Adrien Maurice de Noailles
Adrien Maurice de Noailles , count d' Ayen then (1708) 3rd Duke of Noailles, marquis of Montclar, count of the Mound-Tilly and Nogent-the-King, Viscount of Carlux, is a French soldier born the September 29th (or September 22nd?) 1678 and dead the June 24th 1766.
Family
Wire of Anne Jules de Noailles (1650 - 1708), 2nd duke of Noailles, and the duchess born Francoise de Bournonville (1656 - 1748), it makes an extremely advantageous marriage by marrying on March 31st 1698 Francoise Amable d' Aubigné (1684 - 1739), niece and heiress of M {{me}} of Maintenon.They had six children:
- Francoise Adelaide of Noailles (1704 - 1776), wife (1717) Charles of Lorraine (1684-1751), count d' Armagnac (divorce in 1721);
- Amable Gabrielle de Noailles (1706 - 1742), wife (1721) Honore-Armand de Villars (1702 - 1770), Duke of Villars;
- Marie Louise de Noailles (1710 -?), wife (1737) Jacques Nompar de Caumont, Duke of the Force († 1755) (separate in 1742);
- Louis de Noailles (1713 - 1793), Duke of Ayen then Duke of Noailles, Marshal of France;
- Philippe de Noailles (1715 - 1794), prince de Poix then Duke of Mouchy, also Marshal of France;
- Marie Anne Francoise de Noailles (1719 -?) who married (1744) Ludwig Engelbert von der Marck (1701 - 1773), count de Schleiden.
Biography
Having shown, in its youth, of great qualities of soldier, it achieves a military long career, with the impressive states of service. Captain of the first company of the Bodyguards, it is Brigadier the January 17th 1702, Brigadier in 1704, general Lieutenant in 1706.Following his father, it is Gouverneur Roussillon of the March 6th 1698 with its death. In parallel, it is Gouverneur Berry of March 14th 1698 with 1715.
It takes part in seven campaigns in Catalogne during the War of succession of Spain (1710 - 1713), initially under the orders of his father, and replaces Gijón in full winter. It makes then the countryside of Germany of 1734 during the War of succession of Poland (1733 - 1738), under the orders of the marshal of Berwick. It is high with the dignity of Marshal of France the June 14th 1734 after the head office of Philippsbourg. However, it is a soldier without genius, whose exploits - Figuières in 1709, Ettlingen in 1734 - as well as possible reveal skill and courage.
During the War of succession of Austria, he is commander-in-chief of the army of Germany and makes the countryside of Flanders of 1745 at the sides of Louis XV. Under its command, the French Army, on June 27th 1743, is taken of panic with Dettingen and undergoes a humiliating defeat, in which it carries certainly a share of responsibility. But, the following year, he manages to expel the Austrians of Alsace, even if he lets pass the occasion to inflict heavy losses at the time to them when armed to them the the Rhine crosses. He is senior of the Marshals of France in 1748.
Named president of the Council of finances the September 15th 1715, it resigns of this function on January 28th 1718. It is then allowed to the Council of regency. In the management of finances of Regency, he manages to avoid a total bankruptcy at the price of several partial bankruptcies. The March 10th 1743, it is named Minister of state. It gives to Louis XV councils of firmness out of tax matter, which will not be listened.
It is Secretary of foreign affairs April 26th with the November 19th 1744. It is party of those which estimate that it is impossible to prevent the Habsbourg from taking again the imperial title and recommends a bringing together with the Austria to counter the England. It carries out then several diplomatic missions, making an effort, in 1746, to improve the relations with the Spain, and plays a real part out of international matter. It sits at the Conseil until March 28th 1756, date on which it is withdrawn because of its age.
He is knight of the Golden Fleece in 1702, large of Spain of 1st class in 1711, in reward of his services during the war of succession of Spain, and knight of the Holy Spirit in 1724.
Saint-Simon, in his Memories , persifle in this connection: “the snake which tried Eve, who reversed Adam by it, and which lost the mankind, is the original whose duke of Noailles is the most exact copy and most faithful”.
Works
The political and military Memories to be used with the history of Louis XIV and Louis XV (1682-1766) (Paris, 1777, 6 vol. in-12), allotted to the marshal-duke of Noailles, were composed by the Millot abbot on original parts collected by the marshal. Although having given place to severe criticisms, they are interesting over the last years of the reign of Louis XIV. They were reprinted in the collections of Petitot-Monmerqué (volumes LXXI-LXXIV, 2nd series) and of Michaud-Poujoulat (volume XXXIV).
References
Internal bonds
- Family of Noailles
External bonds
- Note of the committee of history of the French ministry of the economy, finances and industry