François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny
Encyclopedia
François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny, 1er duc de Coigny (1737 – May 19, 1821) was a Marshal of France
.
The grandson of another Marshal of France, François de Franquetot de Coigny
, he entered the musketeers at age fifteen. When he was eleven, his father, Jean, Marquis de Coigny (1702–1748), was killed in a duel. De Coigny first served in the Seven Year's War where as a cavalry general he took part in the conquest of Hanover.
Having fought at Hastenbeck
and Minden
, he transferred to the army of the Count of Clermont
under whom he served in the battle of Krefeld
. Promoted to Colonel General of the Dragoons in 1771, the following year he was appointed Governor of Cambrai
. When the French Revolution
broke out De Coigny decided to emigrate. In 1791 he joined the émigré army with whom he served against the French Republic during the early stages of the French Revolutionary Wars
. He commanded the Maison du Roi
until its disbandment in 1792, after which he was charged by the Count of Provence
with several diplomatic missions.
De Coigny enetered Portuguese
service thereafter and, following the abdication of Napoléon I of France
, ultimately returned to France. Louis XVIII made him a Peer of France
and Governor of Les Invalides
.
In 1816 De Coigny was made a Marshal of France; he died five years later.
Marshal of France
The Marshal of France is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. It is granted to generals for exceptional achievements...
.
The grandson of another Marshal of France, François de Franquetot de Coigny
François de Franquetot de Coigny
François de Franquetot de Coigny was a Marshal of France, Count, and from 1747, the Duke of Coigny.He was born in the Coigny château near Coutances, Normandy as son of Robert-Jean de Coigny, and Marie-Françoise de Matignon. His uncle was Charles-Auguste de Goyon-Matignon, Marshal of France and his...
, he entered the musketeers at age fifteen. When he was eleven, his father, Jean, Marquis de Coigny (1702–1748), was killed in a duel. De Coigny first served in the Seven Year's War where as a cavalry general he took part in the conquest of Hanover.
Having fought at Hastenbeck
Battle of Hastenbeck
The Battle of Hastenbeck was fought as part of the Invasion of Hanover during the Seven Year's War between the allied forces of Hanover, Hesse-Kassel and Brunswick and the French...
and Minden
Battle of Minden
The Battle of Minden—or Thonhausen—was fought on 1 August 1759, during the Seven Years' War. An army fielded by the Anglo-German alliance commanded by Field Marshal Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, defeated a French army commanded by Marshal of France Louis, Marquis de Contades...
, he transferred to the army of the Count of Clermont
Louis de Bourbon-Condé, comte de Clermont
Louis de Bourbon was a member of the cadet Bourbon-Condé branch of the French royal house. He is known for leading French forces in Germany during the Seven Years War where he took command in 1758 following the failed French Invasion of Hanover. He was unable to break through Ferdinand of...
under whom he served in the battle of Krefeld
Battle of Krefeld
The Battle of Krefeld was a battle fought on 23 June 1758 between a Prussian-Hanoverian army and a French army during the Seven Years' War.-Background:...
. Promoted to Colonel General of the Dragoons in 1771, the following year he was appointed Governor of Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. When the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
broke out De Coigny decided to emigrate. In 1791 he joined the émigré army with whom he served against the French Republic during the early stages of the French Revolutionary Wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
. He commanded the Maison du Roi
Maison du Roi
The Maison du Roi was the name of the military, domestic and religious entourage around the royal family in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration; the exact composition and duties of its various divisions changed constantly over the Early Modern period...
until its disbandment in 1792, after which he was charged by the Count of Provence
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
with several diplomatic missions.
De Coigny enetered Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
service thereafter and, following the abdication of Napoléon I of France
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, ultimately returned to France. Louis XVIII made him a Peer of France
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France was a distinction within the French nobility which appeared in the Middle Ages. It was abolished in 1789 during the French Revolution, but it reappeared in 1814 at the time of the Bourbon Restoration which followed the fall of the First French Empire...
and Governor of Les Invalides
Les Invalides
Les Invalides , officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides , is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, France, containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building's...
.
In 1816 De Coigny was made a Marshal of France; he died five years later.