, peer and maréchal, distinguished in the French history, was born
, peer and maréchal, distinguished in the French history, was born Jan.
10, 1644. His dispositions for the art of war having displayed themselves at a very early period, he was chosen
in 1669 to be colonel of a regiment of dragoons, at the
head of which he demonstrated his bravery under the
marechal de Crequi, and under Turenne. He received a
dangerous wound at the battle of Voerden; and another in
the affair of Entsheim, to the capture whereof he contributed much, by the confession of Turenne. After several
signal exploits, he gained immortal renown by the defence
of Lille in 1708. The siege lasted near four months.
Bouflers said to his officers, “Gentlemen, I trust to you;
but I answer for myself.
” Prince Eugene carried on the
siege with so much vigour that it was obliged to submit.
“I am very vain,
” said he to Bouflers, “on having taken
Lille; but I had rather still have the glory of having defended it like you.
” The king rewarded him for this service as if he had gained a battle. He was created a peer
of France; had the honours of first gentleman to the king,
and the reversion of the government of Flanders for his
eldest son. When he entered the parliament for his first
reception in it, turning to a crowd of officers who had
defended Lille with him, he said, “It is to you that I am
indebted for all the favours that are heaped upon me, and
on you I reflect them I have nothing to glory in but the
honour of having been at the head of so many brave men.
”
During the siege, one of his party having proved tojiim
that he could easily kill prince Eugene, “Your fortune is
made,
” returned Bouflers, “if you can take him prisoner:
but you shall be punished with the utmost severity if you
make an attempt on his life; and if I but suspected that
you had any such intention, I would have you shut up for
the rest of your life.
” This generosity, which formed a
part of his character, induced him to ask permission to
serve under the orders of marechal de Villars, though he
was his senior. At the battle of Malplaquet in 1709, he
made the retreat in such good order, that he left behind
him neither cannon nor prisoners. The marquis de Bouflers
united the virtues of a good citizen with the activity of a
general; serving his prince as the ancient Romans served
their republic; accounting his life as nothing when the
safety of his country was in question. The king having
ordered him to go and succour Lille, and having left to
himself the choice of his lieutenants; he set out that instant, without settling his affairs, or taking leave of his
family, and chose for his officers a man that had been disgraced, and a prisoner of the Bastille. His magnificence
was equal to his love for his country and his sovereign.
When Louis XIV. formed the camp of Compiegne, to
serve as a lesson to his grandson the duke of Burgundy,
and as a spectacle to the court, Bouflers lived there in
such a splendid style, that the king said to Livri, his
maitre-d'hotel, “The duke of Burgundy must not keep a
table; we cannot outdo the marechal; the duke of Burgundy shall dine with him when he goes to the camp.
”
This patriot general died at Fontainbleau, Aug. 22, 1711,
aged 68. “In him (writes madame de Maintenon) the
heart died last.
” We read in the continuation of the
history of England by Rapin, an anecdote too honourable
to the memory of this great man to be passed over here in
silence. King William having taken Namur, in 169,
made Bouflers prisoner, in violation of the articles that
had been agreed on. Surprised at so unjust a proceeding, the marechal, fresh from the glorious defence he
had made, demanded the reason of this perfidious treatment. He was answered that it was by way of reprisals
for the garrison of Dixmude and of Deinse, which the
French had detained contrary to capitulation. “If that be
the case (said Bouflers), then my garrison ought to be
arrested, and not I.
” “Sir (he was answered), you are
valued at more than ten thousand men.
”