Jean Benoit of Piglets

Jean Benoît of the Piglets belongs to famous Maison of Provence Of the Piglets. Its complete heading was Jean Benoît Guillaume César Auguste of Piglets of Maillane, born with Saint-Sernin - in-Rouergue on September 11th 1680.

The Marquis carried moreover the titles of Baron de Malioc, and Lord of Jou, Varagenes, Gardiolle, of the Crouzet Bridge and the Balsam.

He was Maréchal of King Louis XIV and Gouverneur of Province S.

Biography

It was the downward one of a natural son of Honore of Piglets, Consul of Beaucaire on the Rhone of 1531 with 1563, wire naturalness which had been fixed in Albigensian after his remarriage in 1598 with Auvergnate, Anne of the Waves, rams of Ocruve of Jou.

Jean-Benoit of Piglets followed the military career.

In 1702, at the beginning of the War of succession of Spain, whereas he was only sergeant of the camps and armies of the King, he had proposed to raise and equip entirely with its expenses a regiment with Dragons with 480 men with horse.

It raised and equipped also for his Jean-Louis brother with Piglets a regiment with infantry with 585 men, as well as a company of Dragons for each one of his two other brothers, Jean-Gilbert and Gilles of Piglets.

Lastly, it obtained that his/her last four brothers, respectively old of seven, six, five and two years, can become officers in this same regiment.

Louis XIV affirmed then “that it could not have with his service too people of such a famous race, of such an unmemorable seniority, if devoted and if attached to the State”.

During this war of succession of Spain, Jean-Benoit of Piglets took share to the battle of Malplaquet, with the seats of Douai, Asson, Marchiennes, St-Mercies, Quesnoy and the Bouchain, like with the seat of Freiburg-in-Brisgau.

In 1705 - 1706, it took part in the lifting of the Extremely-Louis of the Rhine and Drusenheim, with the catch of the lines of the Moder and the island of Dalhunden as to the attack of the Extremely-Louis of the Rhine starting from the island of Marquisat.

It crosses then the the Rhine and took share with the catch of the lines of Bühl and Stollhofen.

Returned in the Flandres, it removes the fort of Bioche, passes the river of the Scarpe, takes part in the defense of Béthune, the catch of Arlen, the combat under Douai, the defense of the the Scheldt, the passing of Proüy, like with the combat below Valencian, where it ordered besides as a chief.

It is then in charge of important and secret negotiations, in Suisse with the Swiss Body and the Emperor, before assisting the Maréchal of Villars with the negotiations of the peace treaties of Rastadt and Bade.

Jean-Benoit of Piglets was named Colonel de Dragons in March 1710.

In March 1720, in reward of its states of service, its ground of Saint-Sernin-of-Rouergue is set up of Baronnie in Marquisat. This one concerned directly the king in full stronghold, and was composed then of the borough of St-Sernin-on-Rancid as well as villages, hamlets and smallholdings of Riost, Rouffignié, Sourbiée, Lons, Bugarels, Quantin, St-Quentin de Sicard, Gazet, Masgrand, Labit, Niglesses, Pesagerie, Raynant, Pradagouge, the Seizure, Viguerie, the Lake and Balme, which gave him a circumference of approximately three miles.

It to him was attached the rights of high, average and low justice like all the other seigneuriaux rights.

In 1735, Jean-Benoit of Piglets of Maillane reached the rank of Brigadier, then of Lieutenant Général of the armies of the King.

In 1741, finally, it is named Gouverneur of the islands and places of Beautiful-island-in-Sea, in Brittany, function which it will occupy until in 1748 and which also gave him authority on the islands close to Houat and of Hoëdic.

Incidentally, he was also the particular governor of the islands of Ruis, Cerceau, Questemberg and of Quimperlé.

Thus it had to face in 1746, at the time of the War of succession of Austria, with a blockade of Beautiful-island by the British Flotte .

During this blockade, the frigate of the British Admiral came to approach the Palais, main port of the island, which the Citadelle Vauban dominates, but without greeting this one of sound house.

Jean-Benoit of Piglets thus ordered to bombard it.

On this, the British agree to bring his house, then to send a member of Parliament on board a Chaloupe raising a white Drapeau.

This member of Parliament, who proposed to return to French the thirty made prisoners to the island of Houat, was accepted by the governor most courteously of the world.

He saw himself offering a collation as well as present (fruits and good wines of France) for his Admiral.

Then the man was turned over from there with a French emissary, carrying the answer to the Admiral. This one was well in the tone of the time: there could not be some discussion for the governor of Beautiful-island about taking again prisoners who had so pitifully defended the island of Houat.

In his turn, the French emissary was accepted aboard British frigate in the most gracious way. He will return from there with liquors and from Jerez for his Governor. Then military operations finished, because the British gave up their blockade soon.

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