Gaston Pierre de Lévis-Mirepoix

Gaston Pierre Charles de Lévis Lomagne (1699-1757) duke of Mirepoix in 1751, Marshal of France in 1757

It was born in Lorraine in Belleville, diocese of Toul, the 02/12/1699. It is two years old when it succeeds his father on June 10th, 1702. It has as a tutor his mother the helped marchioness of Mirepoix of other tutors.

Orphan of father at 3 years and mother with 8, it enters at 16 years the body of Mousquetaires of the King. Iil is named Colonel of the Regiment of Saintonge on March 6th, 1719 at 20 years.

He marries Anne Gabrielle Henriette Bernade de Rieux, little girl of the financier Samuel Bernard, who will die in 15 years old layer 1/2. In second weddings he marries Anne Margueritte Gabrielle de Beauveau Craon, widow of Jacques Henri of Lorraine, prince of Lixheim. The marshal's wife de Mirepoix attends the court assiduously. From the high position of her husband it carries out large train, has open table. Its cook will invent a preparation still indicated under the name of Mirepoix : a gravy being used to adapt the roasts or vegetables.

Ambassador of France with Vienna near the emperor it ensures the possession of Lorraine France on November 18th, 1738 by the remarkable transactions which it carries out, province which will be offered to Stanislas Leszczyński, ex King de Pologne and father-in-law of Louis XV. This will be worth to him to receive the Cord of the Holy Spirit. He becomes then ambassador extraordinary in London.

He returns to France where the King appoints it Brigadier in 1739. He is of all the engagements, he will go on the Bohemia, one finds it with Sakey, Lauffeld at the side of the Maréchal of Saxony, he takes part in the victory of Montalbon where its attitude is worth to him the title of Lieutenant Général in 1744.

A picturesque episode occurred at the time of the war against Piedmont: during a walk with horse with its Lévis-Ajac nephew, it falls nose to nose with a battalion from Piedmontese. Those far from thinking that 2 Généraux officers are alone and supposing the presence of troop behind them, go to the 2 men who bring back their prisoners to the French camp. It seizes Frejus and obliges the Piedmontese one to pass by again the VAr.

It will be made Duc of Mirepoix on September 25th, 1751 both for its military talents its capacities of diplomat. Appointed Lieutenant Général and Governor of the Countries of Vivarais and Velay, of the diocese of Uzès and the Province of the Languedoc in 1755, it will be made Marshal of France on February 24th, 1757 by Louis XV.

He dies on September 24th, 1757 with Montpellier and had in his will excluded the girls from the collateral branches, which prohibited other Lévis from reaching the Duchy unless marrying with Lévis Mirepoix.

external bonds

http://perso.orange.fr/robert.faure/MIREPOIX/SGNLEVIS.htm

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