Turenne
1611–1675 · French · Thirty Years' War / Franco-Dutch War
Known for: France's greatest general before Napoleon—master of maneuver warfare
Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, was France's greatest general before Napoleon—and arguably its greatest ever, since Napoleon himself studied Turenne's campaigns obsessively. He was a master of maneuver warfare during the Thirty Years' War, the Fronde civil war, and the War of Devolution.
He was beloved by his troops for his genuine concern for their welfare—rare among aristocratic commanders. He was personally humble, never sought glory for its own sake, and was generous to defeated enemies. He was killed by a cannonball while reconnoitering enemy positions—Napoleon called him 'the greatest general who ever lived.'
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