Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, 1st Duke of Mahón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Excellent
The Duke of Mahón
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Portrayed in uniform of Captain general of the Army
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| Born | 27 February 1717 |
| Died | June 1796 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | French Spanish |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Known for | Invasion of Minorca, Great Siege of Gibraltar |
| Title | Duke of Mahón Duke of Crillon Knight of Order of the Golden Fleece Captain-General of Valencia and Murcia |
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| Children | Louis-Alexandre-Nolasque-Félix de Balbe Berton, François-Félix Dorothée, Louis-Antoine-François de Paule, Marie-Thérèse-Virginie-Françoise de Paul |
| Parent(s) | François Félix de Berton des Balbes, Marie-Thérèse de Fabry de Moncault |
| Relatives | Louis-Athanase des Balbes de Berton de Crillon |
Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, 1st Duke of Mahón, 2nd Duke of Crillon (born February 22, 1717 – died June 1796) was a brave soldier from France and Spain. He became a high-ranking officer, known as a Captain-General of the Army.
Crillon started his military career at just 16 years old. He served with great skill in the French army. Later, he joined the Spanish army, as France and Spain were often allies back then. He came from a famous military family and was admired for his courage and good manners. By the end of his life, he had fought in 68 battles.
He took part in many big wars of the 1700s. These included the War of the Polish Succession and the Seven Years' War. His most famous success was capturing the island of Minorca in 1781. He defeated the British soldiers there and returned the island to Spain. However, his attempt to take Gibraltar from the British the next year was not successful. He finished his career serving the Spanish royal family and died in Madrid.
Contents
Early Life and Military Start
Louis Crillon was born in Avignon, France, on February 22, 1717. His family was well-known and had a long history of serving the French king as soldiers. He was a descendant of a famous general from the 1500s, also named Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon. Louis was the oldest of six children.
In 1734, when he was 16, Crillon joined the King's Regiment as a junior officer. He fought in France's Italian campaign during the War of the Polish Succession. He quickly moved up in rank and took part in important battles. By 1738, he became a colonel in the Regiment of Brittany.
Fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession
In 1742, Crillon showed great bravery in Bavaria during the War of the Austrian Succession. He became famous for defending a town called Landau an der Isar. He held off a much larger enemy force of 10,000 soldiers. When asked to give up, Crillon famously said he couldn't, because he had his family's honor to protect.
He was captured after fighting for 13 hours. But he was released just eight days later in a prisoner exchange.
In 1744, Crillon fought along the Rhine River. He helped capture the city of Fribourg. In May 1745, he fought in the big Battle of Fontenoy in modern-day Belgium. There, he captured almost 50 cannons from the British and their allies. The next month, he was promoted to brigadier.
He then led 8,000 men to victory in a battle near Ghent. After that, he helped capture Ghent, Ostend, and Nieuwpoort. In 1746, he helped capture the city and castle of Namur. He was then promoted to a general rank called maréchal de camp. He also fought in Italy, helping to capture cities like Nice and Ventimiglia.
Service in the Seven Years' War
After nearly ten years of peace, the Seven Years' War began. Crillon returned to active duty in 1757. He fought in Germany and defended the city of Weißenfels. In November 1757, he was injured at the Battle of Rossbach when his horse was shot.
In October 1758, he fought at Lutzenburg, taking 400 prisoners. He then surprised and captured the strong Spangenberg castle on November 9. His troops found the drawbridge down and took the soldiers inside prisoner. They also seized many weapons, including 18 cannons. In 1759, he returned to Flanders, and in 1760, he commanded French forces in Picardy.
Serving Spain
In 1762, Crillon moved to Spain and became a lieutenant-general, which was a very high rank. He was also made a Knight of the Order of Charles III in 1780. During the Anglo-Spanish War, Spain and France teamed up with the Americans against Britain. Crillon was chosen to lead a Spanish army to capture Minorca from the British.
His army landed on Minorca on August 19, 1781. They began to surround the British soldiers in St. Philip's Castle at Mahón. The siege ended successfully on February 5, 1782, when the British gave up. For this victory, Crillon was given a special Spanish title and became the Duke of Crillon-Mahon.
After Minorca, he was put in charge of the combined French and Spanish forces that were trying to capture Gibraltar. They had been trying since 1779. But Gibraltar was too strong to capture, and the war ended in 1783.
Crillon received another honor in 1783, becoming a Knight of the Golden Fleece. He was also made captain-general of the regions of Valencia and Murcia. He stayed in Spain during the French Revolutionary Wars. He wrote his memoirs, which were published in 1791. He helped arrange the peace that ended the conflict between Spain and revolutionary France. He died in Madrid in June 1796.
His Reputation and Family Life
People admired Crillon for his good manners and chivalry (being a knightly gentleman). An English writer named William Seward said in 1798 that "Courtesy, no less than courage, was always the appenage of the family of Crillon."
During the siege of Gibraltar, Crillon sent a gift of fruits, vegetables, and ice to the British general, George Eliott. He wrote that he hoped to become Eliott's friend after they had faced each other as enemies. Five years later, when Eliott became Lord Heathfield, Crillon wrote to congratulate his "dear and respectable enemy," whom he now considered a friend.
Crillon was married three times and had four children. His first wife was Françoise-Marie-Elizabeth Couvay, whom he married in 1742. They had two sons: Louis-Alexandre-Nolasque-Félix de Balbe Berton, who became the 3rd Duke of Crillon, and François-Félix Dorothée. His second wife, Florence-Radagonde-Louise-Eléonore-Julie Bruneau de la Rabatelière, died without having children. His third wife, Josephe-Anathase-Roman-Garmon Espinosa de los Monteros, had two more children: Louis-Antoine-François de Paule, who became the 2nd Duke of Mahon, and Marie-Thérèse-Virginie-Françoise de Paul.
Images for kids
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Louis Berton de Balbe de Quiers, Duke of Crillon.
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Schloss Spangenberg, a castle captured by Crillon in 1758.
See also
In Spanish: Duque de Crillon para niños
