Marshal General of France

The title Marshal General of France was given to signify that the recipient had authority over all "camps and armies of the King" in the days when a Marshal governed only one army usually.

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There were only six in the history of France:

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• Charles de Gontaut, Duc de Biron, 1562–1602:
• Admiral 1592;
• Admiral & Marshal 26 January 1594
• unclear when promoted to Marshal General;
• executed 1602.
• Francois le Bonne, Duc de Lesdiguieres, 1543–1626:
• Marshal 27 September 1609:
• Marshal General 30 March 1621;
• Constable of France 6 July 1622.
• Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, 1611–1675:
• Marshal 16 November 1643;
• Marshal General 4 April 1660.
• Claude de Villars, 1653–1734:
• Marshal 20 October 1702;
• Marshal General 18 October 1733.
• Hermann-Maurice Marquis de Saxe, 1696–1750:
• Marshal 26 March 1744;
• Marshal General 12 January 1747.
• Nicholas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1769–1851:
• Marshal of the Empire 19 May 1804
• Marshal General 15 September 1847
 
Marshal General of France: Sources ►