Charles-François de Broglie, marquis de Ruffec
Encyclopedia
Charles François de Broglie, marquis de Ruffec (19 August 1719 – Saint-Jean-d'Angély
, 16 August 1781), second son of François-Marie de Broglie, 1st duc de Broglie, was a French
soldier
and diplomat
from a distinguished French military family.
He served for some years in the army
, and afterwards became one of the foremost diplomats in the service of Louis XV
. He served as ambassador extraordinary to Poland
(1752–56), was recalled at the outbreak of the Seven Years War, was made a Chevalier des Ordres du Roi (1757), a lieutenant général (1760), commandant in Franche-Comté (1761–62), then after the peace, Governor of Saumurois (1770). He is chiefly remembered in connection with the secret du Roi
, the private—as distinct from the official—diplomatic service of Louis XV, of which he was the ablest and most important member. He held the post of premier colonel of grenadiers.
The marquis de Ruffec organized the famous diner de Metz (8 August 1775), when the young marquis de La Fayette was convinced by the guest of honour, the visiting Duke of Gloucester
, George III's brother, that the insurgents' revolt in America was in some measure justified. Broglie-Ruffec was involved with Beaumarchais
in devising a scheme to offer secret support to the American Revolution
in its early stages.
He married, 21 March 1759, Louise Augustine de Montmorency (1735–1817); they had three daughters, Louise 1760-1827; Philippine 1762-1843; and Adélaïde Charlotte 1763-1847.
His funeral monument is in the cathedral of Angoulême
. His portrait, painted by the Norman Michel Hubert Descours in 1762, is at the château of Bourdeilles.
Saint-Jean-d'Angély
Saint-Jean-d'Angély is a commune in the Charente-Maritime department in southwestern France.The commune has its historical origins in the Abbey of Saint-Jean-d'Angély.-Royal abbey:...
, 16 August 1781), second son of François-Marie de Broglie, 1st duc de Broglie, was a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
from a distinguished French military family.
He served for some years in the army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
, and afterwards became one of the foremost diplomats in the service of Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
. He served as ambassador extraordinary to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
(1752–56), was recalled at the outbreak of the Seven Years War, was made a Chevalier des Ordres du Roi (1757), a lieutenant général (1760), commandant in Franche-Comté (1761–62), then after the peace, Governor of Saumurois (1770). He is chiefly remembered in connection with the secret du Roi
Secret du Roi
For a period of over twenty years, King Louis XV split his diplomacy into official and secret channels. The secret channels became collectively known as the King's Secret , established in 1745...
, the private—as distinct from the official—diplomatic service of Louis XV, of which he was the ablest and most important member. He held the post of premier colonel of grenadiers.
The marquis de Ruffec organized the famous diner de Metz (8 August 1775), when the young marquis de La Fayette was convinced by the guest of honour, the visiting Duke of Gloucester
Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a grandson of George II and a younger brother of George III.-Early life:...
, George III's brother, that the insurgents' revolt in America was in some measure justified. Broglie-Ruffec was involved with Beaumarchais
Pierre Beaumarchais
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a French playwright, watchmaker, inventor, musician, diplomat, fugitive, spy, publisher, arms dealer, satirist, financier, and revolutionary ....
in devising a scheme to offer secret support to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
in its early stages.
He married, 21 March 1759, Louise Augustine de Montmorency (1735–1817); they had three daughters, Louise 1760-1827; Philippine 1762-1843; and Adélaïde Charlotte 1763-1847.
His funeral monument is in the cathedral of Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
. His portrait, painted by the Norman Michel Hubert Descours in 1762, is at the château of Bourdeilles.