César de Choiseul, 1st Duke of Choiseul facts for kids
César de Choiseul (born 1602 – died 1675) was an important French leader. He was a brave soldier and a clever diplomat. People often called him the maréchal du Plessis-Praslin. He became a Marshal of France, which was a very high military rank.
Quick facts for kids
César de Choiseul
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| Born | 1602 |
| Died | 23 December 1675 Paris |
| Allegiance |  France |
| Service/ |
Army |
| Years of service | 1616–1650 |
| Rank | Marshal of France 1645 |
| Battles/wars | Anglo-French War (1627–1629) Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659) The Fronde (1648-1653) |
| César de Choiseul | |
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| 1st Duke of Choiseul | |
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| Spouse(s) | Colombe de Charron (2 August 1625) |
| Issue | |
| César, Abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Sauveur de Redon Alexandre, Count of Choiseul César Auguste, Duke of Choiseul |
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| Full name | |
| César de Choiseul | |
| Father | Ferry de Choiseul, ''Seigneur of Praslin |
| Born | 12 February 1598 Paris, France |
| Died | 23 December 1675 (aged 77) Paris, France |
Contents
Who Was César de Choiseul?
César de Choiseul came from a very old and important French family. This family had lived in France since the 900s. César was known by several family names during his life.
Early Life and Military Beginnings
César started his army career very young, at just 14 years old. He was in charge of an infantry regiment, which is a group of soldiers. He fought in many battles during the time of King Louis XIII.
He helped in the siege of La Rochelle, a big battle to capture a city. He also survived an attack by the English on the island of Re. The English forces were led by the Duke of Buckingham. César also traveled with French troops to Italy in 1629.
Diplomat and War Hero
In 1630, César became a French ambassador. This meant he represented France in another country. He worked at the court of Duke Victor Amadeus I of Savoy in Italy. He handled important diplomatic tasks there until 1635.
In 1635, the Franco-Spanish War began. César showed great bravery and skill in many battles in Italy. He was part of important operations around the city of Turin. In 1640, he became the governor of Turin.
He continued to serve in Italy and was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1642. In 1645, he reached the very high rank of Marshal of France. After this, he became second-in-command in Catalonia, where he helped capture the city of Roses.
The Fronde: A Time of Civil War
France faced a civil war called The Fronde from 1648 to 1653. This was a time when nobles and common people rebelled against the king's government.
During the first part of the Fronde (1648–1649), César helped Condé in a short siege of Paris. In the second part of the Fronde (1650–1653), César stayed loyal to the queen regent, Anne of Austria. He won a very important victory against the rebel forces and their Spanish allies at Rethel in 1650. This was one of his greatest military achievements.
Life at Court and Later Years
After the civil war, César held important positions at the royal court of King Louis XIV. In 1652, he became a minister of state. This meant he was a top advisor to the king.
In 1665, he was given the title of Duke of Choiseul. He also helped with important talks between King Louis XIV and Charles II of England. These talks led to the treaty of Dover in 1670. César de Choiseul passed away in Paris on December 23, 1675.
A Sweet Legacy
Interestingly, many food historians believe that the sweet treat called praline was invented because of César de Choiseul. It is said that his chef, Lassagne, created the first praline for him!
