Abraham Duquesne

Biography

Born between 1604 and 1610 with Dieppe in a family huguenote ship-owners, corsairs and merchants. As of its more young age it follows the steps of his father who was useful in the royal marine that it integrates in 1627. In 1635 it becomes Captain.

It is pointed out as a commander of the Neptune during the resumption of the islands of Lérins located at broad of Cannes at the Spain in 1636. II to the combat of Tarragone in 1641 is also announced, and with that of the course of, where it is wounded, in Spoiled 1643. But in 1644, it loses its ship in mysterious circumstances and must leave the navy.

During the disorders of the minority of Louis XIV, it engages with his/her brother in the Swedish navy . He is made admiral-major by the Reine Christine and serves in the dano-Swedish Guerre. He completely demolished in front of Gothenburg the Danish fleet ordered by Christian IV of Denmark in person.

With the return to peace, it takes part in exchanges between the marines of Sweden and France, before returning to France in 1647 where it arms a squadron with its expenses. It beats in 1650 the English and the Spaniards who had sent several vessels to the help of revolted Bordeaux and in reward is created Chef of squadron.

During the Sling, there remains faithful to the King and arms with his expenses against the slingers. Á the end of the Sling, it tries a return in Sweden, but for unknown reasons, it is gotten rid of by the Swedish navy and must remain in France. It maintains then the bonds of businesses with Fouquet and does not take the sea. In 1661, it reinstates the French navy and takes part in the first naval operations of the reign of Louis XIV.

After being itself illustrated in several combat in the Mediterranean in the years 1662 - 1665, it is used in the squadron as François de Vendôme, duke of Beaufort from which it hopes to become the right-hand man. Duquesne is named general lieutenant in 1667, but its rise in the hierarchy of the navy, is then barred by the fulgurating promotion of the admiral of Estrées. Louis XIV and Jean-Baptiste Colbert do not see in Duquesne a war leader broken with the combat on line and animated of a true offensive spirit. The Guerre of Holland will give them reason and confirm the passivity of Duquesne to the combat.

In June 1672, it orders the Terrible and takes part under the orders of of Estrées and the Duc of York in the Bataille of Solebay against the Dutch navy . It operates too slowly to support of Estrées effectively and worse, does not answer the orders of attack of the Duc of York and lets escape the Dutch fleet whereas the Anglo-French fleet was in a very favorable position. The career of Duquesne then seems to enter an irreversible decline.

But, the entry in war of the Spain in 1673 and the rising of Metz-native in 1674, open a second maritime face in the Mediterranean. Duquesne is then selected to assist the duke of Vivonne and promoted commander of the Squadron of the Mediterranean in 1674. After easy successes in 1675 against a Spanish fleet which is not any more that the shade of itself, Duquesne will have to face in 1676 the largest captain of its time, the Dutch admiral Ruyter which goes to the help of Spanish.

With the Battle of Alicudi, the January 8th 1676, and with the Battle of Agosta, the April 22nd 1676 Duquesne, sensitive to the cold, leaves with its avant-garde all the weight of the battle. To the courses of these two battles, Duquesne does not manage to take the advantage on the squadron hispano-Dutchwoman. This one remains intact whereas it would have could be easily worried if it had been shown more aggressive and skilful in its operations. However with the Battle of Agosta, Ruyter is mortally wounded. The decisive victory with Palermo the June 2nd 1676, is obtained thanks to the genius of Tourville, Duquesne left to draw an edge with broad there not having taken part. During the summer, Duquesne appears unable to however continue and destroy the remainder of the Dutch forces badly in point.

In 1681, it continues and attacks the Corsaires and the fleet of Tripoli in the Anse of Tap-hole.

Then in 1682 - 1683, it orders by twice the bombardment of Algiers, and forced the dey to restore all the Christian slaves. In 1684, it bombarded of the same Genoa (which had sold some helps to the Algerians). This constrained bombardment the doge to come to humiliate itself with the feet of the king de France (1684).

Duquesne was Protestant, which prevented Louis XIV to raise it with the dignity of Admiral. However it did it marquis and set up have marquisat his ground of Bouchet close to Étampes. It was one of the very rare characters of the time which was authorized to remain Protestant in France in spite of the Édit of Fontainebleau signed in 1685. He died in Paris the 1688 at the 78 years age.

He is buried in his castle of Bouchet, field set up in Marquis At by Louis XIV.

Dieppe, its fatherland, raised to him a statue (1844).

The Golden Legend

In spite of a career whose only important facts of weapons are actually limited to two days (the Bataille of Alicudi and the Bataille of Agosta), Duquesne was unanimously celebrated like a large war leader.

This Golden Legend was initially forged by Duquesne itself which never misses the occasion to be presented in the form of an old old seaman, but also by Colbert which will use the engagements against Ruyter to regild the blazon of Royal the . Held in respect in the English Channel by the fleet of the “cheese merchants”, the countryside in the Mediterranean will allow Royal the to forge a hero with the image of the Condé and Turenne. Day at the following day, propaganda makes of Duquesne, “Turenne of the seas”, the largest captain of sea of the moment, the equal one and the winner of Ruyter. Alicudi and Agosta become bright victories and Palermo most formidable naval success.

Whereas all the big bosses of the reign of Louis XIV, are English or Dutch, Duquesne will serve the Propagande and will accredit the idea of a French marine engineering. Several centuries of history cocardière and conformist conveyed and imposed thereafter an eulogistic and flattering portrait of Duquesne.

One could not however deny the value of this large sailor, who, without to have often ordered as a chief (being of ascent commoner and protesting), rose by the only forces of his merit and his blows of glares, without never disavowing his faith and his convictions. It does not remain about it less than the end of its career was obscured by the hardness of its nature, intractable and haughty, which made him adopt behaviors dictated by anger, and which were denounced per many officers of its time.

Buildings having borne the name of Duquesne

a Vessel of 74 guns (1787-1803)
a vessel - school (1811-1814)
a vessel of 74 guns (1814-1836)
a vessel of 82 guns (1847-1867)
a Cruiser (1873-1901)
a heavy cruiser of 10.000 ton S (1924-1955)
a frigate missile launcher (FFG registered D 603) launched in 1966 and brought into service in 1970, should be disarmed in 2008.

Random links: