Jacques Nompar de Caumont, 1st Duke of La Force (French pronunciation: [ʒak nɔ̃paːʁ komɔ̃ dyk la fɔʁs]) (30 December 1558[1] – 10 May 1652) was a Marshal of France and Peer of France.[2] He was the son of a Huguenot, Francois de Caumont, lord of Castelnau, and Philippe de Beaupoil.[3] He survived the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572,[4] but his father and older brother Armand were killed.[5][6][7][8]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Jacques Nompar de Caumont
1st Duke of La Force
Marquis of La Force
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Born30 October 1558
Died10 May 1652(1652-05-10) (aged 93)
BuriedMilandes
Noble familyCaumont
Spouse(s)Charlotte de Gontaut
IssueArmand-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force
Henri-Nompar de Caumont, duc de La Force
Jacques, seigneur de Maduran
Charles, seigneur de Maduran
Pierre, baron d'Aymet
Jean, seigneur of Montpouillan
Jean-Jacob, marquis de Tonneins
François de Caumont La Force
Jacqueline
Isabelle
FatherFrancois de Caumont
MotherPhilippe de Beaupoil
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Coat of arms, duc de La Force

Marriages and issue

Career

As marquis de La Force, he served Henri IV, whose confidence he enjoyed. He was governor of Béarn from 1593 to 1621 and then viceroy of Navarre.[4] After the assassination of Henry IV in 1610, he fought with the Huguenots against Louis XIII. He plotted with Henri de Rohan and participated in the successful defence of Montauban in 1621, after an 86-day siege by the king, although he was reconciled with Louis XIII the following year.[4] La Force was made a marshal of France on 27 May 1622, to be employed as the Lieutenant-General of the Army of Piedmont.[11] He campaigned in Piedmont in 1630, taking Pinerolo as well as Saluzzo and defeated the Spaniards at Carignano.[5]

In 1631, he served in the Languedoc and between 1631 and 1634 he invaded Lorraine,[5] and took La Mothe after a siege of 141 days in which Turenne first distinguished himself and La Force's grandson Jacques was killed.[12][13] In Germany, in 1634, he also raised the siege of Philippsburg in Baden and captured the general Colloredo.[14] In the following year, he relieved Heidelberg and took Speyer.[12][15][16]

He was created Duc de La Force and a peer on 3 August 1637.[2]

In 1638 he besieged Saint-Omer in Flanders, but was defeated by Louis Thomas of Savoy-Carignan. It was his last battle.[17][18]

La Force died in Bergerac on 10 May 1652 and was buried in Milandes. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Armand-Nompar.[10] His memoirs were published in 1843.[19][20][21][22][11]

See also

Footnotes

Sources

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