Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches
Encyclopedia
Count Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches (La Rochelle
France, August 16, 1608 – Jevišovice
Moravia
, August 12, 1682) was an German Imperial Field marshal of French descent. He was the son of a Huguenot
French nobleman, who left France after the Huguenot-war of 1629.
Jean-Louis entered the Imperial Army and participated in the Thirty Years' War
, where he distinguished himself as defender of Brno
against the Swedes in 1645.
Between 1657 and 1660, he fought in the Second Northern War
where he invaded Swedish Pomerania
in 1659. In the Austro-Turkish War (1663-1664), he commanded the Habsburg Northern Army operating in Upper Hungary
. In 1664 he conquered Nitra
and Levice
. On July 19, 1664 he won the important Battle of Levice
against the Ottomans.
De Souches became Kammerherr, member of the Hofkriegsrat
and Fieldmarshal-Lieutenant. In 1674 he fought the French in the Low Countries
, but suffered unnecessary casualties in the Battle of Seneffe
due to his wilfulness. He was recalled after the battle and not given any further commands. He died in 1682.
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
France, August 16, 1608 – Jevišovice
Jevišovice
Jevišovice is a town in the Znojmo District, Czech Republic. Here live 1144 people. There are many sides e.g. Kostel svatého Josefa or Budova Komenia.-External links:*...
Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
, August 12, 1682) was an German Imperial Field marshal of French descent. He was the son of a Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
French nobleman, who left France after the Huguenot-war of 1629.
Jean-Louis entered the Imperial Army and participated in the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, where he distinguished himself as defender of Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
against the Swedes in 1645.
Between 1657 and 1660, he fought in the Second Northern War
Second Northern War
The Second Northern War was fought between Sweden and its adversaries the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , Russia , Brandenburg-Prussia , the Habsburg Monarchy and Denmark–Norway...
where he invaded Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania
Swedish Pomerania was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815, situated on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held extensive control over the lands on the southern Baltic coast, including Pomerania and parts...
in 1659. In the Austro-Turkish War (1663-1664), he commanded the Habsburg Northern Army operating in Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary
Upper Hungary is the usual English translation for the area that was historically the northern part of the Kingdom of Hungary, now mostly present-day Slovakia...
. In 1664 he conquered Nitra
Nitra
Nitra is a city in western Slovakia, situated at the foot of Zobor Mountain in the valley of the river Nitra. With a population of about 83,572, it is the fifth largest city in Slovakia. Nitra is also one of the oldest cities in Slovakia and the country's earliest political and cultural center...
and Levice
Levice
Levice is a town in western Slovakia. The town lies on the left bank of the lower Hron river. The Old Slavic name of the town was Leva, which means "the Left One"....
. On July 19, 1664 he won the important Battle of Levice
Battle of Levice
This page is partially a translation of the French versionThe Siege of Léva was fought on July 19, 1664 as part of the Austro-Turkish War , between a Habsburg army led by Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches and an Ottoman army under the command of Ali Pasha...
against the Ottomans.
De Souches became Kammerherr, member of the Hofkriegsrat
Hofkriegsrat
The Hofkriegsrat was the Court Council of War of the Habsburg Monarchy. Founded in 1556 in the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I, it was a council of men with military experience who could take charge of the army and its needs, in both war and peacetime...
and Fieldmarshal-Lieutenant. In 1674 he fought the French in the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
, but suffered unnecessary casualties in the Battle of Seneffe
Battle of Seneffe
The Battle of Seneffe was fought on 11 August 1674 and resulted in a draw.The armies were under the command of Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé and the Dutch-German-Spanish army under William III of Orange....
due to his wilfulness. He was recalled after the battle and not given any further commands. He died in 1682.