Josias Rantzau | |
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 Contemporary portrait | |
| Born | (1609-10-18)18 October 1609 |
| Died | 14 September 1650(1650-09-14) (aged 40) |
| Rank | Marshal of France |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Honnecourt Battle of Tuttlingen |
| Other work | Governor ofDunkirk |
Josias Rantzau (Bothkamp, near Kiel, 18 October 1609[1] – Paris, 14 September 1650[2]) was a Danish military leader andMarshal of France.
Josias was the grandson of Paul, the youngest son ofJohann Rantzau. He married his Cousin Hedwig Margarethe Elisabeth vor Rantzau, but had no children.[3]
As a young man, he servedPrince Maurice of Orange and KingChristian IV of Denmark.[4] Later he fought for Sweden, then the Holy Roman Empire, again for Sweden[5] and finally since 1635 for France, where he was noticed at Court for his blond beauty.
He commanded troops in theFranche-Comté,[6] on the Rhine,[6] and in Flanders. In 1633, he successfully defendedAndernach against the Spanish,[7] but is in general better remembered for his bravery than for his military skills.
He was taken prisoner by the Spanish in 1642 at theBattle of Honnecourt,[8] and again in 1643 by Imperial troops at theBattle of Tuttlingen. On 30 June 1645, he becameMarshal of France[9] and in 1646 Governor of the newly conqueredDunkirk Fortress.
During theFronde, he was arrested byMazarin and locked up in theBastille. He was acquitted, but died shortly after being released.
Media related toJosias Rantzau at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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