Jean II of Estrées

First weapons

Jean d' Estrées was born in a Picardy family. He is the nephew of Gabrielle d' Estrée, favorite of Henri IV. On the model of his/her father, François Hannibal d' Estrées, Duke of Estrées, Even Marshal of France and of France in 1663, Jean launches out very early in the military career. Á 13 years it becomes Colonel regiment of Navarre, at 25 years, Brigadier and 33 years, general Lieutenant. It is used under the orders of the large Cop for Lens the August 20th 1648. Then serves with Turenne in Lorraine in 1652 and 1653 then in Flanders. It is made prisoner with Valencian in 1656. It supports the royal family during the Fronde. During the War of Devolution, it is scrambled with Louvois and, on the councils of Colbert with which it maintains good relationships, it leaves the Army for the Royal one in 1668 where it finds the duke of Beaufort which will help with its integration. Colbert is charmed to be able to make such an acquisition for the navy which it was at the time a question of creating rather than to restore.

Royal the

Its rise in the Navy is fulgurating because of its birth and of its family protections (his/her father being Marshal of France). It integrates this one into the rank of general Lieutenant of the naval armies and the following year, in 1669, it is promoted with the rank of Vice-amiral of West, function creates in 1669. In 1681 it is made Marshal of France.

However, this nomination does not appear the best. In addition to a maritime incompetence, like much with high ranking officials of the navy at the time, of Estrées was endowed with a hateful nature which alienated sympathies to him. Colbert noticed itself that its manner of living with all the officers, a little too dry, does not reconcile their friendship to him . What made write with the Admiral Daveluy: One should not anything know with the maritime history to call a ship of Estrées .

Americas

Its first countryside sends it to the the Antilles. It will make five campaigns with the the Western Indies and becomes the best specialist in Royal Islands of America. D' Estrée preaches an offensive strategy animated by the savage will to reverse the colonial power hispano-Dutchwoman. This offensive and adventurous spirit, is worth to him to be severely judged by the officers of the Royal one.

War of Holland

Europe

During this war, it is promoted command as a chief of the French Escadre which fights with dimensions English fleet. On the Holy Philippe , it takes part in the Bataille of Solebay the June 6th 1672 and the following year, on the Queen , in the Bataille of Walcheren and the Bataille of Texel. The failure of this countryside is allotted to him by the French and English officers, who reproach him his behavior hesitating and not very combative. The English historian written Jenkins: a bad chief and a poor subordinate .

An investigation diligentée by Seignelay will try to rehabilitate the memory of Estrées. One of its subordinates, De Martel, blamed by Estrées, answered by an avenger letter that it lets publish in England. That is worth to him a stay with the Bastille.

The Caribbean

At the time of the campaigns of 1676 and 1677, it makes a success of the catch of the island of Gorée, the resumption of Cayenne, the catch of Tobago and the destruction of the Dutch Escadre which is based there. These successes are to be put at its credit; but this victorious countryside is eclipsed by the catastrophe of the islands of Aves, where all its squadron (7 vessels, 3 frigates and 7 auxiliaries) was lost on the reefs. D' Estrées refused, on this occasion and with obstinacy, to take the advice of the officers and pilots who knew perfectly the configuration and the dangers of this water.

This monumental error of navigation, single in the French maritime history, however did not involve any sanction against its author.

End of a career

Between 1685 and 1688, it made countryside against the barbaresque ones, being devoted in Tripoli and Algiers with these " bombarderies" what will stigmatize Vauban.

Louis XIV and Seignelay keep all their confidence to him. In 1681 it is high with the honorary title of the viceroy of America then duke and even in March 1687 and finally general lieutenant in Brittany in 1701.

He dies in Paris the May 19th 1707. With Tourville, he is the large war leader of the marine of Louis XIV, almost comparable with his Dutch and English counterparts.

His/her son Victor Marie d' Estrées also made countryside in the Royal one and was also Marshal of France.

See too

Internal bonds

Extremely of Estrées

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