Adrien Maurice de Noailles, 3rd Duke of Noailles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Marshal-Duke of Noailles
3rd Duke of Noailles
Portrait by Éloi Firmin Féron
Full name	Adrien Maurice de Noailles
Born	(1678-09-29)29 September 1678 Kingdom of France
Died	24 June 1766(1766-06-24) (aged 87) Kingdom of France
Noble family	Noailles
Spouse(s)	Françoise Charlotte Amable d'Aubigné
Issue	Françoise Adélaide, Countess of Armagnac Amable Gabrielle, Duchess of Villars Marie Louise, Duchess of La Force Louis, Duke of Noailles Philippe, Count of Noailles Marie Anne Françoise, Countess of Schleiden
Father	Anne Jules, Duke of Noailles
Mother	Marie-Françoise de Bournonville

Adrien Maurice de Noailles (born September 29, 1678 – died June 24, 1766) was an important French nobleman and a skilled soldier. He held the title of the 3rd Duke of Noailles.

A Life of Service

Adrien Maurice was the son of Anne Jules de Noailles. When his father passed away in 1708, Adrien Maurice became the new Duke of Noailles.

He was a brave leader during the War of the Spanish Succession (1710–1713). His troops successfully defended the city of Sète from a British attack in 1710. Later, he led the Finance Council, which managed France's money, from 1715 to 1718. He also showed great skill in the War of the Polish Succession (1733–1738). Because of his achievements, he was made a marshal of France in 1734. This was a very high military rank. By 1748, he was the oldest and most respected marshal.

Adrien Maurice also served in the War of the Austrian Succession. In 1743, he was put in charge of the French army. Even though his forces were defeated at the Battle of Dettingen in June 1743, he managed to push the Austrians out of Alsace-Lorraine the next year.

From April to November 1744, the Duke of Noailles was France's Foreign Minister. He believed that Great Britain was a bigger threat to France than Austria. He continued to play an important role in shaping France's foreign policy through his diplomatic work.

His Family

In 1698, when he was known as the Count of Ayen, Adrien Maurice married Françoise Charlotte d'Aubigné. She was the niece of the famous Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon. Together, they had six children: four daughters and two sons. Both of his sons, Louis and Philippe, also became Marshals of France, just like their father.

The Duke of Noailles received several important honors during his life. He was made a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1702. In 1711, he became a Grandee of Spain, a special title for important Spanish nobles. In 1724, he was made a Knight of the Order of Saint-Esprit, another high French honor.

His Children

• Françoise Adélaide de Noailles (born September 1, 1704 – died January 1776) married Charles de Lorraine in 1717.
• Amable-Gabrielle de Villars (born February 18, 1706 – died September 1742) was a lady-in-waiting to the queen. She married Honoré-Armand de Villars. They had one daughter, Amable Angélique de Villars.
• Marie Louise de Noailles (born September 8, 1710 – died May 22, 1782) married Jacques Nompar de Caumont, the Duke of La Force.
• Louis de Noailles, Duke of Ayen and later Duke of Noailles (born April 21, 1713 – died August 22, 1793). He married Catherine Françoise Charlotte de Cossé-Brissac and had children.
• Philippe de Noailles, Count of Noailles and Duke of Mouchy (born December 27, 1715 – died June 27, 1794). He married Madame Étiquette, who was a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette. Louis and his wife were executed during the French Revolution.
• Marie Anne Françoise de Noailles (born January 12, 1719 – died June 29, 1793) married Ludwig Engelbert de La Marck in 1744.