia February 20 - The first reported case of white men scalping Native Americans takes place in New Hampshire colony. ... Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ... The crown of Anna Ioannovna Anna Ivanovna (In Russian: Анна Ивановна) (February 7, 1693 - October 28, 1740) reigned as Duchess of Courland from 1711 to 1730 and as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. ... Events George Friderich Handel becomes a British subject. ... Actors in period costume sharing a joke while waiting between takes during location filming An actor or actress is a person who acts, or plays a role, in a dramatic production. ... Adrienne Lecouvreur (April 5, 1692 – March 20, 1730) was a French actress. ... Events 1727 to 1800 - Lt. ...

At the outbreak of the War of the Polish Succession, Saxe served under Marshal Berwick, and for a brilliant exploit at the siege at Philippsburg he was named lieutenant-general. In the War of the Austrian Succession he took command of an army division sent to invade Austria in 1741, and on 19 November 1741, surprised Prague during the night, and seized it before the garrison were aware of the presence of an enemy, a coup de main which made him famous throughout Europe. After capturing the fortress of Eger on 19 April 1742, he received a leave of absence, and went to Russia to push his claims for the Duchy of Courland, but returned to his command after getting nowhere. The War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738) was a European war and a Polish civil war, with considerable interference from other countries, to determine the succession to Augustus II, King of Poland, as well as an attempt by the Bourbon powers to check the power of Austria in western... James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick-upon-Tweed (August 21, 1670- June 12, 1734) was a French military leader, illegitimate son of King James II of England and VII of Scotland by Arabella Churchill. ... Philippsburg is a small town in Germany, in the district of Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg. ... The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) became inevitable after Maria Theresa of Austria had succeeded her father Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor in his Habsburg dominions in 1740, namely becoming Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, and Duchess of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... // Events April 10 - Austrian army attack troops of Frederick the Great at Mollwitz August 10 - Raja of Travancore defeats Dutch East India Company naval expedition at Battle of Colachel December 19 - Vitus Bering dies in his expedition east of Siberia December 25 - Anders Celsius develops his own thermometer scale Celsius... Nickname: City of a Hundred Spires Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area    - City 496 km²  (191. ... (Eger is also German name for the city Cheb in the Czech Republic. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... // Events January 24 - Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ...

Saxe's exploits were the sole redeeming feature in an unsuccessful campaign, and on 26 March 1743, his merits were rewarded by promotion to Marshal of France. From this time on, he became one of the great generals of the age. In 1744, he was chosen to command the expedition to Britain on behalf of the Old Pretender, which assembled at Dunkirk but did not proceed farther. After its termination, he received an independent command in the Netherlands, and by skillful maneuvering succeeded in continually harassing the superior forces of the enemy without risking a decisive battle. March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... // Events February 14 - Henry Pelham becomes British Prime Minister February 21 - - The premiere in London of George Frideric Handels oratorio, Samson. ... Baton of a modern Marshal of France The Marshal of France (French: Maréchal de France) is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. ... // Events The third French and Indian War, known as King Georges War, breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia The First Saudi State founded by Mohammed Ibn Saud Prague occupied by Prussian armies Ongoing events War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Births January 10 - Thomas Mifflin, fifth President... James Francis Edward Stuart, the Old Pretender Prince James Francis Edward Stuart or Stewart (June 10, 1688 – January 1, 1766) was a claimant of the thrones of Scotland and England (September 16, 1701 – January 1, 1766) and is commonly referred to as The Old Pretender. ... Location within France For the battleship, see Dunkerque Dunkirk (French: Dunkerque; Dutch: Duinkerke; German: Dünkirchen) is a harbour city and a commune in the northernmost part of France, in the département of Nord, 10 km from the Belgian border. ...

In the following year, Saxe besieged Tournai and inflicted a severe defeat on the army of the Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Fontenoy, an encounter determined entirely by his constancy and cool leadership. During the battle, he was unable to sit on horseback due to dropsy, and was carried about in a wicker chariot. Tournai (in Dutch: Doornik in Latin: Tornacum) is a municipality located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt (in French: Escaut, in Dutch: Schelde), in the Belgian province of Hainaut. ... Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (April 15, 1721–October 31, 1765), a younger son of King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline, was a noted military leader. ... Combatants Britain United Provinces Hanover France Commanders Duke of Cumberland Maurice, comte de Saxe Strength 48,000 30,000 Casualties 2,500 dead 5,000 wounded or captured 2,300 dead 5,000 wounded This battle should not be confused with the two battles of Fontenay, which occurred at a...

Tomb of Maurice de Saxe in Saint-Thomas Church in Strasbourg, by Jean-Baptiste Pigalle.

In recognition of his brilliant achievement, King Louis XV of France conferred on him the Chateau Chambord for life, and in April 1746, he was naturalised as a French subject. Until the end of the war, he continued to command in the Netherlands, always with success. Besides Fontenoy he added Rocoux (1746) and Lawfeldt or Val (1747) to the list of French victories, and it was under his orders that Marshal Löwendahl captured Bergen op Zoom. He himself won the last success of the war in capturing Maastricht in 1748. In 1747 the title once held by Turenne and Villars, "Marshal General of the King's camps and armies", was revived for him. But on 30 November 1750 he died at Chambord "of a putrid fever". Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2048, 1003 KB) Work by Rama File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maurice de Saxe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2048, 1003 KB) Work by Rama File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Maurice de Saxe Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Jean-Baptiste Pigalle (January 26, 1714 - August 28, 1785), French sculptor, was born in Paris. ... Louis XV of France (February 15, 1710 – May 10, 1774), the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1715 until his death. ... The Royal Ch teau at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the most recognizable ch teaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture that blends traditional medieval forms with classical Italian structures. ... // Events Catharine de Ricci (born 1522) canonized. ... The Battle of Rocoux was fought in 1746 between France and Austria. ... // Events January 31 - The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Dock Hospital April 9 - The Scottish Jacobite Lord Lovat was beheaded by axe on Tower Hill, London, for high treason; he was the last man to be executed in this way in Britain May 14 - First battle of Cape... Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. ... Flag of Maastricht. ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of... Turenne Henri de la Tour dAuvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, often referred to as Turenne (September 11, 1611 – July 27, 1675) achieved military fame and became a Marshal of France. ... Marshal Villars of France. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex...

In 1748, a daughter was born to him, one of several illegitimate children, whose great-granddaughter was George Sand. George Sand in 1864 (picture by Nadar). ...

Sources

Saxe wrote a remarkable work on the art of war, Mes Réveries, which though described by Carlyle as "a strange military farrago, dictated, as I should think, under opium", is in fact a classic. Published posthumously in 1757, it was described by Lord Montgomery, more than two centuries later, as in fact "a remarkable work on the art of war." Saxe's Lettres et mémoires choisis appeared in 1794. His letters to his sister, the Princess of Holstein, preserved at Strassburg, were destroyed by the bombardment of that place in 1870. Thirty copies had, however, been printed from the original. The most familiar view of Carlyle is as the bearded sage with a penetrating gaze. ... Depiction of opium smokers in an opium den in the East End of London, 1874. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Bernard Law Montgomery Field Marshal The Right Honourable Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO (17 November 1887–24 March 1976) was a British Army officer, most noted for his involvement in World War II and often referred to as Monty. // Early life and World War... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Holstein (Hol-shtayn) (Low German: Holsteen, Danish: Holsten, Latin and historical English: Holsatia) is the southern part of Schleswig-Holstein in Germany, between the rivers Elbe and Eider. ... Strasbourg townscape Strasbourg (German Straßburg, road to castle, Alsatian Strossburi) is the capital and principal city of the Alsace région of northeastern France. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ...

Many previous errors in former biographies were corrected and additional information supplied in Carl von Weber's Moritz Graf von Sachsen, Marschall von Frankreich, nach archivalischen Quellen (Leipzig, 1863), in Saint-René Taillandier's Maurice de Saxe, étude historique d'après les documents des archives de Dresde (1865) and in C.F. Vitzthum's Maurice de Saxe (Leipzig, 1861). A biography in English is Jon Manchip White's Marshal of France: The Life and Times of Maurice, Comte de Saxe [1696-1750] (Rand McNally & Company, Chicago, 1962). See also the military histories of the period, especially Carlyle's Frederick the Great. Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst, Freiherr von Weber (November 18, 1786 in Eutin, Holstein – June 5, 1826 in London, England) was a German composer. ... Saint-René Taillandier (16 December 1817 - 22 February 1879) was a French writer and critic. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ...

See also

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Hermann Moritz Graf von Sachsen

• Illegitimacy

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.