Charles Eugene Gabriel of the Cross of Castries

Charles Eugene Gabriel of the Cross of Castries , marquis de Castries, baron of the States of Languedoc, count de Charlus, baron de Castelnau and of Montjouvent, lord of Puylaurens and Lézignan, is a Marshal of France born with Paris the February 25th 1727 and died in Wolfenbüttel the January 11th 1801. He is the son of Joseph François of the Cross of Castries, marquis de Castries, and of his second wife, Marie-Francoise de Lévis de Charlus.

Biography

Beginnings

Entered with the regiment of the King-Infantry in May 1739, he is lieutenant on August 23rd 1742. In parallel, he is lieutenant of the King in Languedoc and governor of Montpellier and Sète (December 1st 1743). He makes with glare the Guerre of Seven Years and all the campaigns of the reign of Louis XV. Mestre of camp of the regiment of the King-Cavalry on March 26th 1744, it is Brigadier and ordering general Cavalerie in 1748.

In 1756, it orders the task force in Corsica. It is distinguished with the Bataille from Rossbach (November 5th 1757) where it receives two wounds. general Lieutenant (December 28th 1758), he becomes Master of general camp of the cavalry on April 16th 1759. With the Battle of Clostercamp (October 16th 1760), it saves by its coolness a situation which seemed lost. It is made knight of the Ordre of the Holy Spirit on May 30th 1762. Shortly after the peace of 1763, it is named governor of the Flanders and the Hainaut. He is then captain lieutenant of the company of the Gendarmes Scot and ordering Gendarmerie of 1770 until his retirement in 1788.

The Secretary of State to the navy

It is named Secretary of State to the Navy on October 13rd 1780 on the recommendation of his friend Jacques Necker. It remains in station until August 24th 1787. In 1783, it is high with the dignity of Marshal of France. Its action will be spread on several faces:

the war of American independence

It reorganizes the fleet and makes adopt by the Council the new maritime strategy which will lead to success in the Guerre of American independence: the large boats are sent at sea while a flotilla constrained the British ships to remain with the port.

the question of the Indian Ocean

When England declares the war with the Linked Provinces, Castries sends vessels towards the colony of the Cape to warn the Dutch colonists. Under the command of the Baillif de Suffren, these ships must then join the squadron of the Indian Ocean

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