Jean François de Bette, Marquis of Lede
Encyclopedia
Jean François de Bette, 3rd Marquis of Lede (December 6, 1672 – January 11, 1725) was a Belgian military commander in Spanish service. He was also lord of the Fiefdom of Lede in Flanders
.
, he served the Spanish Crown for most of his life, including as Commander-General of Aragon
and Majorca. On 31 March 1703, he became a Knight of the Golden Fleece.
He is best known for his part in the War of the Quadruple Alliance
, when he commanded the Spanish troops who tried to conquer Sardinia
and Sicily back from the Austrians in 1718–1719. He was victorious in the Battle of Milazzo (1718)
and Battle of Francavilla
(1719). The Quadruple Alliance was constituted on 2 August 1718 by the Austrian Empire
, England
, France
and the Duchy of Savoy
against the itching wishes of the Spaniards on controlling again with their Navy, the West Mediterranean Italian territories as in the last three centuries before the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht
.
He was also Viceroy of Sicily during this short occupation of the island.
In 1720–1721, he led a successful expedition to lift the siege of Ceuta
by Sultan Moulay Ismail. He was awarded the Grandee of Spain by king Philip V of Spain
in 1721. He was also president of the Spanish War Council, 1724. He died at Madrid
in 1725.
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
Biography
Born in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, he served the Spanish Crown for most of his life, including as Commander-General of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
and Majorca. On 31 March 1703, he became a Knight of the Golden Fleece.
He is best known for his part in the War of the Quadruple Alliance
War of the Quadruple Alliance
The War of the Quadruple Alliance was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria , and...
, when he commanded the Spanish troops who tried to conquer Sardinia
Spanish expedition to Sardinia
The Spanish conquest of Sardinia took place between the months of August and November 1717. It was the first military action between the Kingdom of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire after the War of the Spanish Succession , and was the direct cause of the War of the Quadruple Alliance...
and Sicily back from the Austrians in 1718–1719. He was victorious in the Battle of Milazzo (1718)
Battle of Milazzo (1718)
The Battle of Milazzo was fought on October 15, 1718 near the city of Milazzo in Sicily, Italy between Spain and Austria as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance.-Context:...
and Battle of Francavilla
Battle of Francavilla
The Battle of Francavilla was fought on 20 June 1719 near the city of Francavilla di Sicilia in Sicily, Italy between Spain and Austria as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance.-Prelude:...
(1719). The Quadruple Alliance was constituted on 2 August 1718 by the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, France
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...
and the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
against the itching wishes of the Spaniards on controlling again with their Navy, the West Mediterranean Italian territories as in the last three centuries before the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
.
He was also Viceroy of Sicily during this short occupation of the island.
In 1720–1721, he led a successful expedition to lift the siege of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
by Sultan Moulay Ismail. He was awarded the Grandee of Spain by king Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
in 1721. He was also president of the Spanish War Council, 1724. He died at Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1725.