Jacques Henri de Durfort, 1st Duke of Duras explained

Jacques Henri de Durfort
1st Duke of Duras
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Spouse:Marguerite Félice de Lévis
Father:Guy Aldonce de Durfort
Mother:Élisabeth de La Tour d'Auvergne
Birth Date:9 October 1625
Birth Place:Duras, France
Death Place:Paris, France
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Battles Label:Wars
Rank:Marshal of France

Jacques Henri de Durfort, duc de Duras (9 October 1625  - 12 October 1704) was Marshal of France.

Life

Jacques Henri was the oldest son of Guy Aldonce de Durfort (1605–1665), marquis de Duras, count de Rozan and de Lorges, maréchal de camp; and of Élisabeth de La Tour d'Auvergne, sister of Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne. Just like him and his younger brother, Guy Aldonce de Durfort de Lorges, he converted to Catholicism shortly after his uncle.[1]

His brother, Guy Aldonce de Durfort de Lorges, was also a Marshal of France. He served first under his uncle, Turenne, and under Condé. He distinguished himself at Mergentheim and Alerheim.

In 1651, he followed Condé into rebellion but came back into the service of the king in 1657, with the title of lieutenant-general. He played a major part in the conquest of Franche-Comté and was named by Louis XIV governor of that province and marshal in 1675. In 1689, he took part in the destruction of the Palatinate during the War of the Grand Alliance.

The Duc de Saint-Simon, who married his niece, speaks highly of him in his memoirs and notes that he was in such favour with Louis XIV that he "could more or less say what he pleased".[2]

Marriage and children

He married Marguerite Félice de Lévis, daughter of Charles de Lévis, Duke of Ventadour and Marie de La Guiche. Marguerite Félice was the sister in law of Charlotte de La Mothe Houdancourt and aunt of the Duchess of Rohan-Rohan.. With her he had at least four children:

  1. Jacques Henri II of Durfort, 2nd Duke of Duras (1670–1697);
  2. Felice Armande de Durfort (1672–1730), married Paul Jules de La Porte, Duke Mazarin, son of Armand Charles de La Porte de La Meilleraye and Hortense Mancini;

Notes and References

  1. DE LA CONVERSION DE LA NOBLESSE PROTESTANTE: AU DIX-SEPTIÈME SIÈCLE. (Fragment inédit.) . 24280843 . Weiss . Ch . Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire du Protestantisme Français (1852-1865) . 1852 . 1 . 1/2 . 46–50 .
  2. Norton, Lucy (ed.) Duc de Saint-Simon " Memoirs " Prion Books London 1999 Vol.1 p.126